Grade 2 Aural Tests
Improve your aural skills and learn how to tackle the aural test section of your graded music exam.
Enroll in Course
What You Will Learn
Valuable aural exam preparation and ear training with the Grade 2 Aural Tests course.
When it comes to music exams, candidates often prepare themselves well for the playing but are less sure when it comes to the aural tests. There are several resources offering examples of tests but very few that teach the techniques needed for successful outcomes. Designed to follow on directly from our Grade 1 Aural Tests course, this course features all the content you would be expected to know for the aural tests in a grade 2 exam, with detailed explanations of how to tackle each test and plenty of practice examples, walking you through each area step by step in a clear and informative manner. As well as being suitable for candidates preparing for ABRSM practical exams, aural skills are essential for any musician, and here is a progressive course in acquiring those skills. During the Grade 2 Aural Tests course we'll cover...
- Pulse and Time Signature - How do you tell the difference between a piece of music in two time or three time? How do you know when to clap strong beats and weak beats? How do you tell the difference between the pulse and rhythm of the music?
- Echo Singing - What singing techniques do you need to employ to feel more confident? How do you maintain pitch and rhytmic accuracy? Can you remember the short phrase and sing in time?
- Pitch and Rhythm Change Detection - Can you identify subtle pitch or rhythm changes within melodic phrases? How do you pinpoint whether a change occur near the beginning or end of a phrase? How do you differentiate between original and altered melodies with ease?
- Musical Features - How do you identify changes in tempo? How do you identify articulation and dynamic variation within a piece? What else could you say regarding musical expression to improve your answers?
- Strategic Question Answering - How do you approach questions with confidence and accuracy? Do you understand the question formats? What are some of the pitfalls you need to avoid?
Ahhh thank you so much I've got my grade 2 exam tomorrow morning and I'm stressing out about this! But now i've watched this I'm so much more confident. Thank you!
- Ivan
Who Is This Course For?
All keen music students, performers and examination candidates.
Don't let those aural tests intimidate you any longer. Enroll in our course today and embark on a journey to musical excellence. Whether you're a student or a parent looking to support your child's musical education, our course is your key to success. Our aural test courses cover all the essential elements of aural training from the ground up and are ideal for students preparing for examinations, as well as an excellent resource for anyone looking to improve and develop their aural skills. This course follows on from our Grade 1 Aural Tests course.
Do any of these sound familiar?
"I’m dreading the aural tests for the exam..." "I'm never sure what to say about features of the piece of music that’s played in the exam..." "I find it difficult to hear melodic and rhythmic changes..." "My teacher doesn’t play the piano..." "My teacher doesn’t spend much time on aural tests..."
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The best training video I have watched on this test. You actually helped me get this right! My teacher is happy with my practice now!
- Saumya
By the end of the Grade 2 Aural Tests course you'll be able to…
Clap the pulse of a piece of music, stress the strong beats, and name the time as 2 or 3
Echo sing a series of three phrases
Identify a pitch or rhythm alteration to a phrase played on the piano
Describe features of a piece of music, centred around dynamics, articulation and tempo change
Confidently answer the questions asked in the exam
Apply these new skills to other areas of music and critical listening applications
Dear Gareth, your clear, detailed explanations and examples really helped my son - for his Grade 2 Violin exam. We just found out last night he scored a distinction!! He was pretty hopeless at aural before going over your teaching videos. Will be visiting your website for future exams! A big thank you to Gareth!
- Eileen
Course Information
What's Included with the Grade 2 Aural Tests Course?
Professional Teaching
You'll receive expert tuition on how to approach each section of the exam and you'll learn useful strategies for success.
Practice Exercises
The course contains a plenty of practice exercises for you to work through along with the initial teaching material.
Ask Questions
Below each video you are able to post comments and ask questions should you have any in regards to the course topics covered.
Easy to Follow Structure
The course is divided into multiple stages, breaking down each part separately before putting it all together.
Complete at Your Own Pace
You can easily fit the course around your regular commitments, completing it at your own pace and in your own time.
Anywhere Access
Your course never expires. Learn when and where you choose! Computer or mobile. Just get comfortable and dive in!
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Your Instructor
Hi, I’m Gareth and I'm passionate about developing ‘the all round musician’.
Over 35 years of music examining with ABRSM, work with the BBC on Radio and TV, experience on the international concert platform, as a published composer and arranger, have brought rich resources to the 40 years of teaching in which I've engaged.
Scholarships at The Royal College of Music, Oxford University and St. Paul’s Cathedral gave me fantastic opportunities to learn from the best musicians, scholars and teachers. Working as Director of Music at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School then provided a wonderful opportunity to develop my teaching skills.
Teaching individuals and groups of all ages, and at all stages of development have refined a teaching approach that I hope is fun and engaging, and focused on explaining things clearly and logically. And that is what these courses are all about - understanding the basic principles with clarity, then going deeper, applying them to your musical life and liberating yourself as a musician.
It’s a rich and amazing journey, and I can’t wait for you to join me today!
Frequently Asked Questions
A Letter from Gareth Green
MA (Oxon), MA (Leeds), FRCO(CHM), FLCM, ARCM
Many candidates dread the aural tests in exams because they feel they can’t do them. Many candidates spend much more time in lessons and in their own work at home focused on pieces and other parts of the exam than they do working at aural training. Many take the view that it is impossible to work on aural training and aural tests alone.
My experience as an examiner has often suggested that more time spent on aural development would have enhanced the outcome of that part of the exam and would also have had a positive impact on outcomes in the other sections of the exam.
Aural skills are essential for any musician so, whatever happens in exams, it is essential to develop the skills.
This course covers everything you need to do and you can work through it in your own time and in your own space. Enjoy!
— Gareth Green, Music Matters