Any messages here!

Sightreading without a doubt. I loathe aural tests.

Sorry but I still think if we loathe aural tests, we probably need to work on your aural skills, because a lack of them will affect our playing in one way or another. Music is primarily aural, after all, and the word aural means merely 'listening'.

While the aural tests aren't perfect, they're quite good for measuring aural skills. Why would anyone loathe them? Because you have to sing in front of the examiner? Why are we all so afraid of singing these days? I have a terrible voice, but having a terrible voice and the ability to sing in tune are tow totaly separate things, and no examiner is going to fault you for having a terrible voice. I accept that there's not enough singing in schools these days but surely we can redress the balance by singing in the bath, singing a long to our favourite music etc etc, until we're more comfortable with singing.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being made to fine-tune our musical ear, and without aural tests the exams would be a mere indicator of how good we are at interpreting symbols on a page - which a machine can do. Thankfully, grade exams are trying to be more than that - which is measure our skills as people who can truly listen to and understand musical ideas - what could be wrong with that???

Violinia

Definitely sight-reading all those wonderful piano works out there!

Has to be sight-reading!

Car Expert

Sight reading but only because I find it easier, as I have never had any sort of aural tuition.

Violinia - I don't mind singing at home to myself, but when it comes to singing in front of someone else, I just go . I actually used to like singing and I doubt I was ever any good, but just people dented my confidence at primary school. There is nothing wrong with the AB testing aural skills, just the lack of good aural teaching means that many people fear them and see them as bad.

I hate singing in front of the examiner! It's so embarassing! I HATE IT! And I'm not quite sure why we hate singing so much!

Well the answer to this thread I'm afraid, is quite boringly similar to the other one . I find sightreading harder than aural; but I'd much rather be good at sightreading. Then again I do spend a lot more time listening to music than I do sightreading music, so maybe that's the problem .

I voted for neither. But if I had to choose, I chose sight reading, because I'd rather be good at sight reading. And Violinia, the reason I don't much like aurals is not because I'm embarassed of singing (although I still have a horrible voice!) but because I find it so difficult.

"Sight reading but only because I find it easier, as I have never had any sort of aural tuition."

Nicki, Nicki, Nicki......the Aural Tutor is on her way! Bag's Guide to Aural Awareness is coming to Leicester! And yes, you WILL be singing! x

Ooh, a tricky one. I like both because of the unknown factor - I like pitting my wits against the examiner. I enjoyed both the sight reading and the aural in my Grade 8 recorder exam last year. I preferred the aural to the sight reading for Grade 7 piano, as piano sight reading is much harder than woodwind sight reading. The only aural I disliked was my Grade 1 this term: I felt totally unprepared for it because I hadn't done any practice tests, and I was terrified of dropping a mark (I didn't).

I like aurals because I find them easy (though having said that I'm yet to scale the heights of G7 and G8 aural, and I've not done a new style grade 6 one)

I don't think that's any native talent - it's because I was well taught as a child.

I'd like to be good at both though.

Piano sight-reading is so much harder

Andante: I felt the same in my G1 aural (I forgot to even read the blurb before it about what was supposed to happen) - it was a bit like groping in the dark and was completely unnerving. I still got 18 though (phew!)

Annakron - if you find aural difficult - you're not alone, because so many seem to - i don't think it's very well taught in this country - but help is at hand. There are lots of pretty good aural-training websites and DVD's and if that doesn't suit you I highly recommend Kodaly - Bagpuss and Cyrilla will advise on what courses/days are available and where etc.

Good luck

Violinia

I think Its just the singing part of the tests that I loathe, as I'm alright at the listening bits. I'm not terrible at singing in tune (I think... )...I'm just not comfortable with doing it! On the contrary I dont mind singing in front of the examiner!! Chances are we'll never see them again!!

I prefer sight-reading, mainly because I enjoy the thrill. Aural... I liked up until I started grade 7 aural (I didn't do grade 6), but I know that if I work at my weaknesses, and I'm considering going in for a bit of Kodaly training once I'm all settled in Wales, and after all of it I might start to like it because all my problems will (hopefully) be sorted out with a bit of hard work.

Good news, Isabel!!!

Solfege work doesn't 'teach' the AB aural BUT it will improve your general musicianship, confidence with singing and ability to 'hear' better.

So good luck with it - let me know if I can be of any help at all!

I voted for sight-reading, always found it really easy. Aural tests don't come as natural to me. Am taking grade 8 singing at the end of the year (last grade I took was at least 12 years ago!) so have enrolled on the hofnote website to brush up on my skills, I really think it's just practise, and i'm determined to get a high mark this time

Aural - very easy One of those things I can do with relatively little work, possibly because I don't decide to learn it all the week before the exam. And I 100% agree with Violinia.
Sight-reading still sucks...

I'm looking forward to seeing the new Trinity Guildhall aural tests. It says on the website that there will be less emphasis on singing and memory - but more on musical awareness.

Hehehe I've found this now, after you have told me today. I wasn't too bad was I?

That actually sounds like it'll be better, for pianists at least, than the current ones: melodic memory and pitching in singing aren't of the utmost importance when the notes are all laid out; but a keen awareness of style, tone and ability to spot mistakes is more important .

You were FAB, Nicki!!!!

If only we could get to you every week, now...

Thankyou. Actually I found it less stressful than usual, you both helped me loads, and dare I say it, I even enjoyed it!!

Hooray! Hope you're practising your solfa and handsigns!

Do-re-do!
(or does the 'do' have a h on the end?)

Yesterday I could even hear it in my head. I'll do an easy exercise out of 333 after my flute lesson.

I've forgotten a lot of the handsigns

The 'English version' of solfa usually puts an 'h' on the end but in Hungary they don't - so either is right!

Hooray! Glad you are starting to hear it in your head already!!!

I'll send you a sheet with the handsigns on *goes off to do it before I forget*

Thankyouuu