The aural component of ABRSM exams

[Notcontent]

It seems to me that for many children who just have regular music lessons, as opposed to attending a music school, the aural component of the practical exams is often tricky as they just don’t get enough practice for it. That certainly seems to be the case for my dd, who is quite musical, but dreads the aural part...

Helpfully ABRSM provide an app you can use if your regular music teacher doesn't have time in the lessons to cover aural. Sorted!

It was covered in my DD's lessons, but she also does something similar in some dance exams as they need to recognise a beat there and copy/follow it. It was the sight reading that worried my DD (violin).

Thanks - we have used the app and the teacher does cover it, but it just feels like it would come to her more naturally if she had done clapping exercises, etc on an ongoing basis... she does end up doing ok in it but could do better I think.

practice practice practice.
small tunes - mocking bird style
don't-clap-this-one-back type games

Really the teacher should cover this as part of normal lessons in how to learn music AND how to play the instrument, it's not a separate skill but part of the whole musicianship journey.

We are at an academic school, albeit with a strong music department.
Somehow DD managed to get 100% in her grade 4 aurals and sightreading was okay too (unlike her scales, but that is entirely her fault for not practising them as regularly as she should). She has done dance exams up to grade 3 and her class music lessons do seem to do a lot of percussion-based work.

Maybe that helps, but it is probably the familiarity of having aural practice every lesson rather than for a coupe of weeks before exam time.

As well as the timetabled lesson, I encouraged DD to sign up for orchestra and a couple of ensembles (I figure that any practice is good practice). Is that an option for your DC OP?