Hi all.

I am currently an AS Music student at about grade 5 theory and grade 5 on my instrument, and in the AS course there is a lot that involves being able to listen to and recognise chords, cadences and melodies. At the moment I can't do this ( apart from knowing what an A sounds like). I certainly don't have perfect pitch.

So, after making enquiries with my teacher, I have been advised to buy aural training software/ CDs / books, but I'm unsure about what to get and where to get it. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Alot of people use hofnotes.com

I don't know hofnotes, so can't compare, but I don't regret buying Auralia 3 (review) software. He's been using it for nearly 3 months, and is definitely making progress. He likes being able to monitor his progress and often shows me where he's up to. It's very convenient that he can pick totally different levels for each skill.

He's at a lower level, so I'm not sure what the highest level corresponds to, but it's certainly a fairly high level - that's why I haven't regretted spending money on it, because he's in no danger of running out of stuff to do any time soon. It is definitely recommended for university level, and as far as an amateur can judge, I think it would be useful for patching up weak areas at almost any level, even if you had good aural skills in other areas.

Wow ! I have just downloaded the Auralia and it seems really good.I am definetley going consider purchasing this !

I'd love Aurelia (have the demo), but I think it's quite expensive

Regarding expense: it is expensive (though not too bad compared to things like graphics programs) but it is on a totally different level from something like Music Ace.

I have such an old edition of Music Ace!

hofnotes is very good... I would also recommend simply listening intelligently to a lot of music - try picking out the features you're looking for - start simple (ie listen for cadences!) and then work yourself up to more complex things (ie what type of cadence? what preceeds it?). Practice seeing if you can transcribe simple melodies... when sight-reading, practice "hearing" what the music will sound like in your head before you try to play it (start with very simple one line melodies).

Buy 'Take Five' by Chris Dunn. This is for grade 5 Theory. It is a real help in putting things in a neat order and helping you with confidence. It is also great fun. At the end he wishes you 'a distinction' and that is what I got!!!!
Good luck.

However you don't have to buy software to train your Aural...

I have just bought it as I need something for my piano pupils and i'm also taking grade 8 singing in the Spring so need to brush up myself. I got it for £104.99 which was the cheapest I could find. Hopefully it'll be worth the money. I sometimes teach 2 siblings one after another so am hoping I can persuade one to sit on the computer and do this whilst the other is having their lesson instead of being on MSN!!!

Good idea! Hope it's worth the money

Auralia arrived today and it looks really good. I found it at a cheaper price of £98.99 after i'd bought it but not to worry. I'm looking forward to giving my pupils their own accounts on it and getting them working at their own pace. I like the way you can program it individually and is definitely going to help me brush up on my skills! It also has a lot of jazz aural which is going to be very helpful.

I have had the Earmaster demo - it's around £50 to buy it, but you can get the full program for 3 weeks on a trial basis. I think it's really fab & it goes through loads and loads of different stuff, starting from the basics in each section and working up to get gradually harder, for example in the intervals recognition section it starts with 3 choices, then each section adds another one or two until you have got more. There also appears to be a lot of work on there, so I presume it gets to quite a high level.
Haven't used Auralia before, will take a look at the demo!

EDIT: I forgot, there is also www.musictheory.net - it doesn't go into as much depth as the programs mentioned, but is still good for testing yourself on intervals and stuff, plus there is the benefit that you can go on it anywhere where there is an internet connection!
And we have used a book called Aural Matters at school - comes with a CD and you have to transcribe melodies - it starts simple then builds up to harder stuff.