I'm doing Grade 5 flute, and I'm having a real rough time with the aural work. I sound awful, I'm all over the place. I can't even get the note 'next door' half the time. Its just one tone up! Like a scale, but i still can't do it. And with the melody that the examiner plays, I hang onto it, i can hear the right notes in my head still, i open my mouth go to sing that note, and a completly different one comes out! why is this? is it just me?! Please! some words of encouragement, support, anything!

x

Happens to me as well

Yeah that happens 2 me but i find even if u cant sing in tune if u get the right interval between the note and it is the right melody just not in tune u still get good marks just not as much as u would if u could sing in tune so i wouldn't worry to much about it

I think everyone has the same problem. for more constructive advice, try the general board (more teachers around) but then, I reckon they must be sick of us all asking!!!

Try the sulphar or the sulphage (or whatever its called, I don't know) method, so the tonic is doe, then theres rae, me, far, so, la, te, doe. I started using it a few weeks ago as I've got my grade 4 violin at Christmas and its really working for me.

It's called SOLFA, Isabel! Musicianship classes using solfa are called SOLFEGE. I do nothing but teach using this approach - and yes, you're right, IT WORKS! Everyone who learns an instrument should learn it...

[And with the melody that the examiner plays, I hang onto it, i can hear the right notes in my head still, i open my mouth go to sing that note, and a completly different one comes out!]

I believe that you have the choice of either playing it or singing it, you might find playing it easier. Do check with your teacher.

You will get better!
When I was six and took my first exam I could only sing four notes and all those were below middle C, My was frightened that I was going to turn into a girl with a tenor voice. For many years I was hopeless at aural and regularly failed that section or only just passed and my Mum's given up all hope! However 11 years on I've basically cracked it- I now get full marks on the lower grades and last term when I took two grade sixes I only lost 1 mark on one test and two on the other.

I was totally useless but you can improve without even realising that you have, so don't give up hope.

Hmmm, hope...

Interesting point, I reckon thats all that got me through grade 7 aurals!

QUOTE (Seashellmusic @ May 31 2004, 11:26 AM)

I was totally useless but you can improve without even realising that you have, so don't give up hope.

how did you improve?! i would like to know so maybe i can improve too!! my aural skills are appalling and i hate the aural part of exams, i cant do them! argh i cant stand the stupid tests!

Well... Natalie urm... I improved in a number of ways, and I'm sorry a little bit of practise was one of them!

However, there are some tips for exams especially higher ones:
1. be confident however badly it's going (cringe inside your head, but keep a dead straight face!)
2. For answers where you have to make comments, especially the last section on grade eight, just keep talking and talking (not waffle mind) but say everything that comes into your head that is related to the piece (it saved me in my grade 8 I'm sure!)
3. Keep smiling!

You will find that as you play more and just get older you will get better naturally without any real thought about it. But never let it get you down, I know loads of teachers who say that they're glad it's not them taking the exam because they can do the aural tests! Whilst you need skills such as listening to others to be a good musician, being good at the aural tests doesn't make you a good player.

hmmmmmmm interesting, aural has always been my strongest point in an exam!!!! I dont know why I just found I could do it!!!!
Sorry i cant help!! I never had to try to improve

Tjhat sounds snobbish doesnt it, sorry

How about letting us into the secret of how you do it then!!!

Keep talking, will remember that one, seing as I barely said more that 20 words during my entire grade 7!

Flute Pastil - why don't u invest in a couple of singing lessons, because it sounds as though the real problem is not your ear if you can hear the notes in your head, it's your voice that's the problem. It could really help you if you were trained how to hit the notes properly, and you would become much more confident in the aural sections.

More generally, here are some tips I have heard about:
- Sight-singing: remember intervals from popular songs (e.g. rising 6th - my bonnie, 5th, Twinkle Twinkle etc), so when you see an interval, think of the beginning of one of these songs.
- Modulations: hum the key note throughout the examiner's performance of the piece, then compare it with the final chord.
- General 'Q's on period, etc: listen to as much music as you possibly can analytically. This really does improve with age and experience. Learn about the basic genres of each period, and listen out for features that were typical of the period (e.g. if it sounds random with loads of clashes, it's probably 20th century atonal stuff).

BTW, when it comes to singing back the melody, you should have the option to play it back on your instrument, so Fruit Pastil, this might be better for you. Even though I have perfect pitch, I hate singing in front of people so always choose this option, though some examiners don't bother askin!!

I hope this helps,
Pianissimo

QUOTE (tamsin @ May 26 2004, 01:30 AM)

I think everyone has the same problem. for more constructive advice, try the general board (more teachers around) but then, I reckon they must be sick of us all asking!!!

Don't worry most people has that problem.

Yeah I always completely fail my aurals, once I'm sure the examiner was laughing, and my last one he said how it was a pity we couldn't do it again. Any advice on what you need for the grade 8 aurals? help!!!

Why are you going onto Grade 8 if you keep failing your aural tests?

Don't you really think aural ability is that important? I'm serious here.

Violinia

And why enter for an exam if there is a whole section you have not covered?

Hmm...

When I took my grade 7 piano exam in March, I had been doing perfectly in the aural for at least 3 weeks before the exam , but when I got into the exam it all went wrong- in test A where you have to sing back the lower part of the 2-part phrase, I could hear it fine but I just COULD NOT remember it ... I listened extra carefully the 2nd time.... and STILL COULDN'T REMEMBER IT .... and... ASKED THE EXAMINER TO PLAY THE TEST A THIRD TIME!!! ... and STILL COULDN'T REMEMBER IT (I think I was panicking by then) ... and just sang something random in the same key as the test!!!!
That might explain why I only got 14 for aural ... ... ...
So when I finished the exam I was practically in tears and I went out and told my dad I failed (I really believed it)... and the steward laughed... and then my teacher laughed (she wasn't laughing when the mark sheet came through though)... and I thought... it's not funny...
And I still got a merit, so even if the worst happens and nerves really do get the better of you, keep your head everyone!!!

Keep doing hard lor.Try ur best!