About the Book
Grade Six Music Theory for ABRSM Candidates by Victoria Williams
2nd EditionA complete course for students taking the ABRSM Grade 6 music theory exam.
This 2nd edition has been restructured to take into account the ABRSM syllabus changes at grades 1-5, in 2018 and 2020. The first edition of the book assumed prior knowledge of composition and harmony which used to be tested at the earlier grades. The second edition now covers these skills in more depth as they are no longer tested in earlier grades.
This book takes you through each grade 6 music theory topic with a step-by-step approach. Each topic is explained in simple terms with several musical examples, and is then followed by a page of consolidation exercises so that you can immediately practice your new-found knowledge. In depth explanations are given for tackling each of the exam questions set on the ABRSM grade 6 music theory papers. A practice test is included.
Model answers are provided to all exercises plus the practice test.
The course covers the ABRSM syllabus for Grade Six, which is a high intermediate level.
You will learn how chords are constructed, about their inversions and the way they are commonly put into progressions and cadences. You will learn how to harmonise a simple melody, by choosing chords that both sound good, and also agree with the "rules" of harmony set down in the classical era.
You will learn how to read "figured bass", which is a short-hand system for notating chords. You will be able to produce a piece of 4-part harmony from a single figured bass line, and also learn how to create a figured bass line which will fit a given melody. You will learn how the figured bass system works, how to answer the exam questions, with plenty of tips to help you remember as you go along.
In the composition section of the course, you will find out exactly what the examiner is expecting of you, in order to gain top marks for your composition. You will learn how to structure a melody, how to use the ideas from the provided given opening to create the rest of the piece, and how to write performance directions which are meaningful and musical. You will also learn about changing key (modulation) and the most effective way to do this.
You will learn how to answer a range of general music theory questions based on a score for either an chamber work, or an orchestral piece. You'll learn about how ensemble scores are organised, which instruments transpose and how, as well as a myriad of other skills such as intervals, writing out ornaments, or analysing harmony.
Perfect for self-study, or to use with your music teacher.
Ample musical illustrations and exercises are included, with model answers provided. Each page has been carefully designed to be suitable for photocopying.
You are welcome to email the author for guidance!
This book is "bilingual", and contains both UK and USA musical terminology.
See www.mymusictheory.com for more!
Victoria Williams graduated with a BA Hons degree in Music from the University of Leeds, in 1995, where she specialised in musicology. She also holds the music theory diplomas AmusTCL and LmusTCL.
In 2007 Victoria created www.mymusictheory.com, which has now grown to offer music theory preparation lessons for ABRSM and Trinity exams grades 1-8 and beyond.
