Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8?

[Dreamaurora]

jce:

Trinity is not as widely known as ABRSM. As for standard, ABRSM examiners are known to be more stringent but they do vary especially if you compare the ones they send overseas and the ones who examine locally in UK. The pieces are more or less the same in terms of standard, it really depends on what pieces you choose. Trinity tends to be more \"experimental\" with less \"main stream\" at times.

To add, there are also 'less' things to prepare in Trinity graded exams. The scale component for example is significantly less heavy than ABRSM's. For grade 1-5 Trinity sight reading is optional hence some teachers prefer Trinity for the lower grades. Even for the diplomas, the Trinity are perceived as the lesser ones. Trinity performance diplomas do not have sight reading and viva component and hence are very popular choices among students here for post grade 8 certs.

Anyway speaking of countries in Asia such as China, Korea, Japan; parents there are very well known to be very obssessed with grades and whose kids can achieve them faster. To be honest, musical talent is a very arbitrary thing and exams are one way to sort of quantifying them. But do note that speed of learning piano is not indicative of musical potential of a student. I have seen students who possess very formidable technique and can learn notes extremely fast but totally soulless in their learning and the opposite is true. At the end of the day, the most important thing is the student must make good music.

[Funx3]

markfch:

Was told by ds that someone in his P1 cohort has attained/or is going for grade 8 piano practical exams. I was very surprise to hear this as that is extremely fast progress imo.


Is this a common phenomenon?

Hi Bro Mark,
My Gal just told me,
Her Classmate says got Grade 8 in P1 ....
same-same sch as your ds -le ....
Sch Really got many Crouching Tigers, Hidden Dragons -le ....
Hee-Hee ....

[peanut_butter]

Dreamaurora:

To add, there are also 'less' things to prepare in Trinity graded exams. The scale component for example is significantly less heavy than ABRSM's. For grade 1-5 Trinity sight reading is optional hence some teachers prefer Trinity for the lower grades. Even for the diplomas, the Trinity are perceived as the lesser ones. Trinity performance diplomas do not have sight reading and viva component and hence are very popular choices among students here for post grade 8 certs.

Another bonus point: Their examinations fall on Nov-Dec.

[markfch]

Funx3:

Hi Bro Mark,
My Gal just told me,
Her Classmate says got Grade 8 in P1 ....
same-same sch as your ds -le ....
Sch Really got many Crouching Tigers, Hidden Dragons -le ....
Hee-Hee ....

Maybe we are talking about the same boy who is incidentally ds's classmate. As for ds, piano teacher commented that ds is currently at grade 1.5 level.

Since I requested to only let him take exams if he has good chance to get distinction, we agreed to wait for ds to progress to grade 2 level first before allowing him to take grade 1 exam.

[corneyAmber]

Funx3:

markfch:

Was told by ds that someone in his P1 cohort has attained/or is going for grade 8 piano practical exams. I was very surprise to hear this as that is extremely fast progress imo.


Is this a common phenomenon?

Hi Bro Mark,
My Gal just told me,
Her Classmate says got Grade 8 in P1 ....
same-same sch as your ds -le ....
Sch Really got many Crouching Tigers, Hidden Dragons -le ....
Hee-Hee ....

Ah...I just remembered this...it slipped my mind for the longest time. Just a word of caution as it happened to my dd. If the child is learning with Yamaha, they have an internal grading(rom Japan) that goes from grade 1 to grade 9 or 10 and I am not sure how it matches to ABRSM. So if a child in P1 says he/she is grade 5 r 6, just confirm if it is ABRSM exam. My child's classmate in P1 told her she was grade 6...only to realise that she was talking about Yamaha's grade but for ABRSM, I believe she was only grade 2 and she played like a grade 2 then. Can anyone learning with Yamaha comment on that? :?

[radiantmum]

Ya can’t be that many prodigies around esp in the same area, high chance is they are referring to Yamaha grading system which is in descending order from Grade 9 onwards.


So far no 1-1 ABRSM-Yamaha grades matching I’ve come aross officially. But certainly not a grade by grade match. As far as I know you need to have min ABRSM Grade 8 to be a teacher (8 levels) and Yamaha, it’s Grade 5 (5 levels).

[Funx3]

markfch:

Funx3:

Hi Bro Mark,
My Gal just told me,
Her Classmate says got Grade 8 in P1 ....
same-same sch as your ds -le ....
Sch Really got many Crouching Tigers, Hidden Dragons -le ....
Hee-Hee ....

Maybe we are talking about the same boy who is incidentally ds's classmate. As for ds, piano teacher commented that ds is currently at grade 1.5 level.

Since I requested to only let him take exams if he has good chance to get distinction, we agreed to wait for ds to progress to grade 2 level first before allowing him to take grade 1 exam.

Nope. She is Talking about her P1 Classmate (6 years ago)....

Actually I was Surprised, thought not possible, too ....
But on the other hand, My Gal Passed her Taekwando Junior Black Belt when she's in P1, So Maybe Not so impossible for other discipline ....

[metz]

It’s definitely possible. My son started on piano at K2. 4 months later, he was doing ABRSM grade 1 songs. But we decided against going the usual ABRSM exam route. Instead, his teacher assessed him and felt he was ready to work by composers. She started him on A Little Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach and Hanon. At the beginning of P1, she let him select a recial piece (for June) from a list of grade 4 songs. At the same time, he was working on the Burgmuller op.100. After almost 8 months of break, he picked up piano learning again early this year, and is working on The Swallow now. One important qualifier, my son is not even close to hardworking. He doesn’t spend a great deal of time on his instruments. But he has the physical built and perhaps, some musical talent in the music arena. (At K2, his teacher wants him to learn to control the piano, instead of letting the piano to control him.)


So, if a child like him starts early and with good discipline (aka hardworking parents), it is possible for one to reach ABRSM grade 8 at a very young age.

[markfch]

Funx3:

But on the other hand, My Gal Passed her Taekwando Junior Black Belt when she's in P1, So Maybe Not so impossible for other discipline ....

Black belt at P1? Heeeeyaa!! :nunchuk:

I thought gymnastics, calligraphy & taekwando don't mix?

How come your dd so talented? :yikes:

[markfch]

ksi:

Ah...I just remembered this...it slipped my mind for the longest time. Just a word of caution as it happened to my dd. If the child is learning with Yamaha, they have an internal grading(rom Japan) that goes from grade 1 to grade 9 or 10 and I am not sure how it matches to ABRSM. So if a child in P1 says he/she is grade 5 r 6, just confirm if it is ABRSM exam. My child's classmate in P1 told her she was grade 6...only to realise that she was talking about Yamaha's grade but for ABRSM, I believe she was only grade 2 and she played like a grade 2 then. Can anyone learning with Yamaha comment on that? :?

I see, I thought Yamaha students also take the ABRSM exams.