One of the aspects of teaching I really enjoy is when I get to use my degree (which isn’t in music) to help students understand the songs they are singing. I studied Social Anthropology and Social History, and so I Read more…
In addition to my Friday Favourites posts, and the slot on Wednesdays reserved for series (like the current ABRSM exam series), I hope to make a regular appearance of a short post on Mondays with my teaching notes on one classical Read more…
Once or twice, I’ve had students insist to me that a Cb is the same as a B. Each time, I have to remind them that, actually they’re not the same note at all and as singers it’s very important Read more…
Check out this week’s pick of the blogosphere. Do you like the new Friday Favourites log? The Key to Better Performances and Crispier Waffles (Bulletproof Musician) – a fab post by the master of great advice on the mental Read more…
NB: While reading this series, it can be helpful to keep a copy of the ABRSM Singing syllabus to hand. The syllabus can be downloaded here http://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/singing/ Facing the list of song choices for an ABRSM singing exam can be Read more…
Many a theory student has reached the dizzy heights of passing ABRSM Grade 5 theory and thought ‘I’m enjoying this, why not do more?’, only to fall at the first hurdle by buying the wrong materials to learn with. If Read more…
With the ABRSM (and other boards’) theory exams only weeks away, I thought now would be a good time to offer up some of my top tips for revising for the exam, and then for what to do in the Read more…
As someone who was diagnosed with asthma around the age of 7, it’s been my life longer than singing has. My symptoms are generally mild, and I’ve never been hospitalised, but my diagnosis does still affect my day to day Read more…
Being able to draw a piano keyboard during a theory exam is really useful for working out intervals and note names. Here’s a quick visual guide as to how to do it: And there you have it. Good luck Read more…
Here’s a round-up of the best music-related blog posts of the week: How to pass a music diploma (Cross-Eyed Pianist) – A great blog post reviewing the writer’s experience of taking piano diplomas. Anyone interested in taking a music diploma Read more…