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 a general musical impression of style is all that is needed:

• is it a dance?
• is it descriptive?
• is it song-like?
• is it a march?
• is it in swing?

If is is a dance it is likely to be a:

• waltz
• minuet
• gigue

You may also talk here about articulation and dynamics, eg:

• staccato
• legato
• rallentando
• accelerando

    Link to the BBC's revision set for musical appreciation

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:

• if it is a courtly dance, identify the type of dance
• if it is a more modern dance, identify the dance rhythm
• notice more variety or complexity in styles
• relate style to other facets such as period and structure
• relate style to the instrument for which it was written

    Link to the BBC's revision set for musical appreciation

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

You should be able to talk about:

• all the dances in a Suite from the 17th and 18th centuries
• the differences between Italian, French and German styles of Suite

    Link to the BBC's revision set for musical appreciation

Grade VIII

"To discuss matters relating to any of the musical features of a piece played by the examiner" - ABRSM syllabus

    Link to the BBC's revision set for musical appreciation

Last updated on: 03/01/2012