<![CDATA[Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8?]]>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?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/21704/is-it-possible-for-a-p1-student-to-reach-piano-grade-8RSS for NodeSat, 18 Apr 2026 09:27:54 GMTThu, 28 Apr 2011 04:11:31 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Fri, 13 May 2011 12:49:59 GMT]]>The first piece, performed when Aimi was 4+ is Beethoven’s Six Variations on ‘Nel cor piu non mi sento’, WoO 70


The other one, performed when she was 14 is Chopin’s Etude Op 10 No.4

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/421553https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/421553Fri, 13 May 2011 12:49:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Fri, 13 May 2011 12:28:05 GMT]]>DS just told me that in his class, besides the boy that passed grade 8, there's another girl who got diploma oredi. Diploma at P1? :yikes:


Boy, should have changed the title of my thread to 'Is it possible to reach diploma at P1?' instead. These kids are so advanced. They're like travelling at light speed. 😓 😉

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/421525https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/421525Fri, 13 May 2011 12:28:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Fri, 13 May 2011 12:04:09 GMT]]>

joyofmusic:

We however, cant get enough of Aimi Kobayashi, a child prodigy. Here's her at 4+ years old and at 14.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZwpjSNT620

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn7UnQWkcjY[/url]
My goodness! :shock:

What song is that? How come the beats are so fast? :faint:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/421509https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/421509Fri, 13 May 2011 12:04:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Fri, 13 May 2011 04:23:21 GMT]]>That's such a pity for your friend's son, markfch. Music should be lifelong, and learning music too. There should be no end point. Most of us ( and our kids) will never reach the level of the professionals or the prodigy, but as long as there is determination and patience, we can get to a level that will bring satisfaction to the soul. No need to hurry. One thing very important is a good teacher. Many kids can get to Grade 8 but actually don't know much. So, don't equate a good teacher with how fast the student can reach grade 8.


I take my children for concerts (free at Yong Siew Toh) and we listen to good recordings. You-tube has quite a bit, but it is a mixed bag. Lots of lousy recordings. We however, cant get enough of Aimi Kobayashi, a child prodigy. Here's her at 4+ years old and at 14.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZwpjSNT620


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn7UnQWkcjY[/url]

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/421035https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/421035Fri, 13 May 2011 04:23:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Thu, 12 May 2011 23:22:38 GMT]]>

joyofmusic:
If the objective of learning is to get the grade 8 cert, then by all means, one can push the child ahead as fast as possible. The child may end up playing like that violinist in the clip and will probably not touch his instrument anymore after the goal is obtained. But if the objective is to develop the musicality in the child, then it is necessary to give time for it to happen. Exams should be a secondary matter. markfch has the right approach and I 'm sure he will see success (not measurerd by grade level) in his son's music learning. A grade 8 kid who has learnt properly should be able to play at this level or thereabouts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmxRyTFKp84

Wow, this is good. In years to come, hopefully ds can reach this level and maybe even beyond. I'm sure he'll thank me for this when it happens. :celebrate:

My friend a piano teacher told me that once he had a very good student. But sadly after he scored distinction in grade 8 at P6, his parents pulled the plug and stopped him from progressing further, to concentrate on his studies.

My friend had a pang of regret as he felt that this boy can go diploma and beyond. He played a recording of the boy for me, and it was just like a professional playing.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/420638https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/420638Thu, 12 May 2011 23:22:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Thu, 12 May 2011 17:56:30 GMT]]>If the objective of learning is to get the grade 8 cert, then by all means, one can push the child ahead as fast as possible. The child may end up playing like that violinist in the clip and will probably not touch his instrument anymore after the goal is obtained. But if the objective is to develop the musicality in the child, then it is necessary to give time for it to happen. Exams should be a secondary matter. markfch has the right approach and I 'm sure he will see success (not measurerd by grade level) in his son's music learning. A grade 8 kid who has learnt properly should be able to play at this level or thereabouts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmxRyTFKp84

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/420621https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/420621Thu, 12 May 2011 17:56:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Thu, 12 May 2011 09:10:23 GMT]]>Eh... does that mean that the advice to parents whom want to engage a pte piano teacher without recommendations then is : better to have diploma as miniumum qualification and if grade 8 only, tests the fella and make sure he/she knows how to play more than 3 songs *CRINGE*CRINGE* :nailbite:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/420235https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/420235Thu, 12 May 2011 09:10:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 23:54:53 GMT]]>

markfch:


Luckily my ds is learning piano. For a well-tuned piano, no matter how unskilled one is, it will still sound tolerable. Violin really needs skilled hands.
It will not sound tolerable if keep making mistakes on that piano though. :roll:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419825https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419825Wed, 11 May 2011 23:54:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 23:24:39 GMT]]>

phankao:

I certainly WOULD NOT let any child of mine take a grade 8 exam if he/she is of this standard. So embarassing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EqgcEb2gFY&feature=related
(*cringing*).
Oh man, this is bad (sorry to the girl for saying this). After watching this, I'm more determined not to let ds skip any grades. 10,000 hrs of practice (and no short-cuts) to ensure that he plays good music for his own enjoyment.
ksi:
:slapshead: OMG!! she passed??? There you go...Mark...pass grade 8 is possible...from the very good to the not-so-good..
Luckily my ds is learning piano. For a well-tuned piano, no matter how unskilled one is, it will still sound tolerable. Violin really needs skilled hands.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419822https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419822Wed, 11 May 2011 23:24:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 17:14:06 GMT]]>

ksi:
phankao:



haha - really depends on the child too!

I certainly WOULD NOT let any child of mine take a grade 8 exam if he/she is of this standard. So embarassing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EqgcEb2gFY&feature=related
(*cringing*).

Actually if I'm not mistaken, NAFA's students would not do too badly in Aural either, since they get regular drilling in that. This is unlike private students where instrumental students (other than piano), get aural training only 1 to 2mths before their actual exam. Of course for piano students, most have their theory & aural lessons regularly, unlike instrumental students.

I was told typically they are weak in sight reading and they may not even be musically inclined but can learn music academically.

:slapshead: OMG!! she passed??? There you go...Mark...pass grade 8 is possible...from the very good to the not-so-good..

Most NAFA students aim to get 140+, so cannot be that bad at sight-reading lah....

NAFA standard at least like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHgyd8WWmY4
That is a grade 8 standard piece, and that boy is only 7. Younger than that girl in that horrid video!!! And I don't think he even took grade 8 exam, bc the other videos taken around the same time showed that he took grade 5 exam! Not so \"kan cheong\".

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419803https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419803Wed, 11 May 2011 17:14:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 17:06:15 GMT]]>

phankao:
ksi:



So play well technically first whether enjoy or not so like drive it academically frst, then the rest will follow later after all the exams and they discover they like music......this sounds like NAFA's approach?

haha - really depends on the child too!

I certainly WOULD NOT let any child of mine take a grade 8 exam if he/she is of this standard. So embarassing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EqgcEb2gFY&feature=related
(*cringing*).

Actually if I'm not mistaken, NAFA's students would not do too badly in Aural either, since they get regular drilling in that. This is unlike private students where instrumental students (other than piano), get aural training only 1 to 2mths before their actual exam. Of course for piano students, most have their theory & aural lessons regularly, unlike instrumental students.

I was told typically they are weak in sight reading and they may not even be musically inclined but can learn music academically.

:slapshead: OMG!! she passed??? There you go...Mark...pass grade 8 is possible...from the very good to the not-so-good..

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419801https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419801Wed, 11 May 2011 17:06:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 16:45:08 GMT]]>

ksi:
phankao:

[quote=\"ksi\"]
Technically, how about musically? So Aural not that critical to be holistic? :?

Important in the long run, esp if they want music to be their career? But if they want it for leisure, I think as a parent, I'm happy that they can play well. If they really enjoy music, the rest tends to follow on as they grow older. By then, you can't stop them from exploring! ;D

So play well technically first whether enjoy or not so like drive it academically frst, then the rest will follow later after all the exams and they discover they like music......this sounds like NAFA's approach?[/quote]haha - really depends on the child too!

I certainly WOULD NOT let any child of mine take a grade 8 exam if he/she is of this standard. So embarassing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EqgcEb2gFY&feature=related
(*cringing*).

Actually if I'm not mistaken, NAFA's students would not do too badly in Aural either, since they get regular drilling in that. This is unlike private students where instrumental students (other than piano), get aural training only 1 to 2mths before their actual exam. Of course for piano students, most have their theory & aural lessons regularly, unlike instrumental students.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419792https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419792Wed, 11 May 2011 16:45:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 16:37:22 GMT]]>

phankao:
ksi:


Technically, how about musically? So Aural not that critical to be holistic? :?

Important in the long run, esp if they want music to be their career? But if they want it for leisure, I think as a parent, I'm happy that they can play well. If they really enjoy music, the rest tends to follow on as they grow older. By then, you can't stop them from exploring! ;D

So play well technically first whether enjoy or not so like drive it academically frst, then the rest will follow later after all the exams and they discover they like music......this sounds like NAFA's approach?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419788https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419788Wed, 11 May 2011 16:37:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 16:32:45 GMT]]>

ksi:
phankao:

[quote=\"ksi\"]

Sounds like this is again heading for exam-smart rather than truly, musically-inclined holistically....(whoah mouthful of adverbs!!)

actually those that I've seen - they perform really really well. Technically very sound.

Technically, how about musically? So Aural not that critical to be holistic? :?[/quote]Important in the long run, esp if they want music to be their career? But if they want it for leisure, I think as a parent, I'm happy that they can play well. If they really enjoy music, the rest tends to follow on as they grow older. By then, you can't stop them from exploring! ;D

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419783https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419783Wed, 11 May 2011 16:32:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 16:18:24 GMT]]>

phankao:
ksi:



Sounds like this is again heading for exam-smart rather than truly, musically-inclined holistically....(whoah mouthful of adverbs!!)

actually those that I've seen - they perform really really well. Technically very sound.

Technically, how about musically? So Aural not that critical to be holistic? :?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419767https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419767Wed, 11 May 2011 16:18:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 16:15:50 GMT]]>

ksi:


Sounds like this is again heading for exam-smart rather than truly, musically-inclined holistically....(whoah mouthful of adverbs!!)
actually those that I've seen - they perform really really well. Technically very sound.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419765https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419765Wed, 11 May 2011 16:15:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 16:06:53 GMT]]>

phankao:
ksi:

[quote=\"phankao\"]

If you want to be even more extremist, you can even just concentrate on only those 3 grade 8 pieces and the scales!

But the moment come to sight reading and aural....lobang picha.... :lol: :lol: :lol:

actually if they can play the grade 8 pieces well, they should be able to handle scales and sightreading reasonably. It's Aural that's generally more challenging - esp for grade 8. Not easy.

Altho' I've seen students who've failed their aural, but play v v well, still manage a distinction overall. But bc they are so poor at aural, the teacher has them do ATCL & LTCL exams for diploma instead of DipABRSM.[/quote]Sounds like this is again heading for exam-smart rather than truly, musically-inclined holistically....(whoah mouthful of adverbs!!)

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419759https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419759Wed, 11 May 2011 16:06:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 15:37:22 GMT]]>

ksi:
phankao:

[quote=\"markfch\"]

My ds's teacher told me, 'Technically speaking, one can pass grade 1 to 8 by just learning how to play 24 songs only!' :faint:

Not that she encouraged it.

If you want to be even more extremist, you can even just concentrate on only those 3 grade 8 pieces and the scales!

But the moment come to sight reading and aural....lobang picha.... :lol: :lol: :lol:[/quote]actually if they can play the grade 8 pieces well, they should be able to handle scales and sightreading reasonably. It's Aural that's generally more challenging - esp for grade 8. Not easy.

Altho' I've seen students who've failed their aural, but play v v well, still manage a distinction overall. But bc they are so poor at aural, the teacher has them do ATCL & LTCL exams for diploma instead of DipABRSM.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419726https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419726Wed, 11 May 2011 15:37:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 15:23:18 GMT]]>

phankao:
markfch:



My ds's teacher told me, 'Technically speaking, one can pass grade 1 to 8 by just learning how to play 24 songs only!' :faint:

Not that she encouraged it.

If you want to be even more extremist, you can even just concentrate on only those 3 grade 8 pieces and the scales!

But the moment come to sight reading and aural....lobang picha.... :lol: :lol: :lol:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419706https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419706Wed, 11 May 2011 15:23:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 14:59:47 GMT]]>

markfch:


My ds's teacher told me, 'Technically speaking, one can pass grade 1 to 8 by just learning how to play 24 songs only!' :faint:

Not that she encouraged it.
If you want to be even more extremist, you can even just concentrate on only those 3 grade 8 pieces and the scales!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419691https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419691Wed, 11 May 2011 14:59:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 14:22:52 GMT]]>

jce:
Going back to the root of things, being able to play a grade 8 piece is different from having grade 8 standard. I have a student who can play pieces from grade 7 and 8 repertoire but her sight reading standard is only that of a grade 3 (max) and technical skills probably that of a grade 6 (max). She has a good ear and can pick up through listening and seeing the teacher play. She is also willing to put in the effort. Her previous teacher saw that in her and just got her to play and play loads of pieces without taking official exams. I am carrying on with letting her play grade 8 pieces but I am also trying to pull up her sight reading skills as well as technical skills so that it matches her musicality.

My ds's teacher told me, 'Technically speaking, one can pass grade 1 to 8 by just learning how to play 24 songs only!' :faint:

Not that she encouraged it.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419667https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419667Wed, 11 May 2011 14:22:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 12:41:33 GMT]]>

jce:
Going back to the root of things, being able to play a grade 8 piece is different from having grade 8 standard. I have a student who can play pieces from grade 7 and 8 repertoire but her sight reading standard is only that of a grade 3 (max) and technical skills probably that of a grade 6 (max). She has a good ear and can pick up through listening and seeing the teacher play. She is also willing to put in the effort. Her previous teacher saw that in her and just got her to play and play loads of pieces without taking official exams. I am carrying on with letting her play grade 8 pieces but I am also trying to pull up her sight reading skills as well as technical skills so that it matches her musicality.

Sorry, :offtopic:
How do you persuade her to learn by-sight? I have a teenager beginner who insist on learning by role. :slapshead: She won't even learn to improvise.

* love those smiley.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419597https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419597Wed, 11 May 2011 12:41:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 12:28:34 GMT]]>

radiantmum:

Honestly that is something that I can never reconcile when it comes to music. Shouldn't exams determine one's grade/expertise level which should include technical skills, sight reading skills etc as part of the expertise determination? Can you see the irony of above described? (which of course is system grading issue not jce's issue ;-p) Example, \"I am a certified professional engineer but I can only assess roads but not bridges?\" Not exactly a great analogy but you know where I am coming from ... or I hope :lol:
Isn't it like PSLE where students can still move on to secondary school with less than 4 passes?

Examination broads sell examinations, seminars, books, etc. If an exam board insist that their candidates need to pass every section to qualify for a graded certificate, the failure rate would shot through the roof. From a biz point of view, it's not good. But for their more 'professional' certificates like the diplomas, they do expect their candidates to pass every single section.

That's my 2-cent worth of opinion. Just dropping a note to push up my post count.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419592https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419592Wed, 11 May 2011 12:28:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is it possible for a P1 student to reach piano grade 8? on Wed, 11 May 2011 08:34:42 GMT]]>

jce:
Going back to the root of things, being able to play a grade 8 piece is different from having grade 8 standard. I have a student who can play pieces from grade 7 and 8 repertoire but her sight reading standard is only that of a grade 3 (max) and technical skills probably that of a grade 6 (max). She has a good ear and can pick up through listening and seeing the teacher play. She is also willing to put in the effort. Her previous teacher saw that in her and just got her to play and play loads of pieces without taking official exams. I am carrying on with letting her play grade 8 pieces but I am also trying to pull up her sight reading skills as well as technical skills so that it matches her musicality.

Out of topic perhaps.

Honestly that is something that I can never reconcile when it comes to music. Shouldn't exams determine one's grade/expertise level which should include technical skills, sight reading skills etc as part of the expertise determination? Can you see the irony of above described? (which of course is system grading issue not jce's issue ;-p) Example, \"I am a certified professional engineer but I can only assess roads but not bridges?\" Not exactly a great analogy but you know where I am coming from ... or I hope :lol:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419441https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/419441Wed, 11 May 2011 08:34:42 GMT