All Students preparing for Grade exams are recommended to use the Hofnotes on-line training pages to practise for the aural tests.
At higher grades you must be able to discuss with the examiner musical features such as texture, form, style, and period of a piece of music. My own web pages to help with these parts of the test at Grade 5+ and at GCSE are available here!
Grade V
"To identify certain features of a piece played by the examiner...confined to...general perception of texture, rhythm, form, style and period" - ABRSM syllabus
You will be told before hearing the extract which features you are going to be asked about, and different periods will be quite clearly defined.
Grade VI
"To answer questions on the features of a piece played by the examiner, including the general perception of texture, form (including phrase structure), style and period" - ABRSM syllabus
This sounds very similar to the previous grade, so you will be expected to go into more detail, and the piece may be longer. So you will need to:
- remember for longer
- notice more subtle indicators of period
- relate period to other facets such as texture, form and style
- discuss the instrument for which it was written
Grade VII
"To answer questions on the features of a piece played by the examiner, including the general perception of texture, form (including phrase structure), style and period" - ABRSM syllabus
At this grade you will be expected to
- demonstrate a good range of listening experience
- talk fluently about the musical period of the piece
- relate period to style, form and instruments of the time
Grade VIII
"To discuss matters relating to any of the musical features of a piece played by the examiner" - ABRSM syllabus
The word discussion is the clue here: one word answers won't do at this grade!