I don't know when this happened, but sometime before 1996 the interval tests were removed from the aural tests. I certainly remember doing them when I was a child, as does every other older member of this forum I've talked to.
Having to take interval tests means the teacher is put in the position of having to teach interval recognition to their pupils. Interval recognition is enormously effective at helping to instill aural awareness, aiding with sight-reading and sight-singing. Interval recogniton also helps you to be able to hear music in your head as you read it, a skill that many music educators consider of vital importance in musicianship.
It's true that instrument teachers are at liberty to teach interval awareness whether or not interval tests feature in exams but in reality many teachers will leave it out if they don't actually have to teach it; this is an unfortunate fact of life.
I was taught my intervals at a very young age and had them constantly reinforced for the aural tests I took as a child, and as a consequence have had an automatic interval recognition firmly instilled. This makes it very easy for me to hear written music in my head before I play it or sing it; shouldn't all music pupils be enabled to have this ability?
To sum up, I can see no good reason why they were ever removed in the first place and feel very strongly that they should be reinstated at the earliest opportunity.
Violinia
Full Version: Interval Tests
I use interval recognition quite a lot in reading music and I agree it could only be beneficial to include it in the aural tests. If students had to build up gradually through the early grades I'm sure there would be far fewer of the "Help - I can't do aural" posts that we see regularly from anguished students. (yes - there are other kinds of aural, but I suspect it's pitch that most often has students tied in knots).
I have recently started getting some pupils to sing through sight-reading exercises before playing them (probably encouraged in this by posts on Kodaly!) and it's proving very interesting in all sorts of ways. An 8 year old was quite surprised to find she could (almost) do it, and an older (late starter) grade one student was amazed to find what a difference it made; although we had always tackled sight-reading by looking at intervals, she felt she only really focused on intervals accurately when she hummed one through for the first time.
Maggie
I have recently started getting some pupils to sing through sight-reading exercises before playing them (probably encouraged in this by posts on Kodaly!) and it's proving very interesting in all sorts of ways. An 8 year old was quite surprised to find she could (almost) do it, and an older (late starter) grade one student was amazed to find what a difference it made; although we had always tackled sight-reading by looking at intervals, she felt she only really focused on intervals accurately when she hummed one through for the first time.
Maggie
My daughter does Guildhall violin exams and they have to do intervals from grade 1 - I was amazed at how easy she found this part of the aural as I have this idea that intervals must be difficult. It just shows that if you start it young enough it becomes automatic.
Glad to see some positive response! Incidentally I was at the AB Violin and Viola Teachers' Seminar at the Royal Academy yesterday (and very enjoyable it was too!) (and I met the mysterious Christine Morris!).
After the section on aural tests, I was itching to ask the question about interval tests but somebody got there before me - the very first questioner in fact. She very adamantly made the same point, and in my view was given a rather puzzling response. The opinion given was that interval recognition could only be of real relevance or importance to string players (because they have to work out aurally where to put their fingers). No information was given as to why the interval tests were removed in the first place.
I was later told that if teachers want interval tests to be reinstated we should make our views heard! The AB is now apparently very eager to listen, and views are definitely taken into account when decisions are made.
This is very good news indeed!
Violinia
PS I see one person has voted against the idea of interval tests. If that person is reading this, could you give your reasons why you think they'd be a bad idea?
After the section on aural tests, I was itching to ask the question about interval tests but somebody got there before me - the very first questioner in fact. She very adamantly made the same point, and in my view was given a rather puzzling response. The opinion given was that interval recognition could only be of real relevance or importance to string players (because they have to work out aurally where to put their fingers). No information was given as to why the interval tests were removed in the first place.
I was later told that if teachers want interval tests to be reinstated we should make our views heard! The AB is now apparently very eager to listen, and views are definitely taken into account when decisions are made.
This is very good news indeed!
Violinia
PS I see one person has voted against the idea of interval tests. If that person is reading this, could you give your reasons why you think they'd be a bad idea?
I'd be very pleased if the interval tests were reinstated for the earlier grades!
I just wanted to point out, by the way, that in the AB jazz exams there ARE actually some interval tests - in Grades 4 and 5.
In Grade 4 you have to sing and identify 2 intervals after the examiner has played them twice - chosen from maj 2nd, maj & min 3rd, perf 4th and perf 5th.
At Grade 5 they add min 2nd and maj & min 6th to the above.
Incidentally, if we are encouraging the AB to re-think or add to the aural tests, perhaps we ought also to be thinking about other things that we'd like, so that we could present it as a 'package' to the authorities?
I personally very much liked the tapping-the-rhythm tests for the early grades in the old green books - I still have my old book and use the rhythm tests a lot in the early stages (the kids love them, especially the very young ones!), and I think that they should still be in as well as the tapping-the-pulse ones.
In the Musicianship syllabus there's always a spot-the-differences section (until you get to Grades 7 and 8 where there is a different sort of test) where you are given a copy of the music, and then have to point out and describe the 3 or 4 changes which the examiner has made. The Grades 1-3 Test C as it is at present is OK, but I think that the variation of having the copy and actually seeing and finding the differences is very beneficial.
I'd also like to see the improvised-answering-phrases-over-a-groove test from the jazz syllabus making an appearance in the mainstream syllabus. I think these are brilliant fun and a really good test of musicianship!
Violinia, I do hope you don't think I'm trying to hijack your thread. I was only meaning to add a quick reply, but then I kept thinking of things!
I just wanted to point out, by the way, that in the AB jazz exams there ARE actually some interval tests - in Grades 4 and 5.
In Grade 4 you have to sing and identify 2 intervals after the examiner has played them twice - chosen from maj 2nd, maj & min 3rd, perf 4th and perf 5th.
At Grade 5 they add min 2nd and maj & min 6th to the above.
Incidentally, if we are encouraging the AB to re-think or add to the aural tests, perhaps we ought also to be thinking about other things that we'd like, so that we could present it as a 'package' to the authorities?
I personally very much liked the tapping-the-rhythm tests for the early grades in the old green books - I still have my old book and use the rhythm tests a lot in the early stages (the kids love them, especially the very young ones!), and I think that they should still be in as well as the tapping-the-pulse ones.
In the Musicianship syllabus there's always a spot-the-differences section (until you get to Grades 7 and 8 where there is a different sort of test) where you are given a copy of the music, and then have to point out and describe the 3 or 4 changes which the examiner has made. The Grades 1-3 Test C as it is at present is OK, but I think that the variation of having the copy and actually seeing and finding the differences is very beneficial.
I'd also like to see the improvised-answering-phrases-over-a-groove test from the jazz syllabus making an appearance in the mainstream syllabus. I think these are brilliant fun and a really good test of musicianship!
Violinia, I do hope you don't think I'm trying to hijack your thread. I was only meaning to add a quick reply, but then I kept thinking of things!
Hi Violinia,
I hope you don't mind me replying here; I thought the case may have some more weight if the students (who pay for the exams) agreed too. I think that interval recognition tests should be reintroduced. Not only is interval recognition very useful in doing many other things it is something that so clearly lends itself to testing. Futhermore it's not something that's massively difficult to learn or that certain people (except those with perfect pitch but they have an advantage in most aural tests) have a huge advantage over other people in. Many people say that children can learn it and adults can't but that's nonsense and is certainly not an argument against introducing it. I learnt to do it in one evening (aged 19) just by listening to the intervals and mapping them to the beginnings of pieces of music that I knew. As something that is not so difficult to learn but so immensely useful it should definitely be included.
As for the person who said interval recognition is only needed by string players, the obvious question is then why do the rest of us have to sight-sing now? Surely if only string players have to be able to pitch intervals then they're arguing against their own current aural tests!
I hope you don't mind me replying here; I thought the case may have some more weight if the students (who pay for the exams) agreed too. I think that interval recognition tests should be reintroduced. Not only is interval recognition very useful in doing many other things it is something that so clearly lends itself to testing. Futhermore it's not something that's massively difficult to learn or that certain people (except those with perfect pitch but they have an advantage in most aural tests) have a huge advantage over other people in. Many people say that children can learn it and adults can't but that's nonsense and is certainly not an argument against introducing it. I learnt to do it in one evening (aged 19) just by listening to the intervals and mapping them to the beginnings of pieces of music that I knew. As something that is not so difficult to learn but so immensely useful it should definitely be included.
As for the person who said interval recognition is only needed by string players, the obvious question is then why do the rest of us have to sight-sing now? Surely if only string players have to be able to pitch intervals then they're arguing against their own current aural tests!
| QUOTE |
| The Grades 1-3 Test C as it is at present is OK, but I think that the variation of having the copy and actually seeing and finding the differences is very beneficial. |
Actually, I have to say I don't like the grades 1-3 C test. Children can often hear the difference but find it difficult to describe, even with lots of help. This test is weighted in favour of the confident, articulate child, and I think this is unfair, and should as far as possible be avoided, especially at the early grades.
I would like to see a test which combines elements of C and D, where the same snippet is played but with changed dynamics, tempo or expression - that would test musical sense rather than "aural theory".
And if test C has to be retained, I agree with Jo - it's much more useful to be able to identify differences in the printed copy - this is something I do anyway as part of the teaching process. Children find it great fun to "spot your mistakes", and I can't remember having had to do it myself until diploma level!
Sorry Violinia - pet hates coming out of the woodwork here!!
Maggie
Please don't worry, I've got no objections to non-teachers posting in this thread; I only put it in the teachers' forum because I thought (wrongly) the teachers would be the most interested in the subject and the students would just groan at the idea of more aural tests!
Maggie, this is an absolutely brilliant suggestion. Just imagine - an improvisation and an interval test right from grade 1 - think how this would make teachers teach, and what the pupils would learn!
Violinia
| QUOTE |
| I'd also like to see the improvised-answering-phrases-over-a-groove test from the jazz syllabus making an appearance in the mainstream syllabus. I think these are brilliant fun and a really good test of musicianship! |
Maggie, this is an absolutely brilliant suggestion. Just imagine - an improvisation and an interval test right from grade 1 - think how this would make teachers teach, and what the pupils would learn!
Violinia
| QUOTE (Violinia @ Sep 20 2004, 12:56 PM) | ||
Maggie, this is an absolutely brilliant suggestion. Just imagine - an improvisation and an interval test right from grade 1 - think how this would make teachers teach, and what the pupils would learn! Violinia |
But it was me who suggested that!
I might be wrong, but I'm sure interval recognition would have far more relevence to me than cord recognition, which being totally irrelevent to a generally solo flautist, is a total nightmare (all teachers in the vicinity sigh, knowing full well I consider all parts of the aural a nightmare!) so yes, I'd be in favour.
It seems to me though that ABRSM expect teachers to teach interval recognition, for example, for the sight singing test, but dont actually make it compulsary, if you follow me.
It seems to me though that ABRSM expect teachers to teach interval recognition, for example, for the sight singing test, but dont actually make it compulsary, if you follow me.
Indeed! Bring back the interval tests! Please, please.
Oh....and the beating time. I couldn't believe that they disposed of these two tests! I dislike the "hearing the difference test" for the say reasons as maggie
Oh....and the beating time. I couldn't believe that they disposed of these two tests! I dislike the "hearing the difference test" for the say reasons as maggie
Yes - it was Jo who suggested the improvised-answering-phrases-over-a-groove idea. I can't take credit for that!
(But I quite like the sound of it??
)
Huh? But I teach sight-reading on piano largely by interval recognition. I don't get this at all. If they had said singers I would have perhaps understood it better ...
Maggie
(But I quite like the sound of it??
)| QUOTE |
| The opinion given was that interval recognition could only be of real relevance or importance to string players (because they have to work out aurally where to put their fingers |
Huh? But I teach sight-reading on piano largely by interval recognition. I don't get this at all. If they had said singers I would have perhaps understood it better ...
Maggie
| QUOTE |
| I'd also like to see the improvised-answering-phrases-over-a-groove test from the jazz syllabus making an appearance in the mainstream syllabus. I think these are brilliant fun and a really good test of musicianship! |
Violinia: "Wow, Maggie, brilliant suggestion! etc etc"
Jo.clarinet: "But it was me who suggested that!
"Sorry, Jo!!!
Violinia
| QUOTE |
| Huh? But I teach sight-reading on piano largely by interval recognition. I don't get this at all. If they had said singers I would have perhaps understood it better ... |
Yep Maggie, I don't get it either. The impression given was "why would anybody except string players need interval recognition to help their playing?"
I was gobsmacked, to put it a bit ungracefully. I tried to talk to him about it afterwards but he was a bit dismissive; perhaps he just wanted to get off home by then; after all it had been a long day. However, he did say make your views known to the AB and things could change.
Violinia
id love aural tests to be scrapped completely but thats just me! 
I'd love to see interval recognition brought back, I used to get great results on my aurels....then the blasted musical memory part came and it's been downhill since then!!!!
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