I can't figure out what people mean when they claim they are Grade 1 or Grade 6, etc. How is this determined and by whom? Is this some formal thing? It must be a certain level of achievement obviously but still means nada to me yet. Thanks in advance for any enlightenment.

These links cover the UK (grades 1 - 8) and Canada (grades 1-10). There are others

http://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/piano

http://examinations.rcmusic.ca/academic-resources/general-information

Thanks Richard. Appreciate the response, looks like pretty serious stuff.

To people like me grades are meaningless.

Apparently the big thing about grade 8 is that the ABRSM lets you charge money for lessons. Except around me are 500+ grade 8 teachers.

Though I know a couple of grade 1s and 0s who've been playing for decades who charge tiny amounts of money for lessons even music teachers in schools who do not have their grades proper. Though you could never tell because they are fact accurate and can play most bits of sheet music you care to pop infront of them.