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Post by Amy on Jul 22, 2006 13:47:52 GMT
After reading a thread about music theory in another forum and posting there I would be interested to here your responses to my question to help me get a better idea of the answer.
How long it would take for someone to get from grade 1 to grade 5, with the use of just books to help? I know that it varies from person to person but I am just looking for a rough idea say for someone who can spend a few hours a week on it.
Thanks
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Post by princessmoose on Jul 22, 2006 13:53:37 GMT
My answers on the other forum not enough? ;D
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Post by Amy on Jul 22, 2006 14:03:11 GMT
My answers on the other forum not enough? ;D It wasn't that I am just curious to see what other people think apart from yourself think Your post was very useful, especially where you put the other person in ther place about the grade a year philosophy ;D I read that and thought ' I don't want to be 27 before I get to grade 8'
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Post by princessmoose on Jul 22, 2006 14:09:03 GMT
;D Yeah, well not many people post about music on there, which is why I'm glad that Fletch joined. I can have some good discussions with him.
But yeah, I'm sure you'll get some views here!
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Post by Steve Hopwood on Jul 22, 2006 17:09:14 GMT
I teach theory as a complete syllabus - no working through the work books (hang on in there, there is some point to this). I start with key signatures and major\minor scales. From there, I branch out into intervals, which leads directly into transposition. Transposition leads neatly into other clefs. From there, it is merely a matter of mopping up anything the candidate does not know - how to forumulate an effective melody, time sigs, that sort of thing. Given that the student is not an idiot, I guarantee sitting the exam within 6 months of starting. Good ones can do it in 3. They do not work hard for the exam - who would, after all? So, given an intelligent, motivated adult(?), I expect you could start now and easily be ready for the November session, if taking the exam is what you want to do. There is plenty of help available here should you get stuck with anything. Send me a pm if you want Steve's dead easy method of working out key sigs. Steve
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Post by Trebor on Jul 22, 2006 20:11:34 GMT
Is this studying theory with no musical knowledge, or from someone who's already learning an instrument? Personally, I don't remember Grade 5 being that hard. I already knew most of it from playing, and the other things were fairly easy to grasp. But perhaps piano is particularly useful for that, since you're already used to two clefs, chords, etc. - and the ideas are more easily demonstrated with a keyboard. I think time periods depend particularly on the person involved - more mathematical logic based people will find it easier, others may have to work longer on it.
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Post by Amy on Jul 22, 2006 21:35:47 GMT
So, given an intelligent, motivated adult(?), I expect you could start now and easily be ready for the November session, if taking the exam is what you want to do. There is plenty of help available here should you get stuck with anything. Send me a pm if you want Steve's dead easy method of working out key sigs. Semi adult I have most of the summer to get to grips with it as soon as I get a chance to go get some resources to work off. I will need to do the exam, and am just thinking the sooner the better, while I have the time to work on it, and so I don't have to wait around to take it when I actually need it. Is this studying theory with no musical knowledge, or from someone who's already learning an instrument? It is learning theory with about grade1 knowledge from having done past papers and got 90+ on most after doing the workbook with help (but not being able to get this help for futher grades), and learning an instrument for about 6 months.
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Post by princessmoose on Jul 23, 2006 0:00:11 GMT
Plenty of help here, don't worry .
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Post by annc on Jul 23, 2006 9:23:21 GMT
I have a student who is away a lot in shows. On a good week (that is, time permitting), she can manage half a grade workbook a week just using the pink AB guide. When I mark it, it's 95% right. She does play sax and piano as well though. Sax to quite a high standard. She'll be taking grade 5 singing in December. Best get started then!
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Post by kflute on Jul 23, 2006 17:58:04 GMT
If you're willing to do the work, you'll b e able to do it fairly quickly. Sometimes I have students taking so long to do it, because they simply don't put in the work at home. There are many of us who know all about the theory here, and many like me who also teach so it, so therefore have methods and rhymes etc for learning different sections. You can ask any of us for help.
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Post by Amy on Jul 25, 2006 21:05:43 GMT
Thanks for the replies and the offers of help which I may have to call on at somepoint. I have decided to go for it so have gone and got some stuff to get me started ... the first three grades in the theory time series and the first steps in music theory book to help me along the way.
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