Category: Aural

Aural Training: Musical Features

To become more familiar with difference dynamics and articulations, try practising scales or broken chords with these variations: Quietly on the way up, loudly on the way down (and vice versa). Begin quietly and gradually get louder on the way up, then gradually get quieter again on the way down (and vice versa). Play the…
Aural Training: Cadences, Chords & Modulations

Grade 6
Aural Training: Melodic & Rhythmic Repetition

This “echo test” forms the building blocks for the melodic repetition exercises required at higher grades. Most candidates are reassured to know that this is not a test of their singing abilities, but one of their musical memory. If you have trouble singing back the phrases, try breaking down the test into just rhythmic and…
Aural Training: Pulse & Metre

In order to answer this question successfully, you will need to know the meaning of these three words: pulse, rhythm and metre. When clapping in time, it is important to distiguish between pulse and rhythm. There are a few key differences between them, highlighted by the table below: Pulse is the regular, underlying beat present…
Aural Tests: Learn to be a Good Listener

What is exactly is meant when we talk about good musicianship? While your mind may jump to an image of a virtuoso pianist in mid-concert, it is not the playing of the instrument that makes a good musician. Rather, the skills that we come to rely on begin at a very early stage, ideally from…
Improvisation

Though the benefits of improvisation are perhaps not as tangible as those of playing from a score, it is unquestionably one of the best ways to stimulate the musical mind. Many famous composers were gifted improvisers; Mozart, Chopin and in particular Bach to name just a few. A well-rounded musician may improvise in any key and…
Tonality

When you look at a painting, what do your eyes perceive? What colours or shapes are they drawn to? Which part of the image do your eyes focus on, and what are they aware of in the periphery?Now think what your ears perceive when you hear a piece of music and ask yourself the same…
Aural Skills: The Inner Ear and Visualisation

When was the last time you got a tune stuck in your head? How much of it can you recall before it goes foggy? In how much detail can you render a performance in your head? Can you imagine yourself playing it as you hear it? If you can picture yourself playing a piece as…
Pulse

What is it that has us tapping our foot along to a well known tune? How does our foot know when to tap? How do the performers stay in time with each other? What keeps the music pushing on, note by note, no matter who is playing it or what is being played?