Am I crazy?

[schrewbie]

Ok, I wasn't sure where this post went, so you can move it wherever it needs to go.

Ok, I'm kind of weird. I started playing in 2002 (when I was 10) and started, as I'm sure most people do, in preliminary, learning about notes and such, and then in year 2, I did level 1 (level 1, not grade 1), and introductory for the celebration series. And then in year three (2004-05) I got a new teacher and he jumped me waay up from introductory to grade 4, and I didn't have any trouble playing it. So I finish grade 4 (but don't take an exam) and do grade 6, so I did grade 4 and 6 in one year skipping grade 5. Now the scary thing is, I havn't even taken my grade 6 exam yet, but I can play grade 7, 8, 9, 10, and even a little bit of ARCT stuff. next year I'll be doing grade 8, skipping grade 7. Is this normal? what wrong with me? Am I crazy? Is this something I should be proud of? because I am, but for every good quality theres a disadvantage it seems like.

[lagin]

.

[Waldszenen]

Well, if you're crazy, at least you're crazy in a good way.


Seriously though, there's nothing wrong with being more advanced than you should be - maybe music's in your genes.

Good luck.

[abell88]

First of all schrewbie, congratulations on your good progress. It's not incredibly unusual, but it's definitely a good sign. Next, are you in Canada? (Just wondering about your grades; there are different systems in the UK, Australia, etc.)

Assuming you are in Canada, my situtation was similar when I was young (a long time ago). I never did an exam until I decided I wanted to pursue a career in music, and then I did my Grade 9. Unfortunately, I hadn't kept up on the technical requirements for each grade, and I really had to work hard to learn all those scales, chords, arpeggios, formula patterns, etc. and get them up to speed for my Grade 9, 10, and ARCT exams. So, if you're playing the pieces but not doing the grade's technique -- all of it, and up to speed -- that will be a disadvantage when you start preparing for the exams. Also, if you're going the RCM route -- how is your sight-reading and ear training? Can you do the grade 7 and higher requirements? Sometimes students who can play well have real deficiencies here - which makes their exam marks lower than they should be and hinders their later musical development.  Hopefully that's not the case with you, but if it is, discuss it with your teacher and see if you can find a plan to develop your overall musicianship. Good luck!

[alzado]

You may have really extraordinary talent.  Seems that way.

I suppose one question it would not hurt to ask -- those very advanced pieces.  Do you play them WELL?

All of us, at some point, have decided to tackle something that is a bit too much.  After lots of effort we can play it IN SOME FASHION.   

Not to undercut you in any way.  Just one danger of leaping too far too soon.

[jeremyjchilds]

I absolutely agree with what Abel88 says.

I took my Gr. 6 exam, and then took my gr. 10 exam.

Of course...I failed my sight and tech aspect of the exam I still managed to pass with honors, but I have had to spend a lot of time (4-5 hrs.) each day getting my sight and tech up to shuff over the last year in order to get my ARCT (I have been working with a specific teacher for those specific aspects)

So what this tells me is that you are in fact not crazy

Who is crazy to want to play all of the really late intermediate songs (That's when they get really interesting)

I should caution you however, that my love of music has gone through the roof since my reading has improved, and I can't imagine how I enjoyed learning songs while my head was bobbing up and down from the music to my hands, trying to memorize one bar at a time...

In my humble opinion, after going down the same path as you, I would say that I would rather be at a first-class honors gr.8 level (complete) than a gr. 10 level with lousy tech, ear, and reading. I mean, I Graduated and had 7 pieces to show for it with zero motivation to wrestle with another score, and zero motivation to play my same old songs over again.

Please don't follow my footsteps. I am learning everyday that there can be more important things than progress.

[i_m_robot]

Well, if you're crazy, at least you're crazy in a good way.


Seriously though, there's nothing wrong with being more advanced than you should be - maybe music's in your genes.

Good luck.

more like in his/her moms genes

but even more in what she eats

[Siberian Husky]

i wonder why lagin deleted her post?..


hmmmm...

[i_m_robot]

perhaps it contained the secret to instant technique mastery

and she deleted it realizing the mistake she just made

[BoliverAllmon]

don't break your arm. LOL

[keys]

I went up to gr.4 with my first teacher and then she retired. When I got a new teacher (age 10) I went right into gr.8 rep and played for my exam two years later. I'm all finished now, I have my ARCT performers diploma. The later grades take longer because there are theory requirements.

[thierry13]

If you skip all those, grading systems are not for you. When I began I followed a grading system for ... one week. Before I began she classed me grade 3, found it too easy so I got my current private teacher, and am going to play La campanella this year, and Dante sonata will be a piece I'll learn over probably a year. And when I'm done with a piece, I play it WELL, so no "I can play only the notes". Could I have done that in a year if i followed the grading system? NEVER. Get out of the system they will totally ruin you. But, you have to be sure you get the BEST teacher you can. If you get out of the grading system and get a poor teacher, it'll be worse. So get a good private teacher, grading systems are not for you.

[Siberian Husky]

i personally frown upon grading systems...one of my best friends does it and i know she doesnt need it...

[keys]

schrewbie hasn't skipped very much. I was sight reading grade eight and higher pieces when I was nine and playing them by ear from as early as I can remember. It makes sense that you went through grades 1-6 quickly because you started when you were ten. A lot of kids I know started at age 4. It goes a lot slower duringthose years when you can't really even read words. I think the RCM has a good grading system. The theory is important to know, and the  syllabus requirements are well rounded.

[donjuan]

Ok, I wasn't sure where this post went, so you can move it wherever it needs to go.

Ok, I'm kind of weird. I started playing in 2002 (when I was 10) and started, as I'm sure most people do, in preliminary, learning about notes and such, and then in year 2, I did level 1 (level 1, not grade 1), and introductory for the celebration series. And then in year three (2004-05) I got a new teacher and he jumped me waay up from introductory to grade 4, and I didn't have any trouble playing it. So I finish grade 4 (but don't take an exam) and do grade 6, so I did grade 4 and 6 in one year skipping grade 5. Now the scary thing is, I havn't even taken my grade 6 exam yet, but I can play grade 7, 8, 9, 10, and even a little bit of ARCT stuff. next year I'll be doing grade 8, skipping grade 7. Is this normal? what wrong with me?

...sure wish I had those kind of troubles..

[sweetsinger729]

this isn't really pertinent to the question posed by the original poster, but i was wondering..

could someone give me examples of pieces of different grade levels? my teacher uses numbered books that only go up to a level 5, and after that i started learning repertoire out from various composers. i'd like to get an idea of where i am "grade level" wise. thanks!