Learning
The New ABRSM Syllabus is Here!
A long awaited update, but is the new ABRSM syllabus as good as anticipated? It’s a mixed bag.
General
Finding Traditional Songs
I’ll be honest. I don’t like trying to find traditional songs! Ever since I read the ABRSM advice and heard about the poor examiner who had ten renditions of ‘Ten Green Bottles’ on one day, I am super keen to find something different or unusual for my students to sing. Read more…
General
To Enter, Or Not To Enter…?
It’s September. That means for all us music teachers, like the children we teach, it’s back to school and back to work. In the UK, as well as abroad, a new term means we once again face the question: do I enter my pupils for an exam this term? Sometimes, Read more…
Musical theatre
Movement for Non-Actors (Part 3) – It’s the Little Things
As we have been discussing in previous posts, the use of movement in a performance is always tied to the information you’re trying to communicate to your audience. So far, we’ve talked about the big movements – walking around and changing levels. In this post, we’ll take a look at a Read more…
Musical theatre
Movement for Non-Actors (Part 2) – Where?
As we talked about on Tuesday, movement isn’t normally part of a singer’s repertoire, but it becomes vitaly important in musical theatre. However, once you’ve worked out why you’re moving, it’s time to work out where to go. Geography of the Stage In this post, I’m going to give a quick run-down Read more…
Musical theatre
Movement for Non-Actors: Part 1- Why Move?
If you’re preparing for an LCM Musical Theatre Performance exam, you might have noticed this rather ominous line in the syllabus: …dance and movement are encouraged and expected, and credit will be given for appropriate dance and other movement which is in context and is integral to, and enhances the Read more…
General
How to Make Musical Note Cookies
I thought, since it’s exam season, I might deviate from my usual posts of tips and tricks, and share a wonderful recipe I found for cookie-cutter biscuits. I have road-tested these and not only are they easy to make, but they also hold their shape really well when you use Read more…
General
My First Singing Exam (yes, your teachers took them too!)
I took my first singing exam in… oh, I won’t tell you, but I was aged 14 and in year 9 at school in the south of England. I had been taking violin lessons since I was eight, but my interest had waned, not least because my teacher refused to Read more…
Teaching
Break a… Pencil? (Good Luck for Theory Exams)
This afternoon is the ABRSM theory exam date, and Trinity are holding theirs on Saturday. Good luck if you’re taking a theory exam this week! For those of you who are in a twirl, here’s a few last minute tips to see you safely to the end of the exam: Read more…
Teaching
Conquoring Exam Nerves
Everyone gets nervous, and when it’s something like a singing exam, it can feel like your nerves are out to get you – they’re just determined to make you fail even when you know you’re capable! So here are some of my key tips to help you conquer exam nerves. Counteract every Read more…