Essential Music Theory: Grade 5 (ages 11-17)

About

This one-week course at Guildhall School of Music & Drama is ideal if you are preparing for the ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory exam and/or want to improve your knowledge of music theory. The course draws upon intuitive musical understanding and focuses on stave notation. The syllabus will also provide you with a foundation for more advanced music theory studies.

Course leader

The course is taught by pianist Andrew Bottrill, professor at Guildhall.

Target group

Anyone aged 11-17 with knowledge of ABRSM Grade 3 Music Theory, or the equivalent.

Course aim

The course will alternate between group sessions, independent working and 1:1 sessions led by the course tutor. For the 1:1 sessions you will be in your own breakout room to work on tasks, during which, the course tutor will join you to review the exercises.

Collective lessons are given in three broad topic areas:

- Time: understanding the notation of durations, metre and rhythm
- Pitch: understanding the notation of steps, intervals and patterns, tonality and harmony
- Sound and sense: understanding terminology, concepts, instruments and voices

Some of the activities will be online, but most exercises involve writing within the required publications and on manuscript paper.

Fee info