Aural

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Aural Tests: Learn to be a Good Listener

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Aural Tests: Learn to be a Good Listener

What is exactly is meant when we talk about good musicianship? While your mind may jump to an image of a virtuoso pianist in mid-concert, it is not the playing of the instrument that makes a good musician. Rather, the skills that we come to rely on begin at a very early stage, ideally from the very first lesson.

The reason why it is important to consider what skills make us good musicians, is that it is entirely possible to pass a Grade 1-3 aural test without any wider understanding of how these tests fit into the music-making process. The world of aural is much deeper and richer than is suggested by the tests alone, and students who are unable to appreciate this will inevitably struggle when progressing to higher grades.

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Improvisation

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Improvisation

Though the benefits of improvisation are perhaps not as tangible as those of playing from a score, it is unquestionably one of the best ways to stimulate the musical mind. Many famous composers were gifted improvisers; Mozart, Chopin and in particular Bach to name just a few. A well-rounded musician may improvise in any key and in any style that he or she wishes to, yet it is a form of music that many do not dare explore.

Tonality

Tonality

When you look at a painting, what do your eyes perceive? What colours or shapes are they drawn to? Which part of the image do your eyes focus on, and what are they aware of in the periphery?

Now think what your ears perceive when you hear a piece of music and ask yourself the same questions. What colours come to mind? What shapes can they pick out? Which part of the music do the ears focus on and what can you hear in the background?

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Aural Skills: The Inner Ear and Visualisation

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Aural Skills: The Inner Ear and Visualisation

When was the last time you got a tune stuck in your head? How much of it can you recall before it goes foggy? In how much detail can you render a performance in your head? Can you imagine yourself playing it as you hear it? If you can picture yourself playing a piece as you hear it then you are practising it in an entirely different fashion, known as “visualising.”