i can play chopins, racmaninovs, greigs and beethovens piano concertos. i can play nocturnes sonatas and etudes which are over grade 8. i am in college doin a course in music and we have to do music exams. ive never done any in my life and i just had my first piano lesson. and guess what grade i am doing? grade 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! grade 2 can u beleive it? what shall i do?

GRADE 2!!!!!

Oh dear...
Hold on, hun.
I can understand how exasparating it feels...
The reason you`re in Grade 2 is because you`ve got music "rules" (the theory) to catch up on, right?
It shouldn`t take you long, don`t worry.
I learn the entire music theory course in less than a year, and got an A at the exam.

Alot of famous composers never had formal lessons or lessons at all. If you`re above your level.. try going to another teacher.. tell them that you`re whatever level... if that doesn`t work.. you should be able to sight read your way through level two and just tear your way through it.... or even better.. don`t take lessons...

It would be pretty satisfying if you`re better than your teacher.
Show `em who they`re messing with!

exactly i tought my self and i never done grades before i cant sight read even though i no what the notes are. i mostly play by ear.

ive got a piano teacher and she is absolutely brilliant but she dosen`t do grades. ive only got a piano teacher for college because we have to as part of our course. and we have to do grades.

I dunno why yr doing gr 2..But speaking from a teacher`s viewpt...It may be that yr playing has yet to develop the required style and technique( rather than playing correct notes )...it may also be becaz of yr theory..like what pp had suggested. Is this graded thing compulsory in yr school system? Or issit something that yr teacher wants u to do? Personally I think that it`s only correct and essential to be graded caz that will make u know where u stand, and what yr in for. And if u want to do music professionally, then y`ll have to be graded. PP will want to see yr qualifications when yr looking for a job in this field. Playing well doesn`t give u the ticket to the big party. U must have the ticket This is what i suggest u can do: If u dun like to be graded, then...complete yr Practical and Theory a.s.a.p, and enroll in a recognized Music College, and get a degree. A good enough degree should be equilavent to an LRSM or FTCL. This is what a lot of pianists do...U know, those who really play really well, but hate exams and the stupid system.

When I say complete yr grades, I mean only until grade 5. Caz that`s the minimum criteria for taking most diplomas or a minor study in a good college.