I have posted my query in another thread but no one seemed to have noticed my question. Therefore I try again in the hope that someone can help me.

I have great difficulty in doing Test A1 regarding singing the lowest part of a phrase. My problem is, I am not able to distinguish the lowest part because it is in such harmony with the other parts. In other words, I am not able to skim the other parts off a phrase. As a result, I fail to hear the part --> fail to memorise --> fail to sing back --> total failure.

My teacher has helped me by playing the lowest part deliberately louder, but obviously it is not an effective way of training in the long run. If my teacher doesn't play louder, my head will be in the clouds. I am very frustrated.

Can someone help me please?

Try going back a step or two. In grade 6 aurals you need to sing the upper of a 2 part phrase. Make sure you can do that. Than for grade 7 it is the lower of 2 parts. Now work on that. If you get the book + CD "Aural training in practice" it gives loads of examples for grades 6-8, and of course you can double up all the exercises, doing first upper, then lower parts.

I know the object of the exercise is to test short term memory, so if you use these exercises too often it won't be as in the exam, but I don't think this is a problem for you, as the object of the exercise in this case is to train your ear to pick out each phrase separately.

Another thing you could do is join a local choir and sing alto (or anything, so long as it isn't the tune). If this opportunity isn't available to you, listen to part music on radio/CD and tune in to the harmonies.

Your abilities will improve - you just need a bit of practising to get your ear in.

Hi,

I know its not really a very useful piece of advice; however I had exactly the same problem as you, I coudn't even hear the lowest part, let alone sing it back. I found that I merely sung the starting note and them made something up with roughly the same melodic shape and it was fine! My aural improved by singing alto in my choir rather than soprano so that I got used to hearing and singing the lowest part. Don't woory too much, after all , it is only a tiny proportion of the aural!

I'd agree about not being too worried on this section if you can do the rest of the Grade 8 Aural. It is a particular skill and some can do it that I teach and some never really get to grips with it.

If you read "These music exams" you will see that its the overall performance in aural that gets the marks. Not being able to do a small part of the tests won't fail the whole thing.

I'd also agree with the ideas given here for trying to improve the situation.

Best of luck

I think the problem can be that, even if you know that it is the overall impression that counts rather than each component carrying marks, if you feel that you are weak in one part then your mind copes with the whole less well.

I agree with 'all of the above'. I too found the aural tests difficult for grade 8 and found it boosted my confidence to practice a lower grade first. Also singing the alto line for hymns can help train your ear too. Most importantly don't panic - let yourself relax!