A guide to the new
Singing Syllabus What’s changing in 2009 New set songs and sight-singing
Singing Syllabus from 2009 New set songs and sight-singing
The Associated Board’s Singing Syllabus for 2009 onwards is published in July 2008 and takes effect from 1 January 2009. This time, we’ve not only refreshed the choice of set songs and increased the number of songs in each list, but we’ve also updated the sight-singing requirements for all exams taken from 2009 onwards. The set songs come from an even more extensive range of countries and there is a wider choice of material taken from the stage and screen. For the first time the syllabus is being issued as a separate booklet.
This leaflet is essential reading for singing teachers and candidates, as it guides you through the key changes to all aspects of the syllabus, and gives details of the new supporting publications.
Research and Consultation
The changes made to the new Singing Syllabus are the result of collaboration with singing teachers at all levels throughout the world. We reviewed the feedback we’ve asked for in recent years and have acted on requests for a broader range of music on the syllabus and a more musical approach to sight-singing.
We piloted a trial set of new specimen sight-singing tests in 2006 with a sample of our regular applicants. Careful consideration was given to questions of breathing, pitch ranges and intervals, the use of words and the role of the accompaniment in relation to the vocal line. Over 85% of teachers involved in the pilot considered the new approaches an improvement, and over 97% considered them to represent a logical progression through the grades.
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About Graded Exams
Associated Board Grade 1-8 exams are designed to motivate pupils and students at all levels by providing clear, attainable goals. Successful exam candidates are rewarded for their progress and achievement with a certificate. The ‘grades’ are recognised as international benchmarks and are valued by teachers and institutions all over the world.
The assessment programme is flexible. Candidates can study in their own time and at their own pace, and can begin at the level most appropriate for them – Grade 1 is suitable for beginners who have been learning for about one year, whilst each subsequent grade is positioned broadly as an annual target. It is not necessary for a candidate to be attached to any specific institution or follow a particular course or method of study in order to do their graded exams. Graded music exams are available in over 35 instruments, singing, jazz, music theory and practical musicianship. For further information, please visit www.abrsm.org/exams
Changes to the Syllabus Repertoire The fundamental structure of the exam remains the same. Candidates at Grades 1-5 prepare three set songs and an unaccompanied traditional song. Those taking Grades 6-8 sing an additional fourth set song to build a varied programme. All grades also include aural tests and sight-singing. • The previous syllabus contained over 600 songs, of which approximately three quarters have been retained. The addition of new repertoire brings the extent up to nearly 1,000 items, providing an extraordinarily wide choice for candidates • In response to requests from teachers, we are now adopting the Helmholtz pitch notation system for defining the precise range of each song in the syllabus
Grades 1-5
• Songs may now be sung in any language at Grades 1-5, provided that the candidate has an edition with a published singing translation This change increases the flexibility regarding languages at Grades 1-5, reflecting the needs of our international constituency of candidates.
Grades 6-8
• Songs from Lists A, C and D may be sung in their original language or in a singing translation in any other language where a published edition exists, but List B songs must still be performed in their original language only
• List C expands geographically from being a 20th-century English list to encompass music from Spain, Wales, Norway, Iceland, Russia, China, New Zealand, Australia and the Americas
• List D now encompasses 19th- to 21st-century songs written for the stage and screen
Opera arias previously found in Grade 8 List B now move to List D. The worlds of opera and operetta open up with songs by Gilbert and Sullivan, Lehar, Bellini and Humperdinck, amongst many others. At all grades the range of songs from musicals and films has grown, taking in examples by Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, Charlie Chaplin and Ivor Novello, as well as the Gershwins, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Cole Porter.
This part of the syllabus also features superb examples of Edwardian music hall and parlour songs as well as Flanders and Swann’s legendary tribute to The Hippopotamus.
Supporting Publications
The ABRSM Songbook, a five-volume series, will be available from late 2008. This series will offer singers an unrivalled choice of repertoire up to Grade 5. Each volume contains around 20 songs, each of which has a background note to help with study and performance preparation, as well as a recorded accompaniment designed for practice purposes (but not for exam use).
Each Songbook also contains a selection of unaccompanied folksongs from around the world that have been chosen to reflect the expectations at each grade and are suitable for use in the Unaccompanied Traditional Song section of the exam. Many of the folksongs – from some 25 different countries – may be unfamiliar at first, but the selection is intended to complement the extensive collections of well-known traditional songs already available. The folksongs included in the Songbooks are not ‘set’ songs; teachers and candidates are still free to select their own choice, but we hope that the songs in each volume will give an indication of the technical expectations at each level.
There are also recordings of every song text (including all the unaccompanied traditional songs) in the original language, providing a useful pronunciation guide. Order your copies from your local retailer or visit www.abrsmpublishing.com
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The new edition of Specimen Sight-Singing Tests (in two volumes, Grades 1-5 and 6-8), is available from July 2008. These reflect the changes in requirements from January 2009. New requirements are described fully in the new Singing Syllabus, available from July 2008. Order your copies from your local retailer or visit www.abrsmpublishing.com
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Changes to the Sight-Singing Tests • Clear, simple and singable texts are included in the Grades 6-8 tests, though they may still be sung on any vowel or to sol-fa, at the candidate’s choice
• There is now only one vocal stave per test (i.e. not both the treble- and bass-clef versions printed together above the piano part), and dynamic markings continue to be printed above the vocal line These factors increase the clarity of the notation to assist candidates in their performance.
GRADE 8
words: Christina Rossetti
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When do these changes take effect? The new Singing Syllabus is published in July 2008, and includes full details of the new set songs as well as the revised technical requirements (both valid from 1 January 2009).
Overlap information Set songs
• Candidates may perform songs from the previous syllabus as follows:
UK & Republic of Ireland – until the end of Period A (spring examinations) 2009 only All other countries – until 31 December 2009
• All the songs must be from the same syllabus – candidates may not perform a mixture of songs from old and new syllabuses
Sight-singing
• There is no overlap period for sight-singing; the new requirements take effect for all candidates worldwide from 1 January 2009
For more information on the syllabus and regulations see www.abrsm.org
Our service to you
The Associated Board is committed to offering you a high standard of service at the exam centre and during the exam. We monitor our exams closely to ensure consistency, fairness and efficiency. If you have any concerns about the conduct or conditions of an exam please contact us.
Contact us UK & Ireland
Our offices are open on weekdays from 8am to 5.30pm. You can also get information from the website (www.abrsm.org) or from your Honorary Local Representative, who is listed at the website and in the Examination Information & Regulations booklet.
Alternatively, contact our UK and Ireland Operations team: Northern Region, Scotland & Wales Exams t: 020 7467 8261 e:
[email protected] London Region Exams t: 020 7467 8261 e:
[email protected] Southern Region Exams t: 020 7467 8211 e:
[email protected] Midlands Region Exams t: 020 7467 8211 e:
[email protected] Ireland Exams t: 020 7467 8296 e:
[email protected]
Special Visits t: 020 7467 8221 e:
[email protected] Diplomas t: 020 7467 8829 e:
[email protected] Theory Exams t: 020 7467 8270 e:
[email protected]
Music Medals t: 020 7467 8853 e:
[email protected]
Outside of the UK & Ireland
Representatives and contacts are listed at www.abrsm.org/regions and in the International edition of the Examination Information & Regulations booklet.
Alternatively, contact the International Department: t: +44 20 7467 8240 e:
[email protected] Copies of this leaflet are also available to download from www.abrsm.org/downloads The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music 24 Portland Place London W1B 1LU United Kingdom Registered Charity No. 292182
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Singing New titles for
Specimen Sight-Singing Tests 2 volumes: Grades 1-5, 6-8
New tests to reflect new exam requirements
• For publication July 2008
The ABRSM Songbook Books 1-5 Five volumes offering singers an unrivalled choice of repertoire for exams and concerts Over 100 songs from the AB singing syllabus with
Includes CDs of accompaniments
CD and pronunciation guide
• For publication September 2008
Available from all good music retailers worldwide www.abrsmpublishing.com
[email protected]
