Hi! I have my grade 8 singing on tuesday and am beginning to get rather terrified... especially about the aurals. I know everyone complains about this, and I think I've got them mostly sorted (ish) but my crisis is test D the one where you have to comment on a piece of music. Having not done gcse or a level music I have remarkably little to say, and feel a prat when I do say stuff since I have no idea what I'm on about...! Anyone got any tips? Thanks a million!

This is probably not the most usefull advice but start praying!!

More seriously though, the best way I find to do this (long term) is listen to lots of 'classical' music, read up on all the periods, forms etc, and find someone who knows what they're talking about and discuss it pieces with them.

On the short term is harder, the only thing I can suggest is listen really carefully to the piece of music ,(don't do what I did and slip off into a day dream while the examiner is playing) say something even if it is a bit gibberish, if you don't know what it is, say what it isn't (This seems to work, cause I don't know how I passed grade 6 aurals if it doesn't) eg if you don't know exactly what period it is from, but know it isn't early, say so. Oh, and for saying what time signture it's in, remember to count while the examiner is playing the piece the first time, working it out from the extract is almost impossible.

Seeing as you are a singer, I don't suppose you can give me any advice on the other parts of the tests , my singing tends so have this unique style also known as strangled cat, etc...

Thanks a lot tamsin! I'll do my best... panicked? me? never...

QUOTE (tamsin @ Apr 5 2004, 04:24 PM)

(don't do what I did and slip off into a day dream while the examiner is playing)

lol!!!

I did that in my grade 5 clarinet!! it was the clapping back the rhythm and saying the time signature part!! not the best test to daydream but I did!!! anyway i guessed the time sig and got it right yay!! and kind of messed up the clapping though! i still got 14/18 which I was quite shocked at considering im truly awful at aurals!!!!!!

I don't think you should worry about aurals. It's only 21 points and you could easily make it up with a good performance. Just sound confident and listen carefully.

21? i thought it was 18

and yes, it is a pain. not entirely difficult, but it takes some common sense (which i don't have). just listen carefully and don't hesitate - show that you're confident even if you don't know a thing

yes it is 18 marks for aurals!

Nat

I got my result and got 120!! very pleased with my merit... and the best thing is i got 16/18 for the aurals! how did that happen?!?! thanks for all your help!
jess