ABRSM Music Theory | Grade 8

A complete video course covering the ABRSM Grade 8 Music Theory syllabus.

Pass ABRSM Grade 8 Music Theory

with confidence!
  • Covers everything required for your exam
  • Clear explanations and demonstrations of topics 
  • Learn how to approach exam questions step-by-step
  • Avoid common mistakes, improve your exam technique 
  • Practise with exam-style questions 
  • Study at your own pace
  • Feel fully prepared before exam day

Everything you need to know, in the order you need to learn it!
Email support included

Grade 8 Music Theory

Grade 8 is the final level of music theory offered by the ABRSM as an examination subject. At this level, you are studying topics similar to those studied at undergraduate level at a UK university.

Grade 8 tests your knowledge and skills in harmony, composition and general knowledge through a variety of questions. This course covers each topic in the ABRSM grade 8 exam in detail, with clear explanations, demonstrations, and course PDF included. 

Course length: Approx. 6 hours watch time

The exam begins with a Baroque Trio Sonata, which needs to be completed according to the instructions in the figured bass, and should conform to the typical Baroque style.

This question tests your ability to interpret the figuring, to notice patterns and sequences and apply them appropriately elsewhere, and to obey the accepted rules of harmony that were practised during the Baroque period.  

Question 2 requires you to complete a keyboard piece from the given skeleton framework.
 
You are provided with example bars and harmony, and are tested on your ability to write in the same character throughout, while still obeying the conventions of harmony and in an appropriate keyboard style.

The third question in the exam is a composition piece. You will be given the opening melodic ideas of two pieces and need to choose one to continue into a fully formed piece. You will be tested on your ability to adapt the given opening, fitting a strong melody to a good harmonic framework built of phrases and cadences, as well as writing in an idiomatic style suitable for the instrument. You will be expected to structure the composition in a logical manner, and to include changes of key.

 The final two questions in the exam use musical scores to test a wide range of general knowledge questions in music theory. Usually you will be presented with one score for a chamber work, such as a sonata or string quartet, and another for a larger orchestral work. Questions normally cover a variety of topics such as chords, key and harmony, intervals, transposition, knowledge of notation, special symbols and foreign terms, style and compositional techniques, and knowledge of the standard and extended orchestral families.

Grade 8 is a challenging exam, but one which you will find interesting and useful. The skills you learn at this level will help you to make sense of a large variety of music as both a listener and a player, and for those who are interested in composition, there are plenty of techniques covered to help you extend your skillset.

OMG! Thank you SO MUCH for all your help and patience over the….. years, I guess it is really!

Katrina - 100% at Grade 8!

Katrina
 Student & Teacher

Just a short email to say that I passed grade 8 theory. This has been a long road, but a very satisfying one – I started learning music theory almost exclusively with your website way back in 2011. There is no way I could have passed these exams without your help and teachings. Thank you so very much. Once I passed grade 5 theory, I decided to change careers to being a media composer (and I still am one to this day). You’re changing lives. Thank you so much.

Nico
Student

I have sent this email to thank you for helping me achieve amazing results (92%) for the ABRSM Grade 8 Music Theory examination I sat for two months ago. Beyond the exams I am now equipped with greater awareness about how music works allowing me to get closer to the things I love about music in the first place. Thank you for empowering me in this aspect of my human experience!

Jia Wei
Student

Course Contents

Victoria Williams

Hi, I'm Victoria Williams!

I started MyMusicTheory.com way back in 2007 - all my courses have been thoroughly tested by thousands of students and are constantly updated and improved. Here's a little bit more about me...

  • I graduated with a degree in music, (specialising in musicology), from the University of Leeds in 1995. 
  • I hold both diplomas in music theory from Trinity College London AmusTCL (distinction) and LmusTCL. I also hold Grade 8 Composition (Distinction) from LCM. I teach woodwind and piano (and theory!) in South Cambridgeshire as a private and visiting music teacher, and also in a volunteer role at the local music workshop.

Students of my courses generally gain top marks in their exams (and so can you!)

Read what others have said about me and my courses here: 

https://pianodao.com/2023/11/04/music-theory-online-courses/

https://www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk/content/review/tech-reviews-music-theory-apps

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Grade 8 Video
Course

£70

  • Grade 8 Video Course
  • Grade 8 Course PDF
  • Email support

Grade 8 Video
Course +
Marking

£106

  • Grade 8 Video Course
  • Grade 8 Course PDF
  • 1 Hour of Marking Time

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