do you have to do grade 5 theory before you can do grade 6 practical? or did i just make that up...

Yes.

Yes, with ABRSM exams you do. However with Trinity/Guildhall you can do grades up to 8 without having sat any theory exams.

Alternatively, you could do grade 5 Practical Musicianship or grade 5 Jazz.

That's what I thought, but when I asked my teacher, she said I can do grade 5 practical without doing G5 theory, but have to do grade 6 theory before I can do grade 6 practical, and she's talking about ABRSM??!!!

That's almost right Allie -
you can go up to grade 5 practical without any qualifying theory certificates.

You DO need to take AB gr5 theory (or practical musicianship or jazz) BEFORE you can take a grade 6 (or higher) practical exam. You can then go on to do other (higher) grade exams if you wish without doing other theory exams.

Basically you can't progress beyond grade 5 practical without a grade 5 theory, practical musicianship or jazz result.

Hope that is clear!

hmm ok... so after grade 5 you have to do grade 5 theory, and then after you [hopefully] pass that, you can do any other exams? without doing the theory? so what's the point?!?!

craziness...

I think the point is to prove that you have at least a basic understanding of music when you take higher practical grades.

If you get to grade 6 practical level (particularly in piano) without having picked up most of what is in the grade 5 theory syllabus then either your teacher has never told you anything or you are one of those people who actively choose NOT to learn (yes, that does happen, I've seen it).

ah ok! i understand now!!

thank you everyone! i just need to do grade 5 theory now... argh so many exams!

Especially for people who don't learn piano, as they sometimes have far less knowledge of harmony and chords.