Grade 8 on two years?

[TopMarc]

Hi guys, so I'm looking into universities a little bit as I will be starting my A Levels in September and it seems that most credible uni's require ABRSM Grade 8. I've not been playing DB very long, about 6-8 weeks. I have lessons at school, and after learning the basics like bowing technique etc. my teacher thinks I will easily be able to do grade 3 in July which encouraging considering how long I've been having lessons. I've been playing BG for about 4 years so I suppose that has helped. My question is will it be possible to reach Grade 8 by the time I go to university, approx two years?
Thanks
Marcus

[TopMarc]

Title was supposed to say IN two years not on
Lol

[SBassS]

Yes, you can do it, or at least get close depending on audition schedule.

My son has been playing not quite 2 years and he's approaching level 6/7 with no prior string instrument experience. Repertoire building may be the biggest challenge - it does take time to gain a full repertoire in addition to constant work on technique, études, scales and arpeggios, orchestral excerpts, etc.

Ds's teacher started much like you - and became quite accomplished in a very short time before being accepted into a very respectable university. He practiced a lot.

Just focus on auditioning with what you can do very very well, even if not all of it is quite at the top levels you are striving for.

[TopMarc]

Thanks for that, really filled me with confidence!
Cheers

[ruifgalmeida]

not impossible

[eerbrev]

depends on how hard you work.

[somegeezer]

When you do A levels, assuming they are also in music, your classes will try to bring you up to that level. Uni also requires grade 5 theory, as well as 8 in instruments, and I managed easily to even get to level 6 in my theory stuff. It's never as difficult as it may look at times. If you start really struggling on a particular thing, move on to the next thing, and come back to it later.

[Andrew McGregor]

Study the theory early, it really does make the performance work easier (because you have more to hang the memory off).

Do plenty of orchestra playing, once you are able. You should be able to use that experience to offset any small amount you might miss the Grade 8 target by. Remember that university requirements are guidelines, and that if you are in a place substantially equivalent to what they were looking for, any institution you want to go to will not quibble about the exact paperwork. The places that are sticklers for exact qualifications you don't want to study at anyway.

[JPHYeoh]

Definitely possible. I finished RCM 10 up here in Canada in one year, which included Dragonetti and Eccles. You just have to work your butt off and become obsessed with music.

It consumed my life for a while. I'm surprised I didn't get injured. Also a social life is important! As hard as you work, be sure to take of yourself physically and socially! Just my two cents.

[TopMarc]

Thanks for the comments guys, really encouraging. I'm doing my grade 5 theory exam in June and plan to have done grade 8 by the time I go to uni so I suppose that will help as well and yes I am doing A Level Music.
Thanks

[MartinBorgen]

So... What is this Grade system?

[eerbrev]

Originally Posted by MartinBorgen

So... What is this Grade system?

Looks like the Royal Conservatory System. I don't know how well the Canadian RCM and the UK Royal Conservatory levels match up, but they're originally designed to 1 level per year (starting at a very young age). Older players who work hard can usually move through the grades at an accelerated rate. There are certain pieces, skills and techniques that are associated with each level.

the last guide i saw for the Canadian system's Bass grades was published in 2004ish (no idea if they've updated it since) and to get an idea of what level was what, a Grade 9 level requirement was the first 2 movements of the Dragonetti Concerto, along with a few other pieces and technical exercises.

eerbrev

[MartinBorgen]

Aha. To the OP, I'd then guess it can be done. I converted to clasical double bass from Electyric bass (played in rock, jazz and wind bands) about two years ago. I worked hard and managed to sucessfully audition to musical collages (here in sweden) with Eccles 1&2, Capuzzi, Chanson triste and Lars-Erik Larsson Concertino.

[jmclearnon]

I wonder how long it would take me to do grade 8 bass. I'm diploma level on the cello and have played bass guitar for a while. I did pick up my friend DB at an orchestra rehearsal and site read all the stuff.... Might be a fun thing to pick up.

[JPHYeoh]

Originally Posted by eerbrev

Looks like the Royal Conservatory System. I don't know how well the Canadian RCM and the UK Royal Conservatory levels match up, but they're originally designed to 1 level per year (starting at a very young age). Older players who work hard can usually move through the grades at an accelerated rate. There are certain pieces, skills and techniques that are associated with each level.

the last guide i saw for the Canadian system's Bass grades was published in 2004ish (no idea if they've updated it since) and to get an idea of what level was what, a Grade 9 level requirement was the first 2 movements of the Dragonetti Concerto, along with a few other pieces and technical exercises.

eerbrev

I think the OP is referring to some sort of grade system other than the Canadian RCM. I remember reading a while ago something about an American equivalent, where the highest level was 8. This was my guess to what the OP was referring to!

Also, Grade 10 RCM has Dragonetti, Eccles, Beethoven 5, Beethoven 9.. Even Mozart 35! Of course these excerpts are way beyond any graded level I say.

[eerbrev]

Originally Posted by JPHYeoh

I think the OP is referring to some sort of grade system other than the Canadian RCM. I remember reading a while ago something about an American equivalent, where the highest level was 8. This was my guess to what the OP was referring to!

Also, Grade 10 RCM has Dragonetti, Eccles, Beethoven 5, Beethoven 9.. Even Mozart 35! Of course these excerpts are way beyond any graded level I say.

I think OP might be in the UK. He speaks about starting his "A Levels" which is an English thing, not an American thing. I could be 100% wrong though!

Is Dragonetti really Grade 10 RCM? I could have sworn it was Grade 9 at the highest. Shows how long ago I saw that book!

eerbrev

[TopMarc]

Yeah sorry for the confusion, I am in the UK. Here we do ABRSM grades (associated board of the royal schools of music) where grade 8 is the highest.
Cheers

[JPHYeoh]

Originally Posted by eerbrev

I think OP might be in the UK. He speaks about starting his "A Levels" which is an English thing, not an American thing. I could be 100% wrong though!

Is Dragonetti really Grade 10 RCM? I could have sworn it was Grade 9 at the highest. Shows how long ago I saw that book!

eerbrev

Haha okay so I am confirmed wrong with what system OP is in! I'm not too knowledgeable with other grade systems as it seems!

Yeah, Dragonetti is Grade 10, as well as Dittersdorf. There is the grade beyond that called ARCT, where all the big fish concertos and excerpts pop up. Grade 9 has things like the Dragonetti waltzes, Pichl concerto.. And the excerpts are Beethoven 3 Scherzo, Mahler 1 solo, Marriage of Figaro, etc.

To be fair, a lot of the orchestral excerpts in the RCM grading is pretty off. The fact that at most excerpts are worth 10% in exams also shows how unfitting RCM is for the aspiring orchestral bassist, but I guess it is good for developing solo playing!