Can you skip the first ten RCM grades?
I play piano, but I’ve never been actively involved in all of these "piano breeding systems", even though I want to be a part of them. So I put my eye on RCM. But I play at about an RCM 10/ ARCT level. Do I need to do any or all of the previous grades?
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you can go straight to finish the level 8 certification program if you feel confident, but for the new policy for RCM, if you never finish the level 8 program, you can not just go straight to the higher level such as level 9, 10 or even ARCT
www.rcmusic.com/piano-syllabus-2015-edition-prerequisites-and-corequisites shows the prerequisites for the various RCM levels.
I'd suggest Level 8 would be a starting point if you believe you are playing at Level 10, but have no (or little) theory or history knowledge.
You can go straight in to whatever grade you think you can complete. Doing lower grades is a good experience for being aware of what actually happens in an exam situation, and also to show expectations of playing levels, etc.
Higher grade exams require a lot of work, and the playing level will need to be a lot more than just 'good' to attain a good score. There are also other considerations - aural tests, scales, arpeggios, sight reading come to mind, all or none of which necessarily will be easy for you as merely 'a player'. It also costs a fair bit of money to enter - even lower grades aren't cheap. So why would you gamble all that money - which is effectively what you may be doing.
Don't know at all about that exam board, but ABRSM for one requires grade V theory to be passed before taking grade VI and above practical. Not all exam boards have this inbuilt.
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