TTTV018: Everything But The Pieces (Part 1) with Sam Coates: Sight Reading & Aural Tests
Summary: <br> <br> In the third podcast of the exam series, I’m joined by Sam Coates to discuss everything but the pieces. Sam Coates is the author of the ‘<a href="http://blitzbooks.com.au/" target="_blank">BlitzBooks</a>‘ series which blitz through sight reading & theory, and I’m so excited to have her share her tips and tricks for teaching sight reading and aural skills.<br> Sight reading & aural tests make up a small portion of the marks in most exam systems, but they can cause a lot of stress for some students. Many students want to spend all their time working on their pieces, and don’t see the value in sight reading. However, any accompanist or church pianist will tell you that sight reading is one of the most valuable skills you can possibly develop as a pianist.<br> Aural tests can similarly cause anxiety if they’re not prepared for fully. The singing portion can be especially troublesome for a shy or embarrassed student. Sam has some great suggestions for dealing with these self confidence issues by starting from music that the student is already familiar with, and working out from there.<br> Whether or not you have students preparing for exams, I think you’ll really enjoy today’s discussion on these crucial musical skills.<br> In this episode, you’ll learn:<br> <br> * Why you should be making sight-reading a priority<br> * What makes someone a good sight-reader<br> * How to convince your students that correct rhythm is more important than correct notes<br> * How to use an integrated approach to aural skills<br> * Why you should start ear-training from the repertoire<br> <br> Items mentioned in this podcast:<br> <br> * <a href="http://blitzbooks.com.au/Books/Workbooks.aspx" target="_blank">Blitz books</a><br> * <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Improve-Your-Sight-reading-Piano-Grades/dp/0571524052/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1446120292&sr=8-1&keywords=improve+your+sight+reading+duet" target="_blank">Improve Your Sight-reading! Duets</a><br> * <a href="http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2120720/BlitzBooks-Aural-Survey-April-2015" target="_blank">Aural Survey</a><br> * <a href="http://blitzbooks.com.au/Blog/EntryId/54/Overview-of-Aural-Survey-Results.aspx" target="_blank">Overview of Aural Survey Results</a><br> * <a href="http://www.auralbook.com/select.php" target="_blank">AuralBook apps</a><br> * <a href="https://timtopham.com/tttv009-paul-harris-on-simultaneous-learning/" target="_blank">TTTV009: Paul Harris on Simultaneous Learning</a><br> * <a href="http://blitzbooks.com.au/Blog/EntryId/53/Aural-Skills-in-Exams-Part-1.aspx" target="_blank">Aural Skills in Exams</a> (Sam’s blog)<br> * <a href="https://timtopham.com/tttv004-holistic-sight-reading-how-technology-is-revolutionising-teaching-with-colin-thomson/" target="_blank">TTTV004: Holistic Sight Reading</a><br> <br> <br> Today’s sponsor: ABRSM<br> <a href="http://i0.wp.com/timtopham.com/wp-content/uploads/iPhone_6_Horz_Slvr_SIGHT-SINGING1.png"></a><br> Are your students struggling with their aural skills?<br> ABRSM is an exam board that supports the teaching and learning of music in partnership with the Royal Schools of Music. Its award-winning Aural Trainer app for iOS devices offers an exciting way for students to practise their aural skills.<br> Through a series of interactive challenges, pupils can learn to identify and describe musical features and differences quickly and accurately. They can gain feedback on their answers and keep track of improvements. Students can practise exercises in any order, as often or as little as they’d like, anytime and anywhere.<br> Aural Trainer covers all of the elements of ABRSM’s aural tests for their Grades 1 to 8 exams, including sight–singing and echo tests. There are two versions of the app: Aural Trainer 1 to 5, and Aural Trainer 6 to 8 which is new! Free copies of each app are available to download so y...
