LAMDA exams - what questions to they ask at higher levels?

[loveyouradvice]

My Dd has just done Grade 4 solo acting (age 10).... came back saying she'd flunked the questions! Suspect she hasnt but suspect she was floored by a couple... She could remember what they'd asked at all except something about emotions! Love some advice on WHAT questions are typically asked at Grade 5 and 6 which she'll be doing the next two terms.... At lower levels its the obvious things like what would they wear and mood changes within the piece.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Grades 4&5 are similar as they are both Level 2. Grade 6 is a different set if questions as it is Level 3

Grade 5 Acting the questions are:

How is the character feeling
How does the character react to the situation
Why does the character move in the way they do
The reasons you have chosen to stage the piece in the way you did
Knowledge of the working stage areas (upstage, stage left etc)

Grade 6 you have to answer questions on the importance of the character in the play as a whole and the characters objective in the scene.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

I do have to say that I preferred the old LAMDA age restrictions

The syllabus guidelines say you should be a minimum age 14 to do Grade 6

Until a few years ago a 10 year old could only take Grade 2

[purplepenguin86]

If you go onto the LAMDA website then you can download the syllabus which has all of this info in it. Does she do Verse and Prose exams as well or just Acting?

Firelight - I agree regarding the age restrictions. Actually I thought the old system was better (Grades 1 - 8 then Bronze, Silver, Gold) but I do see why they had to change it. But I think there should be some minimum age restrictions.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

I stick to the old ages so font allow any student under 9 to do Grade 1. We struggled to find suitable Grade 6& 7 pieces for a 14-15 year old that had enough complexity for the Grade without the subject matter bring too adult.

I've held my dd back this year. She did Grade 2 when she was 10 but I want her maturity to catch up a bit with the pieces.

I'd be interested to know which monologues a 10 year old was choosing for Grade 5.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Can anybody out there recommend a teacher in the Greater Manchester region. I know there are different syllabuses but not sure as what we want yet, need somebody who can teach the lot.
Sorry to hijack, but didn't seem worth a thread on its own.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

I know someone from Altrincham who teaches Acting and someone from Cheadle Hulme who does them all but I contacted her recently as ive got too many to fit in this term and I don't think she has any spaces.

[JustFoofy]

Hi morethan, I know one who teaches in Bolton, Chester and Christleton. She prepares them for Trinity Guildhall exams rather than Lamda as it gives them points for UCAS applications.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Lamda exams give UCAS points. They provide completely different syllabus to Trinity (I use Trinity for musical theatre exams as I don't like Lamda syllabus for that. )

[JustFoofy]

Oh right. I only know what she's told me.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Trinity at the lower grades acting syllabus are a mixture of devised/impro and poetry I think mine is in their too. You don't get to do character monologues until higher up.

Lamda do separate syllabi for devised/mine but do acting monologue from Entry Level (pre Grade 1) onwards

However lamda MT exam is a bit wierd where you have to chose very specific and hard to find songs that celebrate a special moment or whatever.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Now I'm confused.

Ok, is the trinity Guildhall theatre speech or speech and drama?

My dd is 9 and is a beautiful singer, but I think her diction will let her down as she progresses. She does folk, classical though rather than a lot of theatre. Although she does cross over a bit with things like Les Mis, Secret Garden, West Side Story.

can anybody say which would board would be better for this situation. She has never really shown an interest in acting per se. Its more help with diction really.

Many thanks for the replies.

[JustFoofy]

As far as I'm aware its speech and drama. Ds is doing trinity grade 2 this summer which is prepared monologue and mime.

Pictures is yer woman for actual knowledge though

[Picturesinthefirelight]

I think trinity do a communication skills syllabus but don't know much about it.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Sorry was about to go to bed last night.

If she's shown little interest in drama I wouldn't go for the Trinity acting syllabus as it has mins etc.

I would consider either Lamda Verse & Prose where there is an emphasis on diction/breathing etc but when I get back home ill fig out my Trinity syllabus and have a look at their other options

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Mime/impro etc. sorry on phone typing quickly.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Pictures

Thank you very much, I will look too. I think sometimes even looking at a syllabus can confuse if its not something you know much about, and that's me here I'm afraid.
I do think the Verse and Prose sounds a little more suitable for meeting the need to improve her diction.
Thanks again all, sorry again for Hijack

[Picturesinthefirelight]

The other one she can consider now I've had a chance to look through it is Lamda Reading For Performance. Similar learning outcomes just go with whichever takes her interest.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Thank you Pictures I will have a look at them both, but may be back with stupid questions.

[Pooh2tigger]

My daughter just been told she's doing her grade 6 bronze level in November. Can anyone tell me what is expected of her & the requirements please. Thanks