While looking on the internet for ideas, I stumbled across this great “craft” idea from Crayola: What a wonderful idea to help kids learn to plan and record their practice! You can get the full instructions as given by Crayola here, but I think overall it’s fairly self explanatory!
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 love discussing historical context, composers and meaning. When preparing repertoire 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 to remember that. Now, many of you may go “huh? 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 daunting. For most other instruments there are between 6 and 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 you, or someone you know, would like to take ABRSM 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 exam room. What to do BEFORE the exam Revision is 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 functioning. A few years ago, I went to my routine 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 with your exam! I hope this helps you.
ABRSM classical singing exams are the most rigorous exams I prepare candidates for. Not only are students required to sing a song in a range of styles from a variety of periods, but they are also required to sing unaccompanied and pass supporting tests. Although the other boards do offer Read more…
No matter what it is you’re learning, setting yourself a target is essential. You need to know where you’re going to know how to get there. It’s one of the main reasons why schools have a curriculum – there’s so much information in the world, so a curriculum gives teachers Read more…