VCM Classic Banjo grades

[carrie horgan]

Hi there - I wondered if anyone has embarked on the VCM grades for classic banjo and, if so, how you are getting along.  I am considering giving it a go, as I think it may give me a focus - especially with regard to learning to read music (I can now transcribe basic music scores to tab but the next step will be learning to sight-read...). I would be interested to hear your experiences. 

Thanks

Carrie

p.s. I did notice that the VCM exam site doesn't currently list banjo as an option but I think they must do it as the preliminary and Grade 1 are listed on their publication site.

  

[carrie horgan]

Thanks Eric.  Yes, I've also got the curriculum as I thought it would be useful to see what pieces are suggested for beginners - there is such a huge variety of pieces in classic banjo and they can present as quite challenging.  Good to hear from another newbie. 

[thereallyniceman]

Are they still running the Classic Banjo curriculum as I couldn't see it listed on the VCM website, but may have missed it somewhere?

[Trapdoor2]

Pretty cool stuff. I wish we had something like that here.

College-level courses for "bluegrass banjo" appear here occasionally and some of the "folk schools" offer programs but nothing like the VCM that I know of.

[David Wade]

Hi, as usual this is the "wrong" version. I originally prepared this many years ago and submitted to VCM and then Alan Middleton suggested some changes so I issued a revised version. This version was rolled out on the general public at the Federation Rally in London in '12. We have been arguing about it since! I know of one person who has taken and passed Grade 1. VCM really wanted a grade system that would for all styles of  5-string banjo ie classic; bluegrass; clawhammer etc so we are at a little impasse. I can supply copies of any of the pieces for "study" they would normally be produced by VCMs publishing arm and therefore, unless already in public domain, subject their copyright. Although I produce tab version of the pieces I publish through the British BMG Federation Newsletter, it kind of defeats the object of a grade system designed to advance ones skills to have to tab out the pieces. 

[carrie horgan]

Thanks Dave - I thought it was odd that 'Banjo' as an option doesn't appear on the main VCM site. I have a copy of Grade 1 (most of the pieces are public domain but I was interested to see the original compositions by Alan Middleton and others).

In the meantime, I have started inching my way through the Bradbury book in an effort to learn how to read music!

[David Wade]

Hi Carrie, why not pop across to the Rally at Clowne on Saturday, I can bring some of the "missing" pieces and buy you nice cup of tea! 

[carrie horgan]

Thanks Dave - sadly, I can't attend this Sat due to work.  The only banjo players I know are bluegrass die-hards so it would be great to meet like-minded people.  I will definitely come to the next one, cheers.