To the uninitiated and people who envy those with golden, soaring vocals, a singing exam must seem effortless. Sing from the diaphragm, maintain good posture, feel the music and let's rip.
Three of those are actually best practices of singing, in case you didn’t know.
As with any other expression of ability from writing computer applications to performing on the stage, aspiring singers must devote countless hours and strenuous work to honing their craft.
And, while it might be easy to deduce how a future mathematician should prepare for exams, it is less clear how one with a natural talent such as singing should get ready for theirs.
If you aren’t a competent singer music can be one of the more challenging subjects offered to students within the leaving cert cycle. Unfortunately for the majority of students who aren’t extremely gifted in the realm of singing, it is a core subject across secondary level education meaning that it is compulsory for all students.
Preparing and knowing how to go about tackling your singing exams can be a great way of improving your grade in the subject and developing your voice in the process. Due to the subject being compulsory for all students across the country, students may opt to get their singing grades up to a level that suits their abilities.
Singing is a skill that surfaces some invaluable learnings throughout life while developing skills necessary throughout a vast array of career paths and walks of life. I will walk you through what it is you need to do to get over the line and pass the final exam and develop your ability as a singer
The Irish singing scene is by no stretch of the imagination confined to professional gigs. If you venture on a short stroll down to the local pub you are bound to find live traditional Irish music on show to participate in or simply sit back and enjoy.
Today, Superprof singing teachers discuss the full spectrum of best practices for singers to ready themselves for their potentially life-changing time in the exam spotlight.
Planning Your Strategy
So you’ve decided to take the challenge and dive into singing exams and progress through the grades. Now, you’re probably asking yourself a lot of questions, one of which is presumably related to where you should begin your preparations, if so you’ve come to the right place.
I typically advise students to start from the basics and work their way up, developing their voice and skills by working through their prepared exam material and practising singing techniques in order to strengthen their vocal cords.
It is important to trust the process, this is an extensive course and it is easy to get lost or bogged down in the sheer volume of material associated with each of the grades, particularly from grade 5 and above.
For this reason, I advise students to avoid purchasing additional resources and courses until they have first familiarised themselves with the material that they plan to sing in their exams. While often perceived as an attractive shortcut to learning, it is important for students to realise that however useful, these are supplementary resources.
In order for you to get the maximum value for both your money and learning, you should first consult a singing coach in order to gain the necessary preliminary knowledge and skills before turning to additional sources. Superprof is your best bet for finding a suitable singing coach.
For many, planning an artistic endeavour runs contrary to the spirit of art itself. Where’s the freedom of expression? Where’s the unrestrained passion? Where’s the spontaneity?
Know the structure of your singing exams
You’ll be glad to hear that the first four singing grades follow similar exam formats, so you won’t have to worry about adapting to the next test.
In each of these singing exams, you will need to prepare and perform three songs with piano accompaniment. Knowing what you need to perform in advance can help to put any of those nerves to rest and allow you to better prepare for what’s ahead.
You will also need to sing an unaccompanied traditional piece, sung from memory. This is why it is important to familiarise yourself with the exam layout before walking into your singing exams.
Learning your traditional piece will give you something to rely on inside of your exam and it can often boost a student’s grade up to a distinction. There is no list for you to choose a traditional piece from, but you have to heed a couple of rules: your selection cannot be a hymn, anthem, carol or nursery rhyme, and if you choose to sing in a language besides English, you should provide a lyrics translation.
On top of these two performances, you will be required to do some sight-singing of an unfamiliar short piece of music. Many people find comfort in the level playing field that this component of the exam offers applicants.
Lastly, you will need to complete your level-appropriate aural test, this section of the exam is popular with students who feel that they have an ear for music. All of these sections of your singing exam can be prepared for in advance, including the unseen performance!
What about the higher singing exams?
In the Irish singing exams, the higher the grade, the more challenging the musical selections become and the longer you are required to sing.
Looking back on some of the exams that we touched on, in the Grade 1 exam, candidates are limited to only four minutes of accompanied singing but, at Grade 4, singing time is six minutes. You probably guessed it; this will continue to increase as you progress through the grades.
Grade 5 is about where this begins to change, and the tide turns towards a more difficult exam structure. The exam contains the same elements as the previous ones that we discussed.
You will find that there are three songs from approved lists, one unaccompanied traditional song, an aural test and sight-reading. However, if you intend to advance to higher grades, you must also complete a music theory test or a practical musician test.
This is just another component that you will need to bear in mind when preparing to ace your singing exams!
Lastly, with the remaining tests from grade 6 right up to grade 8 the standard elements continue, albeit with longer singing times and more intensity, and the list selections you choose your songs from becomes ever more complex and challenging to sing.
Now that you have an insight as to what happens behind the closed doors of your next singing exam, you will be more prepared and equipped to achieve a high grade and progress through the ranks!
Depending on your exam board and which grade you’re testing at, you may be required to improvise a piece, most likely with piano accompaniment. Should that be the case, it would be best to have a few selections at the ready.
Learn Best Practices from an experienced Singing Coach
A crucial part of preparing for your exam is to visualise how it will go and what you will do.
When it comes to singing exams in Ireland, knowing how to sing is just half the battle.
Having a singing coach for your singing exams is perhaps one of the more effective methods for preparing to jump up the grades. Superprof is a platform that pairs students with tutors for their desired subject. Here you will find an abundance of qualified singing tutors to choose from to help you on your journey to achieving your potential with singing.
Students have the option to select their tutor based on their rate, this makes sure that you find the best fit for your budget. The hourly rate of singing coaches in Ireland typically varies from about €8 right up to €30, with some tutors offering a reduced rate for 5 or 10-hour packages.
The number of singing teachers that offer their services in Ireland is on the rise. With singing it is important that you find a teacher that you are both comfortable with and work well with. This is something that Superprof make particularly easy, the platform gives you the opportunity to refine your search according to your own personal needs.
You will be able to shortlist tutors according to their suitability across categories such as affordability, level and proximity. Whether you are looking to improve your singing in order to achieve a higher grade in the leaving cert, progress in your music career or simply want to gain an edge in your practice by learning some best practice singing techniques. Availing of a professional singing tutor can have many benefits.
Getting comfortable singing both by yourself and in front of an audience is both a preliminary step in mastering your sound and one of the most challenging obstacles to overcome in unlocking your potential with singing at the same time. Take the first step with Superprof today!
Follow these tips to ensure a good result on your upcoming exam and the confidence to further your music education, even if you're skipping a singing grade.
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