All About ABRSM Grades & Support

[Dreamaurora]

Fat cello:

Hi


How about theory?normally how long it take for a kid to clear one grade?within how many years can take grade 5 theory?

For theory, as I mentioned in other thread, it is possible to one shot immediately take grade 5 as the requirement is cumulative. As long students can read reasonably i.e. identify pitches and count rhythm correctly, they can prepare for grade 5 theory. I recommend at least a pass in grade 3 practical first before attempting grade 5 theory. As for how long, it depends on how old and how mature the student is. I have prepared numerous grade 5 theory exams for students and generally the older ones (teenagers and adults) are much faster, I would say approximately around 10-16 hours. For younger students, I would recommend minimum 25 hours of study.

[sacredmusicals]

Dreamaurora:

Fat cello:

Hi


How about theory?normally how long it take for a kid to clear one grade?within how many years can take grade 5 theory?

For theory, as I mentioned in other thread, it is possible to one shot immediately take grade 5 as the requirement is cumulative. As long students can read reasonably i.e. identify pitches and count rhythm correctly, they can prepare for grade 5 theory. I recommend at least a pass in grade 3 practical first before attempting grade 5 theory. As for how long, it depends on how old and how mature the student is. I have prepared numerous grade 5 theory exams for students and generally the older ones (teenagers and adults) are much faster, I would say approximately around 10-16 hours. For younger students, I would recommend minimum 25 hours of study.

Dream, there is no doubt that you are a skilled and dedicated teacher and you have achieved impressive results with your students. But im pretty sure not all teachers are as skilled as you and not all students will be as talented and dedicated as your students. Your experience with your students may be very hard to duplicate by others and i worry that parents may have misconceptions on what is realistically possible to achieve.

[ngl2010]

sacredmusicals:

Dreamaurora:

[quote=\"Fat cello\"]Hi


How about theory?normally how long it take for a kid to clear one grade?within how many years can take grade 5 theory?

For theory, as I mentioned in other thread, it is possible to one shot immediately take grade 5 as the requirement is cumulative. As long students can read reasonably i.e. identify pitches and count rhythm correctly, they can prepare for grade 5 theory. I recommend at least a pass in grade 3 practical first before attempting grade 5 theory. As for how long, it depends on how old and how mature the student is. I have prepared numerous grade 5 theory exams for students and generally the older ones (teenagers and adults) are much faster, I would say approximately around 10-16 hours. For younger students, I would recommend minimum 25 hours of study.

Dream, there is no doubt that you are a skilled and dedicated teacher and you have achieved impressive results with your students. But im pretty sure not all teachers are as skilled as you and not all students will be as talented and dedicated as your students. Your experience with your students may be very hard to duplicate by others and i worry that parents may have misconceptions on what is realistically possible to achieve.[/quote]My son took once a week lesson (group class) for 6 months and he got 95 for Grade 5 theory when he was Primary 3 (the class started when he was Primary 2). He had never had theory lesson before and never sat for practical exam although he was playing Grade 5 pieces when he attended the Grade 5 Theory classes. His teacher, like Dreamaurora, also prefers to teach theory at one go. About 70% of my son's classmates obtained more than 90 in the exam. The oldest in the class in Primary 5 and the youngest was in Primary 2 when they took the exam. Parents must sit in the class so we got a lot of pressure to make sure our children do the homework. The children were looking forward to the lessons every week because the classes are fun as they are all about the same age and some kids really made the classes lively. Even I enjoyed the classes

So, anything is possible. Just need to find a good teacher and work hard on it.

[Dreamaurora]

ngl2010:

My son took once a week lesson (group class) for 6 months and he got 95 for Grade 5 theory when he was Primary 3 (the class started when he was Primary 2). He had never had theory lesson before and never sat for practical exam although he was playing Grade 5 pieces when he attended the Grade 5 Theory classes. His teacher, like Dreamaurora, also prefers to teach theory at one go. About 70% of my son's classmates obtained more than 90 in the exam. The oldest in the class in Primary 5 and the youngest was in Primary 2 when they took the exam. Parents must sit in the class so we got a lot of pressure to make sure our children do the homework. The children were looking forward to the lessons every week because the classes are fun as they are all about the same age and some kids really made the classes lively. Even I enjoyed the classes

So, anything is possible. Just need to find a good teacher and work hard on it.

Sacred does have a point though. I have noticed the discussion in this forum seem to involve students and parents who are in the top percentile of music learning population. If the results and achievements discussed here are treated as the 'normal' benchmark, parents may start wondering if their children or children's teacher are doing fine or worse, start to impose unrealistic expectations on the children or teachers.

When an impressive result is achieved, we do need to view it in the overall context on how it is achieved e.g. how many hours are put in, teacher's skill level, parents' musical background and commitment level, performing experience, etc. Not considering these factors and expecting our own children to achieve the same results without reproducing the proper context may lead to extreme frustration and anger.

So, I hope whoever visit this forum to peruse our thoughts and opinions understand the context of our discussions.

[ngl2010]

Dreamaurora:

ngl2010:

My son took once a week lesson (group class) for 6 months and he got 95 for Grade 5 theory when he was Primary 3 (the class started when he was Primary 2). He had never had theory lesson before and never sat for practical exam although he was playing Grade 5 pieces when he attended the Grade 5 Theory classes. His teacher, like Dreamaurora, also prefers to teach theory at one go. About 70% of my son's classmates obtained more than 90 in the exam. The oldest in the class in Primary 5 and the youngest was in Primary 2 when they took the exam. Parents must sit in the class so we got a lot of pressure to make sure our children do the homework. The children were looking forward to the lessons every week because the classes are fun as they are all about the same age and some kids really made the classes lively. Even I enjoyed the classes

So, anything is possible. Just need to find a good teacher and work hard on it.

Sacred does have a point though. I have noticed the discussion in this forum seem to involve students and parents who are in the top percentile of music learning population. If the results and achievements discussed here are treated as the 'normal' benchmark, parents may start wondering if their children or children's teacher are doing fine or worse, start to impose unrealistic expectations on the children or teachers.

When an impressive result is achieved, we do need to view it in the overall context on how it is achieved e.g. how many hours are put in, teacher's skill level, parents' musical background and commitment level, performing experience, etc. Not considering these factors and expecting our own children to achieve the same results without reproducing the proper context may lead to extreme frustration and anger.

So, I hope whoever visit this forum to peruse our thoughts and opinions understand the context of our discussions.

Agree. We (the children and the parents) really worked hard on it and we were lucky to have a good teacher. Most of the parents have no musical background other than from what we learnt together with the children. However, we were extremely committed to ensuring that our children pass the theory exam. That translates to hours of hard work for our children and ourselves.

[phankao]

ngl2010:

Dreamaurora:

Sacred does have a point though. I have noticed the discussion in this forum seem to involve students and parents who are in the top percentile of music learning population. If the results and achievements discussed here are treated as the 'normal' benchmark, parents may start wondering if their children or children's teacher are doing fine or worse, start to impose unrealistic expectations on the children or teachers.

When an impressive result is achieved, we do need to view it in the overall context on how it is achieved e.g. how many hours are put in, teacher's skill level, parents' musical background and commitment level, performing experience, etc. Not considering these factors and expecting our own children to achieve the same results without reproducing the proper context may lead to extreme frustration and anger.

So, I hope whoever visit this forum to peruse our thoughts and opinions understand the context of our discussions.

Agree. We (the children and the parents) really worked hard on it and we were lucky to have a good teacher. Most of the parents have no musical background other than from what we learnt together with the children. However, we were extremely committed to ensuring that our children pass the theory exam. That translates to hours of hard work for our children and ourselves.

Yikes... I must be quite lazy then. ;D

[Dreamaurora]

phankao:

Yikes... I must be quite lazy then. ;D

Your kids all so big already, different mah.

[phankao]

Dreamaurora:

phankao:

Yikes... I must be quite lazy then. ;D

Your kids all so big already, different mah.

No, bc they started learning quite late.

[Dreamaurora]

phankao:

Dreamaurora:

[quote=\"phankao\"]

Yikes... I must be quite lazy then. ;D

Your kids all so big already, different mah.

No, bc they started learning quite late.[/quote]Well, anyway don't think you are a lazy parent lar from your previous postings. Personally I think you are the ideal parent for music learning children, supporting but not controlling.

[doodbug]

Dreamaurora:

ngl2010:

My son took once a week lesson (group class) for 6 months and he got 95 for Grade 5 theory when he was Primary 3 (the class started when he was Primary 2). He had never had theory lesson before and never sat for practical exam although he was playing Grade 5 pieces when he attended the Grade 5 Theory classes. His teacher, like Dreamaurora, also prefers to teach theory at one go. About 70% of my son's classmates obtained more than 90 in the exam. The oldest in the class in Primary 5 and the youngest was in Primary 2 when they took the exam. Parents must sit in the class so we got a lot of pressure to make sure our children do the homework. The children were looking forward to the lessons every week because the classes are fun as they are all about the same age and some kids really made the classes lively. Even I enjoyed the classes

So, anything is possible. Just need to find a good teacher and work hard on it.

Sacred does have a point though. I have noticed the discussion in this forum seem to involve students and parents who are in the top percentile of music learning population. If the results and achievements discussed here are treated as the 'normal' benchmark, parents may start wondering if their children or children's teacher are doing fine or worse, start to impose unrealistic expectations on the children or teachers.

When an impressive result is achieved, we do need to view it in the overall context on how it is achieved e.g. how many hours are put in, teacher's skill level, parents' musical background and commitment level, performing experience, etc. Not considering these factors and expecting our own children to achieve the same results without reproducing the proper context may lead to extreme frustration and anger.

So, I hope whoever visit this forum to peruse our thoughts and opinions understand the context of our discussions.

Thanks for helping to put things in perspective. I was begining to think my kids are slow! I started them on the violin in K1. DD is in P1 and is attempting her Grade 1. DS is in P2 and is attempting his Grade 3. This seems like snail's pace! However, I can tell that even at this snail's pace, DS is not completely prepared for Grade 3. He does not have the fine motor skills nor the music appreciation to bring out the colour of his pieces at all. And I do not wish to push too hard, or to discourage him. It takes some age and maturity for one's tone to develop, and I don't think he has reached the level of musical discernment as yet. As parents, I think we have to accept that not all children are musical geniuses, and that most children actually need encouragement and supervision to persevere through the music journey.