Aural Tips

Many teachers overlook the importance of teaching aural, and it has been proven that this is the area students loose most marks on in exams.

Aural can be practised at home.

Ask someone to play two notes on the piano or another instrument and try to name the interval.

Also when listening to music on the radio, your ipod or spotify, try to listen out for and answer the following questions:

• What can you say about the dynamic changes?
• Is the melody smooth or detached?
• What features of this piece give it it's character? (e.g trills, grace notes...)
• Did the tempo vary or stay the same?
• What is the style and period of the piece?

Checking your answers is easy even if you miss the presenter naming the piece, as nowadays you can find out what you heard easily on the internet.