Spring 21 virtual music thread

What are posters wanting from the theory exams? Is it just a pass grade 5 so that they can move forward with practical exams? Or is it because they want to continue onto grade 8 and further with their analytical work? It's maybe not the correct way forward - but there are ways of approaching the exam that will get some points and a pass without following the whole programme (with cadences for example). Talk it through with your theory teacher. Ive had some students do the musicianship exam instead of theory too.

Yes dd has studied theory to grade 5 but is in no way ready for an exam today. It will take a lot of effort. I think I'll take a look at the practise papers. If it was paper I'd probably go for it because I can practise that more at home but it's the online thing that's concerning me.
Lucky we have a passport that would be annoying if we didn't too.

I think there are a few more dates for the theory now, instead of the usual three per year so you might be better taking your time ( unless your DC does well under pressure!)

Greenmonkey and Comefromaway, yes you do need photo ID for grade 5 theory upwards and playing grade 6 upwards (not sure about 5, I don't remember that). Luckily we had a passport still in date. You can get away with having a Candidate Identification Form (it's on this link) where an adult just needs to confirm that the photo is of DC: gb.abrsm.org/en/policies/candidate-identification-policy/

We did theory just before lockdown. Unless your teacher has been doing bits as part of the lesson I would have thought that "cramming" grade 5 in 5-7 weeks would be a bit of an ask for a younger child. There are some resources here:
gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/online-theory/exam-preparation-resources/

Maybe get DC to have a go at answering one of the lower grade papers (they have the answers online in that link) and see how she gets on (you can make quite a lot of mistakes and still pass).

Sorry I don't know but I've just seen that children can now only take Grade 5 theory if they have photo ID. That's going to be very expensive if you have to get a passport just to take a music exam.

Oh it's grade 5 theory I meant to add.

Don't suppose anyone can help me. My dd piano teacher has magically decided that we need to decide today if she should sit the theory exam in the next Session.
We have vaguely covered theory but teacher said she may as well intensively prepare and pass the exam.

The thing is I'm so worried because no matter how much I search the abrsm website I don't really understand the changes for the online theory test will be. Which books do I need to get to prepare dd for it because I think the syllabus is different for online version? Is this true? Teacher is rubbish and I think may be replacing him ASAP as he can't answer any of the questions but ideally I will let him apply for dd then I can be free of him with less disruption.

Thanks for any help

Might be this support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360046244692-Background-noise-suppression

There is something that over-rides the background noise thing. Dh tells his students to disable it. It's something where the mic assumes thast something is background noise that needs muting. I'll have to ask what it is.

Some very helpful theory book thoughts, thanks everyone.

Not sure if this has come up already, but there are settings you can change in Zoom (on PC and laptop, don’t think the app is as sophisticated) to optimise for musical meetings - lessons, live auditions etc - by keeping the original sound.

I’ve noticed the volume limiting kicking in when DD’s teacher plays high and loud but it’s fixable her end, if she’s using a PC or laptop. (She’s probably had quite enough of my tech advice so I haven’t emailed a helpful link!)

Thanks Horseymum and Doesanybody- that's helpful. We have tried in a couple of rooms but not much difference. The best way I can describe it is it makes her euph which is a warm toned instrument sound a bit honky (like a beginner sax player sound). All the tone is ripped back.

I'll definitely check out the mics though- my use of tech has vastly improved since last March, but it's still not great!

We recorded an audition on a very ordinary phone and DD was accepted for NYOS, I wonder if they give the benefit of the doubt if quality is hard to tell? I think video quality is much better than zoom though. We tried in a couple of rooms and let her teacher decide which sounded better- it was a playroom with quite a bit of soft furnishings eg sofa, long curtains so don't know if that helps? We moved the sofa to get a clear background against the wall so visually it was as good as possible. I think they will know instantly if the recording be equipment is professional quality or just bog standard phone and still be able to judge on the actual performance though. Good luck 🤞! We will have a piano one to do for a performance exam soon, and a JD one as well so not looking forward to it! She has to talk on the JD one too, so not sure how that will go!

@Polar81 try recording at different distances from DD and see what difference that makes. Being to close could be distorting the sound, especially with a loud instrument.

I use a Shure MV88 microphone with my iPhone and am pretty pleased with the sound quality. It's not cheap, but for the amount it gets used I think it was a really good investment. The software is good and easy to use. Only downside is I haven't been able to make it work with zoom etc so it's no good for online lessons.

It's really interesting reading about all the grades / auditions going on via recordings. I'm currently trying to record my daughter's euphonium audition pieces for NCBB and so much sound quality/ tone is lost in the recording that it sounds quite different.

I record on my IPhone, but does anyone have any (preferably inexpensive ) tips for recording to improve sound quality? What do you all record on? I guess it doesn't help that we live in a tiny cottage with a very low roof

We have just put DDS application in for JD, so waiting to hear what we have to do for audition ( if we get one!)

We used the Blitz books, DD worked through them ( not cheap but there are free answer books online), then did a couple of practice papers. We have the abrsm book for reference. She did well and it wasn't too stressful. I would check you can log in well before hand though, we needed to contact the help desk as the site was claiming we had Skype open when we don't even have it installed! There is a free app called muso which is good too.

FOr Grade 5 I can't recommend "Take Five and Pass First Time" by Christopher Dunn highly enough. It is more geared to the old exam but if you cover everything in this book you will pass.

:) I know nothing about music but I think you're right and it is teaching to the test. Their Head of Music was certainly keen on the Eric Taylor book despite its age and she's great and quite young so I figured if she thought it was still useful then it probably is. And it's cheap which is good!

Thanks, Purpletomato. I suppose the ABRSM books will prepare DC for the ABRSM exams, even if it’s ‘teaching to the(ir) test’ somewhat, but I do wonder if DD would benefit more in the long term from a Taylor-ed(!) approach...

That's very interesting, minisnowballs. Do you have any tips for making the online exam go smoothly? I will have both DC doing at the same time and I plan to put them in separate rooms. Hopefully the broadband will cope, it usually does and DP and I will ensure we're not using it during the exam which should help.

We have the Discovering Music book and answer book for G1 and G3. The DC like them but say it's mainly exercises rather than explanation - ie you get a small text box explaining stuff and then lots of questions. We also have the old Eric Taylor Guide to Music Theory Part 1 book as the Head of Music recommended it as a general catch all for G1 to G5.

I haven't tried the theory app yet as we don't have an Ipad -we used the Aural app on an ipod but the advice says you need a bigger screen for the theory app? Will probably end up getting a second hand ipad as there are a few other apps that are Apple only.

Has anyone had sight of/used the new ‘Discovering Music Theory’ books from ABRSM? I was pleased to see they are only about £6 per grade, but then realised the answer book has to be bought separately for about the same again - a bit annoying for those who’ll be marking their own work rather than having a teacher mark it.

Fortunately DD got in the last Grade 5 theory exam before the first lockdown.

We pulled out of doing performance exam this term, its a real shame but it just didnt sound the same without accompanist and we dont have anything to record on past a basic smart phone. Onwards and upwards though if school has started again we may use the pieces for a virtual music festical.