SueSteve Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 Hi, My daughter has been told that she will be doing her grade 2 clarinet before Christmas. We have bought the book and she has been practising. Does anyone know what you need to do in the exam? How many pieces do you play? Do you sing or have to know theory? Many thanks, Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 Unless its changed dramatically since I did my grades you don't have to sing or do theory - just play your set pieces and the scales you are asked for. Her teacher should have all the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 You have to play three pieces, one of which has to be played completely how it's written on the page. The other two you may have to do improvisation on and come up with a introduction and finishing bit to, (Well you do in keyboard anyway-have you guessed I play that!!! ) You also have to play scales and arpeggios too. You might have to do other things too, but I don't know as I've only ever done keyboard gradings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 Going back to when I was doing grades - in the 60's - you certainly didn't do any theory at grade 2. And I never had to sing, right up to Associate level. Flippin' good job too, given the way I sing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 If she is doing hte Associated Board exmas she will have to do 2 accopanied pieces, a study ( no accompaniment) scales, sight reading, and aural. ( which may involve singing or humming little tunes) If she is taking Trinity Guildhall exams they have more options. theory is a separate written exam. My son is currently doing Grade 1 piano ( his third instrument but he seems to have settle on it finally) and my daughter is doing Grade 7 Flute ( takes after her mother!) I aslo taught flute until recently so have spent ages pouring over exam syllabus. When I was doing it it was Royal schools and trinity was looked down on but now they are pretty similar, unless she is doing jazz which is available on both Examining boards these days!! Hope I havent confused you too much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Sue, the syllabi are available online. Associated Board: http://www.abrsm.org/resources/clarinetSyllabus0802.pdf 3 accompanied pieces, scales and arpeggios, aural tests (clapping and singing) and sight-reading. Trinity Guildhall http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk/site/?id=1052 2 accompanied and 1 unaccompanied piece, choice of scales or study, choice of other tests. I find many teachers are lacking in the preparation for aural/sight-reading etc so it is best to know what will be expected. There are special books you can buy to cover the requirements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Hi - gosh that's a bit short notice! I'm guessing the teacher thinks she's ready though or wouldn't have entered her for the exam. Follow the links given by the last person, but don't worry - you're not expected to do anything as a parent. If you're musical yourself you can help out, but don't worry if you aren't. I used to teach clarinet - the examiners are normally really nice to children taking their first exams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Litttle chickadee I LOVE your avatar!!!!!! Seems to be the season for it, Younger son has started doing piano Jazz Grades ( the classical stuff didnt float his boat) teachers have always prepared him well for every grade he has done so dont worry. Good luck everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Hm, it must be the season for it - Oldest Son has just informed me his drum grade 5 exam is in December. Haven't a clue what it's about, I just have to trust his teacher! But he's already talking about skipping the grade 6 and going straight for the grade 7 after this one so he must be confident in his ability!! (excuse me being a tad big headed, proud parent moment here ). Just hope he does well now. I play clarinet, but never took the grades, I wish I had. All the best to those about to do any music grades! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James H Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 one of my firneds is doing their grade 5. i could ask them as he would of done the exam, send me a pm if you want my help, more like my firends help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 'Tis indeed the season. We have grade 1 piano and grade 5 piano here this month. DS has started working for grade 1 guitar. Theory exams keep getting delayed (I teach them myself) as DD2 had a drama trip on the exam date, then this term she thought she would have too much course work (which she did!). So in March I am entering Grade 5, grade 3 and grade 1 - or 2 if he works hard! Definitely! DD2 wants to do higher grades on piano, recorder and singing so she really needs to get the Theory certificate. I'm afraid I'm an AB s"Ooops, word censored!"!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueSteve Posted November 1, 2007 Author Share Posted November 1, 2007 Thanks for all the replies and for the links. She has a book and she has been practising 3 pieces from the B section!! She has not been told about anything else, but thought she may have to sing or do some theory. She has been playing for 4 years, and also plays in a Junior Orchestra (not school, a local music group). She has recently started Senior School, and her teacher wondered why she didn't have any grades! She mainly plays Bass clarinet in the orchestra, and has been told that they would like her to take grade 4 bass exams, to go into a County Orchestra (as they don't have a bass player), but as she doesn't have bass lessons, only normal clarinet, I am not sure how she could go about doing the grades, also if she is at grade 2 clarinet, I don't know if she will be ready for grade 4 bass! I think I better make some enquiries at orchestra this weekend!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Hi - i didn't even know you could take Bass Clarinet Grades (I don't think you used to be able to) Everyone I know who plays bass clarinet just got given one when they were playing in an orchestra and had to get on with it! My husband used to play Bass Clarinet in his military band and loved it far more than the normal Bb clarinet. I think there are different skills involved with the Bass, there aren't as many notes! Much different parts to the other clarinets and takes different types of control. Good luck to her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueSteve Posted November 1, 2007 Author Share Posted November 1, 2007 Thanks little chickadee, I have just looked at the Board website, and there does not appear to be a grade 4 bass! So maybe they mean that they wnat her to get a grade 4 at Bb clarinet! Yes, she prefers the bass, she has been playing it for just over a year. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 She has a book and she has been practising 3 pieces from the B section!! She has not been told about anything else, but thought she may have to sing or do some theory. 3 from the B section? Is that right? It is usually one from each section. I think you need to read through the syllabus and check she's doing everything she should be! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 I agree it is worth checking out the syllabus - nothing worse than preparing for ages and then finding out it was in vain...... I did clarinet exams (absolutely hated them) but my Mum would only pay for lessons if I did the Grades Wishing your daughter the best of luck and hopefully she won't suffer from jelly-knees like I used to!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 but don't worry - you're not expected to do anything as a parent. Except make sure that they practice!! Mine always needed....erm.....gentle reminders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Good luck to your daughter - I'm sure she'll do well. Seeing as all you music experts are out there, can I ask a question - my son is going to do grade 5 trumpet next March but has been told that this is as far as you can go without doing theory exams too. He HATES the theory as do I despite having done grade 5 theory myself (30 years ago!) and it actually made him want to give up the instrument altogether. The teacher let him carry on without doing the theory. Is this right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I think that is right. My son abandoned his Saxophone lessons after grade 5 for that reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 If you do Associated Board exams, Grade 5 Theory is needed to take grades 6,7+8 instrumental exams. But if you take Trinity Guildhall exams, you don't need theory. DD3's brass teacher prefers TG because they use specialist examiners - i.e. usually the examiner will also be a brass player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Yup - I had to do Grade 5 theory before I could go on to Grade 6.....I had never done any theory before this and never did any afterwards either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocolatedog Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 She has a book and she has been practising 3 pieces from the B section!! She has not been told about anything else, but thought she may have to sing or do some theory. 3 from the B section? Is that right? It is usually one from each section. I think you need to read through the syllabus and check she's doing everything she should be! Has her teacher given her no guidance? I don't think that sounds right either - as a piano teacher, I enter a lot of pupils for piano exams and usually it's 3 pieces, one from the A list, one from the B list, and one from the C list. (Associated Board.) Then there are the scales and arpeggios, plus some aural tests and sight-reading. I also taught flute for a good few years, and from what I remember it used to be 2 pieces plus an unaccompanied study - and the 2 pieces had to be from different lists.......plus of course, scales etc but no theory - that's always a separate exam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 If you do Associated Board exams, Grade 5 Theory is needed to take grades 6,7+8 instrumental exams. But if you take Trinity Guildhall exams, you don't need theory. DD3's brass teacher prefers TG because they use specialist examiners - i.e. usually the examiner will also be a brass player. Thats why my daughter is doing her grade 7 flute on Trinity guildhall this time because she doesnt have the theory ( she is working on the book with her saxophone teacher but doesnt have any on paper so to speak). To be honest, they have the same value when it comes to points for Uni - no discrepencies betweeen the boards, and she gets to do lots more pieces to broaden her repertoire, some of which have to be from memory. I used to be an ABRSM "s"Ooops, word censored!"" too as thats what i did, but these days it doesnt seem to matter as much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 If you do Associated Board exams, Grade 5 Theory is needed to take grades 6,7+8 instrumental exams. But if you take Trinity Guildhall exams, you don't need theory. DD3's brass teacher prefers TG because they use specialist examiners - i.e. usually the examiner will also be a brass player. This gave me hope till I checked their website : Recognition Trinity Guildhall examinations are accredited in England, Wales and Northern Ireland There's no way I could persuade him to start theory again, so I suppose grade 5 will be as far as he can go . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Shame how can they not be accredited in Scotland then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
