Mastering Aural Tests

Ages 11–17

Course Dates & Times

Monday 7 – Thursday 10 April 2025
10.30am–12.30pm, BST (UTC+1)

About Mastering Aural Tests

This online music course takes place across four days. It will help you practise your aural skills, accelerate the learning process and increase your exam confidence. You will work on listening and memorising skills up to the level required for Grade 8 ABRSM.

Who is the course for?

Anyone aged 11 to 17 who sings or plays and wants to work on refining aural skills, whether for exams or personal development.

(Please note that this compact course will be ​specifically tailored towards ABRSM exams grades 6-8. If you are looking to develop your skills and get more comprehensive and inclusive content of practical and theoretical experience, you might like our Advanced Aural Skills course.)

What can I expect?

You will work on listening and memorising skills up to the level required for Grade 8 ABRSM for the following topics:

• Melody:
  • copying vocally and instrumentally
  • interval recognition
  • sight singing
• Harmony:
  • cadences
  • chord-naming
  • tonality
  • modulation
• Rhythm:
  • recognising time-signatures
  • clapping back
  • sight clapping
• Style and historical period recognition
• Understanding of character within music (e.g. dance, lullaby)
• Understanding of form and structure, dynamics, phrasing and articulation

Do I need anything for the course?

• Your instrument
• A piano/keyboard (desirable)
• Manuscript paper
• Pencil
• You'll need a practical working knowledge of music theory of at least ABRSM Grade 5 level (or equivalent)

Course fee

£180

Public booking opens at 11am, Thursday 28 November. Join our mailing list before Monday 25 November to receive priority booking.

Participation Bursaries are available for this course. Please note the application deadline for Participation Bursaries is 3 March 2025.

Eligibility

• For everyone aged 11–17
• Participants must have sufficient English language skills in order to fully engage with the course 

Online Short Course Requirements

All sessions will take place online using Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to you in advance of the course start date with further instructions.

To participate in online classes you will need the following:

• An email address
• A reliable internet connection
• A laptop/tablet/desktop computer with a microphone and camera (most have these included)
• Speakers/headphones (the speakers in your laptop/tablet/computer should be sufficient)
• A fully updated web browser able to use the most up to date version of Zoom, or a fully updated Zoom client

If you have any questions regarding joining one of our online courses please contact us.

About the Course Tutor

This course is taught by Shelagh Sutherland.

Shelagh is a freelance pianist who has been teaching piano, violin, singing and Alexander Technique since 1972. She has been teaching the aural course at Guildhall School since 1990, which she was instrumental in designing.