Full Version: Grade 5 Aural Exercise
I have a student about to start working towards her grade 5 and have been looking at the aural tests. I realise it's not so easy to do it in words, but can anyone explain to me how you conduct in 6/4?!
I'm guessing we are talking LCM; their aural tests require beating the time.
Excerpt from their syllabus:
Excerpt from their syllabus:
QUOTE
GRADE 5
Rhythm
A short harmonised passage, of approximately 8 bars in length, will be played. The passage will be in either 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8 or 6/4 time. Candidates will be asked to:
1 (a) beat (conduct) time, with a correct and clear beat shape (conducting pattern) according to the time signature of the music, in time with the examiner's playing, as the examiner plays the passage again. (Passages in 6/8 or 6/4 time should be conducted with a 2-beat or 6-beat pattern as appropriate). (2 marks).
Rhythm
A short harmonised passage, of approximately 8 bars in length, will be played. The passage will be in either 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8 or 6/4 time. Candidates will be asked to:
1 (a) beat (conduct) time, with a correct and clear beat shape (conducting pattern) according to the time signature of the music, in time with the examiner's playing, as the examiner plays the passage again. (Passages in 6/8 or 6/4 time should be conducted with a 2-beat or 6-beat pattern as appropriate). (2 marks).
Yes, it is LCM. I'm fine with all the other conducting but have never had to do 6/4 before so am not entirely sure how to teach it.
QUOTE(cambiata @ Jun 23 2009, 11:23 AM) 
6/4 time is two dotted minim beats in a bar so conduct two in a bar, like in 6/8 and in 2/4. I am not entirely sure how you would conduct 6 in a bar - I guess two lots of three time - but this is misleading as compound time with a 6 on the top is not 6 beats but two dotted beats. Maybe if the music is very very slow you would have to do 6 separate beats. It is a while ago now but I think I rang the LCM to query this - it might be worth giving them a call to clarify things for you.
I was taught to conduct 6 beats in a bar (assuming a slow to moderate tempo) as follows:
Down Beat (1)>Left(2)>Left again(3)>Back across body past the original down Beat>Right(4) (as though beating the 2nd beat of a 3/4)>Right again(5)>Then up(6) (like the 3rd beat of a 3/4)
It is a bit like an upside down T, with the base of the T sub-divided into 4. (This is really hard to put into words!) Anyway, orchestras and singers I have conducted have always managed to follow me!
Hello again
I think the picture on here for 6-beats: http://startachoir.99newsongs.com/id22.html shows something similar to what Samick is describing! They've said it is for 6/8 but could be used for 6/anything.
I think the picture on here for 6-beats: http://startachoir.99newsongs.com/id22.html shows something similar to what Samick is describing! They've said it is for 6/8 but could be used for 6/anything.
Thanks everyone, that's really helped
QUOTE(Tres @ Jun 23 2009, 09:37 AM)
I have a student about to start working towards her grade 5 and have been looking at the aural tests. I realise it's not so easy to do it in words, but can anyone explain to me how you conduct in 6/4?!
One of the musicians has already described how to do this. I would just add that the third beat should go further to the left than the second,and the fifth beat should go futher to the right than the fourth. This is easier for orchestral players who may be quite a long way from the conductor. Busylizzie
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.