Most parents know that when their children take a music exam, they have to play three pieces, or sing three songs, that scales and arpeggios are required and that sight-reading an easy piece they have not seen before is involved.
The part of the exam that often remains something of a mystery to parents who have not taken music exams themselves is the aural tests. Unfortunately this is a part of the exam that usually worries the candidates, since they often feel a lack of confidence in giving correct answers. It is also an aspect of music tuition that is, understandably, often given a lower priority by teachers than the pieces – after all the student has lessons because they want to learn to play or sing.
Parents, of course, want to give all the support they can to ensure that their child has the best chance of doing well in music exams but until recently they have been unable to help. Now that E-MusicMaestro has developed Aural Test Training, children can go online not just to practise doing aural tests, but to actually learn how to answer them successfully.
E-MusicMaestro Aural Test Training supplements the work of instrumental and singing teachers and it is especially relevant for students who are taking ABRSM exams in playing an instrument or singing. The resource offers a free Aural Test Practice section, with the option of subscribing for a small monthly fee to an extensive Aural Test Training programme.
The Grades 1 – 5 Aural Test Training programme has hundreds of examples that appear in random order for each test selected at each grade. New examples are presented until they have all been attempted, then the ones that the student got wrong are offered again automatically. The programme also has easy to understand analytics, showing the student which examples they got right and which tests still need more practice. The analytics also allow parents to log in and find out how their child is doing and to check how often they are practising.
One subscription of £2.99 per month gives access to all the Grades 1 – 5 tests so, for no extra cost, the student can begin a grade or two lower than the one they are taking in the exam, then move up the grades when they are achieving success. The subscription may be cancelled any time after the first payment, with no further obligation. Free practice tests for Grades 6 – 8 are planned for later this year.
In an independent review, the Music Teacher magazine (pub. Rhinegold) rates E-MusicMaestro as ‘a five-star operation’, describing Aural Test Training as ‘a real lifeline for students … exceptionally good value’.
