Are there any classical singing teachers here who have experience of ABRSM singing grades?
Ive been singing for years and have been training as a singing teacher of popular styles. Ive never done any classical singing but would like to eventually take grade 8 classical. My voice is secure through the first and second bridges, but other than doing blues and r'n'b licks, Ive never performed trills etc. What grade would you suggest that I start at in classical singing? Sight singing and aural tests arent a problem, but I have no idea about classical repertoire. Anyone advise me of where to start, and what kind of agility is required in the higher grades?

many thanks

xxFLame7

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Thanks.

The nearest music store that sells a good amount of ABRSM stuff is 30 miles away, but I might make a trip and have a good luck through some of the syllabus. Just a quick questions though, are the songs in list D (the standards etc) any indication of the level of difficulty in the other lists in terms of technical ability, or are they just added in to give variety of style? Its just that Ive sung many of the grade 8 list D songs comfortably in the past and wondered if the ABC songs are any more difficult?

xxFlame7

Do you have any amateur music festivals near you? There are many annual ones around where I live where there are classes for singing where most of the entrants would be doing classical songs. There would be classes like "Grade 6 level song" or " Age 14-16 own choice" or "French Art song" to name a few examples. Then you can pick and choose which styles of song you are interested in hearing and go and listen.