I've just taken Grade 8 singing and am working towards the diploma. I feel ready to take one or two pupils but am worried that my keyboard skills are going to hinder me. My teacher can sight-read any accompaniment, often transposing as well! I, on the other hand, can play accompaniments only if I've practised them well beforehand but I'm not confident that I'd be able to listen critically to a pupil while concentrating on my playing. How important do other members feel it is to be able to play the piano well, and do you have any tips for getting round the problem?

Well my son's singing teacher gets round this by telling all his students "I've found this great new piece for you" and teaching them all the same one all day...by the end of the day he is pretty good at the piano part! Of course if you get the first lesson of the day that's not so good.

Seriously...just practise a load in advance and try to feel more confident than you do!

I often accompany pupils for exams etc of teachers in your position. They are all able to play the accompaniments themselves because they have been doing so for years. They only call me in when they are not confident of actually performing the piecessongs.

A few months from now, you will be playing your accompaniments like a trooper, so don't worry.

I guess you're both right really. In reality I'll be lucky to play anything involving both hands during the first few lessons while I get over my own nerves!

Hi Steve, Hope you're right! In the meantime I'll just have to bluff my way through! I still have the memory of accompanying my daughter when she took grade 3 flute and making more mistakes than she did - how embarassing......

Ok heres another suggestion that I plan to use when I start teaching! Nowadays there are lots of backing CDs available which eliminates the accompaniment problem and also you can make backing tracks on computer programmes! Just a thought.!

Hi Viking,
Please let me know the various pieces you sang for your grade 8 singing exam, what about accompaniment. Did you do all the grades from grade 1 or did u skip if so from what level.

Hi Samson I jumped in at Grade 6 two years ago after 6 weeks singing lessons - I have a wonderful and inspiring teacher! He accompanied, but then as I already indicated he's the absolute dogs back wheels. For Grade 8 I did Purcell Music for a while, Beethoven Mit einem gemalten Band, Jacob Mother I will have a husband (very funny for a divorced middle-aged woman) and Dring Business Girls. Just curious, why are you interested?

Hi Viking,
Thank you so much for ur quick response, I am interested because I prepared for gr 6 singing but unfortunately I could not appear as I developed throat infection and fell sick, I will be doing gr 6 in the coming Dec, and simultaneously I want to prepare for gr 8 and do it in May 2006. I never did any grades in singing before. I am a piano teacher sending students for ABRSM exams both for practicals and theory. So far I have sent students upto gr 6 practicals and gr 5 theory. Next time I will be sending for gr 8 also. Last time I sent 11 students and all passed. Can you suggest me 4 good melodies for singing gr 8. You have already done and hence this request. I will check with the syllabus and arrange to get song books from London. I am now based in Oman and doing full time music teaching in private at home and in different places. My e mail id samsonsings@hotmail.com
Thank you so much

Hi Samson

While I'm sure Viking, or I, or George or any of the other singers who post here could suggest songs, none of us know your voice or your interests, so we could quite easily suggest stuff for you that's really not appropriate.

One suggestion - get one of the books from "The Art of Song" series published by Peters. There are three books for grade 8 - for high, middle or low voice. Choose the one most appropriate for you, of course. This has a number of the list A and list B works.

Your best bet is to listen to a few recordings of songs from the syllabus - Amazon and a number of other CD sellers will publish at least part of a track on the internet for most of the repertoire if you don't have a music library accessible - and then choose from what you've heard that you think will suit your voice.

Or talk to your singing teacher, who will have a better view of what you can do.

Good luck

Cheers

Katyjay

QUOTE (viking @ May 22 2005, 09:23 PM)

Hi Samson I jumped in at Grade 6 two years ago after 6 weeks singing lessons - I have a wonderful and inspiring teacher! He accompanied, but then as I already indicated he's the absolute dogs back wheels. For Grade 8 I did Purcell Music for a while, Beethoven Mit einem gemalten Band, Jacob Mother I will have a husband (very funny for a divorced middle-aged woman) and Dring Business Girls. Just curious, why are you interested?

I was just wondering if you think you know all the in's and out's of the singing technique to be able to teach, having only two years of lessons yourself? If i am reading that properly.
I have had 13 or more years of singing lessons and still wonder if I know everything, which i undoubtedly don't!

Hello Trinity

Just to reassure you - I don't believe for a moment that I know all the ins and outs of vocal technique! However, I do believe I have something to give to the youngest of the age range - 8 to 11 year olds. Aside from singing I have had many years of music making and my general musicianship is of a high standard. In addition, I have the advantage that I still have a passion for music that many long-time professionals who have been to the great conservatoires have long-since lost.

At the end of the day, if I can inspire youngsters to achieve and really make music, that's what it is all about.

Please don't be too judgmental and too harsh just because you have many years experience. As a teenager I was taught by highly-qualified and experienced teachers - and I found an enduring love of music despite them rather than because of them. Do I sound angry? Sorry

Hi friend,
I have a tenor voice and kindly advice me pieces
Thanx