Aural test preparation

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Not children in this case, but me, but I figured lots of music parents here might have experience helping their children prepare (or know how their teacher does it). I started lessons in a new instrument. I did music lessons as a child but not exams. I'm thinking of going on an trying ABSRM grade 4 or 5 now (I did grade 2) but I'm finding the aural tests impossible. I know I could not do exams, or do a different board but I'd quite like to get the hang of it if I can. It's not all the aural tests, but specifically the first one, singing a melody from memory. I just can't remember it! I'll get bits but not all, or I'll remember a pattern in part of it but start it on the wrong note, or I can tell that what I'm singing is wrong but it'll take me time to fix it and get to the note that I recognise is right, somehow, and then I've lost the rhythm and/or forgotten the rest. It doesn't help that I absolutely hate to sing/hum aloud with anyone hearing me, either, so my nerves get in the way too.

I have both of the ABSRM practise/test books and the CDs, but I'll need an awful lot more examples than that, especially some that are a bit more graduated with what you have to do (I have the grade 3 book, but it's a somewhat different test). I need some kind of program that actually teaches, not just provides loads of examples that I simply can't do.

Any software, online programmes, other books, CDs, exercises, anything that you'd recommend??

There was something online that ds used once called hofnote which I think some people get on quite well with and isn't too expensive as I recall. It might be worth a look, but it is mainly practice and you may well need a real music teacher to explain stuff if you are lost.

thanks, I'll check that out.

I have a teacher, but the lessons are just spent doing the practical work really, not enough time for aural too. Also I am not sure that she'd know what to do to help me really - with the children she teaches, she just gives them the practice book and CD, and that seems to be enough. Not sure she's really had to actually find a way to teach someone who can't really do it.

tbh, I wouldn't worry too much about one aspect. Each test is only worth a few points of the whole exam and examiners will be looking for an overall idea of pitchin and musicianship. Nobody is perfect at everything! Just try your best.
Although for practice, I start my pupils off with very short phrases and build the length up over time.
If necessary start with one or two notes and go from there. Good luck!

thanks. I guess I worry about it as I want to pick up all the marks I can get on things like that, in case of other things going wrong!

I wish I had someone with a piano around who could build the phrases up gradually, and also help me identify where I'm going wrong. I know that I can't always make my voice do what I hear in my head, and sometimes have to slide around a bit until I hit the note and then think 'ah that was the one I wanted' - surely I should be able to do that in my head!! I will try getting my friend who has a piano to play a few phrases for me every time I visit.

The ironic thing is that I can sing in choir. Not fantastically, but I can - as soon as I have the ambient tonality all around me, it's much easier. It's this out of context, remembering the whole melody that I can't do. I suspect it's easier for children, in some ways, as they are often used to learning songs by listening and memory, whereas I've always read music, and it just seems to be a very, very different process. (I also don't sing the tune in choir, but the harmony, so probably use a different focus as a result).

Out of interest - Can you sing along to songs ok? Just doing stuff like that will help gain control of your voice.

I don't know what instrument you are learning, but can you dig out some easy pieces and play them and then repeat them by voice?
Also stuff like cadences / modulations can be difficult. Good luck!

I think I'm OK at singing along to things - I can match my voice pitch to some external sound, just not always what is in my head. But maybe I need to practise doing that more often - I rarely sing along to things, or sing tunes. I can't really hear myself very well in choir, so hard to hear my part as being a line in itself, too.

I'll try playing and singing afterwards - but generally I'm fine if I have seen the music. Like the aural test CDs were hard - but as soon as I'd looked at the music, I was much much better. I guess I kind of need that visual memory cue. I try to picture it in my head whilst it's being played, but I'm not really fast enough at working out the intervals to do that (and it's probably over-thinking it to do it anyway, and not actually practising my auditory memory!).

My two daughters are doing exams with ABRSM in November (elder doing grade 3 flute younger grade 2 violin) and they are using a free website called Aural Test Practice at e-musicmaestro.com/auraltests
So far so good - I'll let you know if they pass!!

thanks for that link - looks just what we need - youngest is doing her grade 1 piano in November and needs all the practise she can get - I hate to have to say it, but she is tone deaf!! Still all should go well, her actual piano playing is great!

I have a son just started to learn the clarinet. Does this website cover all instruments?

thanks for the link, useful for extra examples.

All the aural tests are the same, for every grade, so yes, will be fine for clarinet exams. There are a couple of other similar websites as well as the two books published by abrsm that come with CDs, and a few third-party book/CD combos as well.

Please don't tell your daughter she is tone deaf (ByTheWy1) - it's so damaging to be labelled in this way and you could prevent her from enjoying music in the future, especially singing. What she needs is lots of practice at aural games and activities, not just before an exam but a little every week. Then her aural development will gradually start to match her piano playing.
Being genuinely tone deaf is just not possible. Even hearing impaired people can distinguish between different frequencies because of the vibrational nature of sound.

ds2 has a great ear, but at first struggled with the singing the melody when the tunes got longer (in grade 4 and 5). We did lots of practice and he finds it much easier now.

If you have someone who can play for you, these books are good, with lots of practice tests:

Aural Time

Both daughters passed their music exams with distinction - yay :o !!