ABRSM aural - echo

[EllensFoodShack]

Is it just me or is the echo part where the candidate has to repeat the tune the examiner plays really quite hard? DS is trying for grade 2 and is struggling with the echo part, his exam is very soon, how can I help him improve? Are there any neat tips & tricks?

Look for the patterns. Any repeating rhythms or notes? Any bits that move in a scale or broken chord? Does it start with a step up, step down, repeated note, or a different interval? (I don't think they jump much at grade 2, so most likely a step).

It might help if he tries to hang on to the first bit of tune in his head the first time he hears it, then the second time he can see if he can add to it. The end is most likely to stick regardless as it was the last thing he heard.
If in doubt, try to get the beginning right, make up a feasible sounding answering phrase and end confidently on a note that sounds final, which is likely to be the key note and probably correct to boot.

Do you play? We used to have lots of copying games with DD's teacher from quite early on, she would make up a phrase and teacher would copy it, or teacher would make one up and she would copy. If he can't manage full length ones I'd practice copying shorter things, but obviously if you don't play that's teacher's job really.

There an Abrsm aural app you can use to practice. It's hard but they are looking for a confident response too so practice sounding like he jeans it, even if it's wrong!

• means it! And good luck. Be confident in the scales etc which you can control and don't worry too much about this part, it's only worth a few marks. Then continue to work on it throughout the year as it comes up in each exam.

Practice and familiarity help a lot, but ultimately it's only a few marks in the whole exam. One of my DC always fails the entire aural section, but still gets great overall scores. You always get a few sympathy marks as long as you offer an answer.

The aural is all about confidence. Download the ABRSM aural app. I have a DD who is Grade 8 Distinction in singing and still struggles with Aural as a matter of principle in her other instruments, sheer lack of confidence. When she practises loads before an exam, she tends to be fine though.

DS has just passed grade 2. He really struggles with the oral. Based on what he tells me and the comments on the mark sheet it does seem to be marked more leniently.
For the echos his teacher has told him to concentrate on the rhythm. When he does this his pitch is a lot better than when he thinks about the notes.
We found some practice orals on UTube. They're great as long as you know enough to hear of responses are correct.