Musicianship vs music theory?

[lamadoo]

Hi guys,

can anyone clear this up for me please. Whats the difference between the two?  For my university audition test they say i need to study musicianship grade 6 OR music theory grade 5. do they both use the same materials and is equivalent in nature? Thanks guys

[pianoplunker]

Hi guys,

can anyone clear this up for me please. Whats the difference between the two?  For my university audition test they say i need to study musicianship grade 6 OR music theory grade 5. do they both use the same materials and is equivalent in nature? Thanks guys

Theory is more of a study of  music structure. The scales , chords, harmonies, resolutions.
Musicianship is more to do with dynamics, phrasing, execution. what your university wants is perhaps answered by a faculty over there.

[m1469]

I've never heard of a "musicianship" course!  I really don't know what it would be as a separate course from everything else.  In my opinion, theory should be (is) directly linked to performance/musicianship but it's often studied as an isolated subject.  Maybe a "musicianship" course is more detail about how to practically and musically apply theory in performance.  If so, that might be useful!

[Bob]

Yes, musicianship is pretty broad. If they've got a grading system on it, I'd guess it's some system (maybe theirs) they're following or something based on tests.  Maybe they means ear training by musicianship.  Who knows?

Yes, I'd ask them.

And I'd just study.  Don't rely too much on their system or their levels.

[j_menz]

If you check out the syllabuses of the two you will see the differences.

https://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/theory/grade-5/

https://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/other-instruments-and-assessments/practical-musicianship/grade-6/

If you are using a grading system other than ABRSM, the details may vary. The overall subject matter shuld be similar, though.

[lamadoo]

thanks guys, what will i do without yous

[yale_music]

Hi lamadoo,

I've taught both musicianship and theory at the university level. Here is what each likely entails, at least as far as entrance exams are concerned. Note that not all of these tasks will necessarily be on your exams:

Theory (most, if not all, of this work will be written):

1) Rudiments - E.g., identifying intervals, triads, scales, and chord qualities (e.g., major, diminished) and inversions
2) Harmonic analysis - you will be given an excerpt from a chorale and/or a work in another style and will have to provide a Roman numeral analysis (e.g., I - II6 - Ger6 - Cad6/4 - V7 - I)
3) Counterpoint small written counterpoint exercises - this typically involves species counterpoint (see the Wikipedia article)

Musicianship (most of which will be aural/oral):

1) Sight Singing - you will be given a few melodies to sing at sight—typically at least one will be atonal; you might be asked to sing atonal cells at sight (e.g., C-G-F#-C#)
2) Dictation - you will be played one or more melodies and will be required to notate it/them—again, typically at least one of these will be atonal
3) Harmonic Analysis - you will be played a harmonic progression on the piano and will be asked to notate at least the bass and soprano; you will then be asked to analyse the harmony
4) Keyboard Skills - you will be asked to sight read some music at the piano; you might also be asked to realise a figured bass and score-read (i.e., transcribe and play an orchestral score at sight)

I hope this helps. Good luck with your studies!