Is it possible to learn an instrument without going through the whole grade 1-8 thing? I plan to learn saxophone (alto) but I just get really put off by the knowledge and other stuff you have to do to pass the test. (I played flute before) Would it be weird to ask a teacher to just teach you music and how to play the sax?
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I hate music grades (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter FrankUses
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madharris
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I know quite a few people who learn an instrument without going through the 'grades'
I myself have done Cmus on saxophone and Amus piano but that's because I enjoyed it. A few of my friends who play saxophone just play sax for the enjoy meant. So they play jazz stuff, learn impro, etc (of course this is doable without learning, but it makes learning an instrument more fun in a way).
Soooo no, it would not be weird. Maybe at first you could start off witht he grades without doing exams, but once you get better you can go onto a more variety of things?
(sorry if what i'm saying is not making much sense, but you know what i mean [hopefully])
I myself have done Cmus on saxophone and Amus piano but that's because I enjoyed it. A few of my friends who play saxophone just play sax for the enjoy meant. So they play jazz stuff, learn impro, etc (of course this is doable without learning, but it makes learning an instrument more fun in a way).
Soooo no, it would not be weird. Maybe at first you could start off witht he grades without doing exams, but once you get better you can go onto a more variety of things?
(sorry if what i'm saying is not making much sense, but you know what i mean [hopefully])
Shadowdude
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Yeah that's fine, not everyone does grades, whatever works for you. I stopped examinations after 7th grade for piano, and I don't do grades at all for clarinet.
Blue Suede
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You by no means need to do grades. But there are some cool alternatives. I did some grades in Sax for Leisure (I think this is what it's called?), which instead of being stressful and 'hardcore' like most grading examinations are, allowed me to play jazz pieces, and do improv stuff, and only very few scales. They're equivalent in hardness to normal grades, but have much more flexibility in the types of pieces you can choose to play, and far less pressure.
Also, the sax is amazing.
Also, the sax is amazing.
anna-purna
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im not sure what level you are at, but i know that if you achieve an A+ for 8th grade ameb you get 2-3 atar points depending on the uni 
OMGITzJustin
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did AMEB piano grades since year 3, so annoying