A sad goodbye to Virginia

[agate]

Did you ever try a musical instrument? Or singing?

[Prot]

I did have piano lessons at prep school. I was so bad that in the 5 years of having lessons I wasn't good enough to try for the lowest grade. When I was 12 I got into the choir at prep school. I was never considered for the choir at public school. In my vocal prime I was an above average singer, not a really good one.

[agate]

If you lasted through piano lessons for 5 years, you surely gave them a try. It sounds as is there was some kind of a ranking system going on? Too bad if you were put in a situation where you were compared to other piano students. That would have discouraged me very fast. I never had the faintest idea how other piano students were doing.

[Prot]

Here’s the clean, structured overview of piano grades — the whole system, how it works, what each level means, and how long it typically takes to move through it.

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The short version


Piano grades run from Initial → Grade 1 → Grade 8 → Diplomas.
Grades 1–5 build core musicianship; Grades 6–8 are advanced; Diplomas are professional‑level.

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The full structure

⭐ Pre‑grade

• Initial Grade / Prep Test
  For absolute beginners. Focus on simple pieces, basic technique, and confidence.

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Grades 1–3: Early Foundation

• Hands together, simple scales, basic pedalling
• Reading improves; coordination develops
• Typical pieces: simple classical, folk tunes, early jazz

Equivalent level: beginner to early intermediate.

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Grades 4–5: Intermediate Musicianship

• More complex rhythms and key signatures
• Faster scales and arpeggios
• Expressive control and phrasing become important
• Grade 5 Theory is often required before taking Grade 6 practical (ABRSM)

Equivalent level: solid intermediate.

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Grades 6–8: Advanced Performance

• Wide dynamic range, stylistic interpretation
• Virtuosic technique begins (octaves, fast passagework, voicing)
• Mature musical understanding required
• Grade 8 is a serious achievement — roughly the level of a strong sixth‑form musician

Equivalent level: advanced.

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Post‑Grade 8 Diplomas


For those aiming at professional or semi‑professional musicianship.

• DipABRSM / ATCL — undergraduate‑level performance
• LRSM / LTCL — advanced undergraduate
• FRSM / FTCL — conservatoire‑level mastery

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⏱️ How long does it take?


This varies hugely, but typical ranges:

• Grade 1: 1–2 years from starting
• Grades 1–5: 5–7 years total
• Grades 6–8: another 3–5 years
• Diplomas: 1–3 years per level

Adults often progress faster because of better discipline and understanding.

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It was what they called an 'extra curricula activity'. I just had zero aptitude for it. Did you ever have pupils/students you knew were bright, but that wasn't reflected by their academic performance? I was that type of pupil/student.During my school years,1961-1975, there was no help and support for pupils/students like me. There was no 2e then.

[agate]

That's a really structured program and must have been taught by well qualified teachers, or no?


For the first 7 years I had a piano teacher who used a system called John Thompson. Every year I got a different music book as part of a series. I started with learning to read and write music (the basics). At some point I was also given sheet music selections to play, like Handel's "Harmonious Blacksmith."

Then we moved and I was very lucky to have a piano teacher who had been a concert pianist in Europe. He probably took me on as a student only because I was friends with his daughter. I studied with him for about 5 years. He was big on exercises and J. S. Bach, Schumann, Chopin.

But neither teacher used a system like the one you outlined.

I did have students who probably weren't tapping into their own abilities. I tried to encourage a couple of them who I thought were unaware that they really had something to say and could say it well. But my students varied in age from 18 to 80s and it wasn't always easy to tell which ones had an aptitude combined with enough interest. The interest had to be there but this was English language/composition they were learning, something they theoretically should have already mastered by then but hadn't because the school system in the US hasn't been stressing literacy very much, apparently.