Essential Aural Skills
This five-day online music course, led by Guildhall professor Shelagh Sutherland, will help you practise your aural skills, accelerate the learning process and make your playing more expressive. You will work on listening and memorising skills up to the level required for Grade 5 ABRSM.
Key information:
- Course dates:
- Mon 24 July – Fri 28 July 2023
- Course times:
- 11am–12.30pm & 2–3.30pm, BST (UTC+1)
- Age:
- 11-17
- Art form:
- Music
- Fees:
- £355
- Deadline:
- 5pm, Sunday 9 July 2023
- Level of study:
- Short Courses & Summer Schools, Workshops & Saturday Centres (ages 4-18)
- Mode of study:
- Online
- When:
- Summer
Course info
Book Now
- Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged
- Bookings will close at 5pm on Sunday 9 July 2023 or when the course reaches full capacity
Ages 11–17
Course Dates & Times
Monday 24 July – Friday 28 July 2023
11am–12.30pm & 2–3.30pm daily, BST (UTC+1)
About Essential Aural Skills
This five-day online music course, led by Guildhall professor Shelagh Sutherland, will help you practise your aural skills, accelerate the learning process and make your playing more expressive. You will work on listening and memorising skills up to the level required for Grade 5 ABRSM.
Who is the course for?
Anyone who sings, plays and/or composes and wants to work on refining aural skills, whether for exams or personal development.
What can I expect?
You will work on listening and memorising skills up to the level required for Grade 5 ABRSM and Trinity exams 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
- Practical working knowledge of theory up to ABRSM Grade 5
- Mistake spotting
- 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
Course Fee
£355
Participation Bursaries are available for this course. (Please note the application deadline for participation bursaries is 12 June 2023.)
Book Now
- Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged
- Bookings will close at 5pm on Sunday 9 July 2023 or when the course reaches full capacity
Eligibility
- For everyone aged 11–17
- Participants must have sufficient English language skills to cope with course demands
Online Short Courses 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.
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