Hi everyone.

My son is taking his grade 8 piano exam next week. We were both wondering if anyone can give us information or advice on the types of questions that are asked in the aural section of the exam. Obviously my son has been practicing aurals with his teacher, but it would be nice to hear from someone who has just been through the exam as to the sort of questions that are asked about the music/styles/composers etc.

Any advice, suggestions would be greatly welcome. Also, it would be nice to hear about people's experiences and how things went for them.

My son is playing these pieces:

A: Prelude and Fuge in A minor - J S Bach
B: Sonata in E minor Op. 90 - Beethoven
C: Romance - Takemitsu

Thanks, and hope to hear from you soon

Did mine almost a week ago. Here's how it worked for me:
Exercise 1: Played the 3 part phrase twice, which I sang back, he said I would be allowed a 2nd attempt if needed. Played the full phrase twice more, I named the cadence. Played the full phrase once more, pausing after each of the final 4 chords, asking for the chords (either in Ia, Vb etc, or tonic, dominant in first inversion etc).
Exercise 2: Singing from sight. He gave me a good couple of minutes to look through it, played the starting note and chord and indicated the tempo before I started looking at it, it was 8 bars long. Was very clear about instructions here, said I would be allowed a 2nd attempt if needed. This was MUCH easier than any practice examples I have tried.
Exercise 3: Modulation. He said he would not repeat either of the modulations. I was not expecting this at all, but I was asked to name the actual key (as in G minor, E major) which it modulated to, as well as subdominant, dominant etc. Make sure your son is 100% happy with both ways of stating the new key!
Exercise 4: This was actually really fun! I had a Renaissance piece, and he asked me to just talk about it. Basically, I went through the interesting features (ornamentation, imitation, dynamics, tempo, range, rubato etc) and stated why each feature made me think the piece was in a certain period. Then he asked me about the original instrumentation and why I thought that, and for a possible composer. The hardest thing was remembering all the things I had heard, not a lack of things to say.

I hope this is useful. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to PM me or post a reply.

I had the same question a few weeks ago, I thought I'd screwed up the Aural part, cause I was so nervous I just gave one-word answers instead of discussing the piece with the examiner, but I still got 15 of the 18. Don't worry! Your son will do well if he has practised with his teacher, I'm sure of that!

Is there any way of practising aural apart from with a teacher? Because i have my exam next feb/march and i'm determined not to mess it up as it would be my last exam. I'm working on singing as thats my worst part, but im not really sure how to practise naming keys/cadences and stuff.

You can buy the CD - it doesn't give the answers but it goes with a book which is helpful, and saves you needing a pianist. The best way to practice cadences is to play slowly through a hymn book (requires very very basic piano skills) and name cadences/chords as you go.
A really good exercise for the singing back a lower part is to play a chord on piano with your eyes shut, and sing the lower note each time. Then build up to 2 chords at a time, and more.
For the sight-singing, join a choir! That's the only way I managed it!

Screw test A, B and C. I can never get them right, I am only good at the D part. My advice is:
Keep on blabbling until the examiner stops you but make sure it is related to the piece. Make sure you descibe the piece as though you really paid attention. Be original, describe with your own words. Such as:
If the piece has many staccatos and is rather happy, you could say it's happy, rather BOUNCY, plenty of detached notes, lively...etc.
I kept on going until the examiner said thanks and I got 12/18 for my aurul even though my A, B and C is bad(C was all wrong.)

Thanks for the tips bohemian!! Though i don't think I'll join a choir, I'd scare everyone.

Some areas now have a "can't sing choir". See if there's one near you. They are specially for people who are convinced they can't sing.

Thank you to everyone who has replied to this question. There has been a good mixture of advice and help, all of which is appreciated.

Jack is 13 and takes his grade 8 on Saturday. Fingers crossed. I'll let you know how he does.