For Learners
How to keep singing in 2021
Without the support of others, or the challenge of performing, it’s been easy to let singing practice slide. So how do you keep singing in 2021 while we’re all still stuck at home?
CPD
Discover Singing 2020 Repertoire Challenge
Discover 30 prompts to help advanced singers to explore new repertoire!
For Learners
Finding Traditional Songs
I’ll be honest. I don’t like trying to find traditional songs! Ever since I read the ABRSM advice and heard about the poor examiner who had ten renditions of ‘Ten Green Bottles’ on one day, I am super keen to find something different or unusual for my students to sing. Read more…
Resources
Review: Go for Bronze
One of the biggest challenges any singing teacher faces is teaching sight-reading skills. Sight-singing is often neglected because singers tend to learn more by listening than reading. Many singers can go a long way with only rudimentary ability to read music – much further than a violinist or pianist can. Read more…
Resources
Review: Sing Musical Theatre
One of the things I had been intending to add in to my blog posts is reviews of new materials. Now I’ve finally been shopping, here’s my first review. Title: Sing Musical Theatre; Wouldn’t It be Loverly? (Foundation, Grades 1-3) Type of Material: Sheet Music with Backing CD Read more…
For Learners
Should I Join a Music MOOC?
MOOC [mook] n. massive (or massively) open online course: a usually free online course open to anyone and potentially having a huge number of enrolled participants. Anyone here taken a MOOC? I have just completed my first two MOOC courses with Coursera, one of the major provide of free online courses. The Read more…
For Learners
Top Books to Buy for New Singers
As Christmas is coming, I thought now was the time to look at some gift ideas for singers. Next week, I’ll post some of the non-book ideas, but today’s post is all about books for new singers who have started lessons in 2013. Before you buy, do check with their Read more…
CPD
Trinity AMusTCL Resources
Now that my AMusTCL exam is over, I’ve collated all the useful links to essays and analysis I’ve found throughout the course of my preparations. Over time, I hope to provide links and book recommendations for the sections I didn’t do as well, along with a series of posts to Read more…
History of Music
A History of Music for Singers – Resources and More
So we’ve travelled the best part of 2,000 or 3,000 years as we’ve examined the history of music, and especially the history of vocal music. If you’ve missed any of the posts in this series, you can jump to all of them here: Introduction – Early History Renaissance Era Baroque Read more…
CPD
AMusTCL – Topics for Section C
Taken from the past papers (2009 sample, 2010 and 2011 so far), here are a list of the topics which have been covered by previous essay questions in Section C: Stylistic Development – Musical Responses. Toccata: Jacques Loussier Plays Bach Spontaneity and improvisation Inspiration from Baroque features Creative limitations of arranging Read more…