HELP! how to understand grade 5 theory by May!

[an9elique]

I would really appreciate it if somebody would help me figure out how to understand theory easier 'cuz i can't seem to get enough time to work on theory..i had to rush through 5 grades in 6 months. First three grades weren't so bad, but soon as i got to grade 4, it got worse! i do understand most of the concepts, but i don't think i'm reasy to give my grade 5 examination in june!  what do i do?? To appear for grade 6 theory, i need to totally pass grade 5 theory. Since i got school & everything..

I totally suck at composing 4 bar rhythms with a number of time signatures, havent qutie memorized key signatures of scales and similar things (hmm..which is practically everything right?  ) *gosh..!!*

*sob! sob!* SOS...damsel in distress..... *ugghh...da height of being cliche & cheesy outof desperation..*

Thanks a Bunch if Anyone can help me out..

[RealPianist]

is this ABRSM?

[pianistimo]

do like what you would do for SAT testing - or whatever testing you have taken for school.  make up a practice test.

1.  put all the key signatures down and write two lines beside them.  one for major key - one for minor.

2.  write out the notes for all the scales and handwrite in the flats or sharps beside the appropriate notes.  remember the pattern for major and minor scales is built on a pattern of whole and half steps.  once you have that figured out - it's easy.

for most of the major sharped scales - you can use memory aids too.  i tell my students - how many pencil lines do you use?  following the circle of fifths - G has one pencil line - one sharp  -D has two pencil lines (you have to pick up your pencil) and two sharps,  A has three and three sharps.  E has four - and four sharps,  B (written like greek triangles) has five - and five sharps. 

all the related minor scales are 1 1/2 whole steps below the major scale.  C = a minor 
they share the same key signature.  all you have to remember is that:

natural = no added sharps or flats
harmonic = sharp the seventh
melodic = sharp the sixth and seventh tones going up - and flatten them going down.

3.  have a friend pick three pieces *that you haven't played*  from your piano books and copy them.  then you take these pieces and identify the key.  how many beats tot he measure.  what kind of note gets the beat.  which measure has a mordent.  which measure has a trill.  identify sequences.  intervals.  identify three or four composers from the same era.  name the era.

4.  define as many musical terms as you can (BUY YOURSELF A POCKET DICTIONARY)

5.  write out these types of chords in different keys:
augmented
diminished
major
minor

(name roman numeral if you want and make it small case when minor - and circle added when diminished.  augmented chords are written in upper case numeral with plus sign).

6.  do some sightreading

7.  give yourself an eartraining test (have a friend record this so you do not know the answers):
a.  three scales (two major or minor - and one whatever is left).  identify the key and if it is major or minor.
b.  triads:
augmented, major, minor, diminished
c.  intervals:   M2, M3  etc.  (remember - happy birthday starts with major second,  michael row - thirds, here comes the bride - fourths, twinkle twinkle - fifths, etc)
d.  chord progressions (this one can be tricky) - sit down and record a bunch of them and listen to how they sound. 

[an9elique]

Yes, it is ABRSM..

Thank you soooo much Pianistimo..!! i'll surely try to keep all that in mind...  it helped me out alot..

Thanks once again..

[rc]

I apply what theory I know to every piece I learn, always analysing...  Besides studying it seperately, go through whatever pieces you're playing or have learned in the past and find examples of what you're studying.

Don't feel too bad, I have to somehow get good at sightreading and recognizing intervals by June.  Just think of the worst that could happen - we could fail...  Not so bad eh?  Feeling better?

Good luck to you, study hard...  But not too hard.  Don't break your brain.

[an9elique]

hmm.. rc, failing isnt an option for me right now   

i'm going through exactly what you are..lol..

anyway, Good luck to you too...!!

[RealPianist]

An9elique,

for the ABRSM gr. 5, you must know about:
question 1. time signature, key signature, rests, also some stuff like triplet, duplet, also how to make the rhythm of simple time sounds the same with the compound time. You should really know and understand about the rhythm, so you can do question no. 1 in the test paper.

question 2. a. you should be able to understand about interval.
just think the lower note as a major key, then, see if the higher note is the note in major or not, if yes, so the answer is major, if it's semitone higher so it's augmented, if it's lower semitone it's called minor, if it gets down a semitone again it's called diminished. But, it doesn't apply to notes that interval is 4th, 5th, 8ve. if the interval is 4th, 5th, 8ve, if it's lower a semitone it's already called a diminished. but if it raise semitone it's the same, augmented.

question 2. b. it's about the open-score, you maybe asked to write the open-score or to write the short-score. Just see from the theory in practice gr. 5 (if i'm not mistaken). Don't forget about the tenor part, it's an octave higher in the open-score.

question 2 is sometimes about interval, and sometimes about open-score.

question 3. it's about naming a chord, giving italian term, or write the meaning, then recognize the key, something like that. also, it's about instrumentation, like you should know about strings, woodwind, brass, and keyboard instruments. Like if you play in violin, what instrument can you play in woodwind? also, what is the lowest-sounding instruments in string family? in order to accomplish in this question, it's better for you to buy the Theory Paper in several years, like see on the last four year, look what are the question is all about. They are almost the same all the time, but you should used to working on it. so, practice about it!!

question 4. Scale..You should know about key signature, and how to write the melodic and harmonic minor. Like what Pianistimo said in her post.

question 5. 8-bar melody. Read about making 8-bar melody from the given theme. It's around grade 4 or 5. Just see the book. What you should know is, the 4th bar usually built to be an imperfect cadence, and the last bar is perfect or plagal cadence. Usually, you can make the 5th-6th bar variation from the 1st and 2nd bar.

question 6. cadence. it's simple just recognize the chord, and you should know, they usually ask for 2 cadence, so don't forget to tell yourself that it should be a cadence, whether it's imperfect, plagal, or perfect.

I hope this helps you An9elique..Have a nice study, also don't forget to work on the theory paper for the last 3-4 years in order to make you used to the questions. Good luck! ;

[an9elique]

RealPianist...

Thank you, tHank yOu, THANK YOU!! i really need support & help for this 'cuz i've never given a theory exam before..so all of your suggestions are really helping me out.

  God bless..

[RealPianist]

PM me if you need more info..

wish you all the best!

[an9elique]

o yayyy...!! i got some more time!! i'm giving the exam in november...