Hi,

I was pondering while attempting to sing at the same time as playing piano yesterday (for some reason I find it extremely difficult to do that - the tune is fine, it is just reading words at the same time as sightreading the piano part). What I pondered was - in an ABRSM singing exam, when the singer and piano both start at the beginning of a piece, what is the procedure for the singer getting the first note? Does the pianist give the singer the first note or does the pianist play a short intro?

I would be grateful if someone could satisfy my pondering...

Moose

I think I can answer that if I understand what you are asking.

For all of the accompanied songs the singer almost almost always gets a lead-in (usually it is written into the music) However, if it isn't, my accompanist gives me a chord and then I begin and she follows me.

For the unaccompanied traditional song, the examiner or the student can play their starting note on the piano if they need it. Or you can just start without it if you know your pitch.

Is that what you wanted to know?

Hi,

Thanks for the quick answer. Yes, that was what I wondering. I am planning on doing a singing exam and two of my pieces have simultaneous voice and piano start. As I don't have perfect pitch I would need to know the note before starting. I know about being allowed to play the start not for the unaccompanied piece.

Thank you!

Moose

Where an accompanied song does not have an introduction, we fabricate one. It may be the piano interlude between verses, or the first line with a suitable cadence, but we don't start just with a note or a chord.

Good idea...I should have my accompanist do that next time!

when i sang marienwurmchen for my grade 6 i sang from a starting note and then the accompanist joined me

my accompanist was also an abrsm examiner and he felt this was the best way to start xxxxxx