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 ublished 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 udated 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 searate booklet. This leaflet is essential reading for singing teachers and candidates, as it guides you through the key changes to all asects of the syllabus, and gives details of the new suorting ublications. 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 aroach to sight-singing. We iloted a trial set of new secimen sight-singing tests in 2006 with a samle of our regular alicants. Careful consideration was given to questions of breathing, itch ranges and intervals, the use of words and the role of the accomaniment in relation to the vocal line. Over 85% of teachers involved in the ilot considered the new aroaches an imrovement, and over 97% considered them to reresent a logical rogression through the grades. About Graded Exams Associated Board Grade 1-8 exams are designed to motivate uils and students at all levels by roviding clear, attainable goals. Successful exam candidates are rewarded for their rogress 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 rogramme is flexible. Candidates can study in their own time and at their own ace, and can begin at the level most aroriate for them Grade 1 is suitable for beginners who have been learning for about one year, whilst each subsequent grade is ositioned broadly as an annual target. It is not necessary for a candidate to be attached to any secific institution or follow a articular 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 ractical musicianshi. For further information, lease visit www.abrsm.org/exams 2
Changes to the Syllabus Reertoire The fundamental structure of the exam remains the same. Candidates at Grades 1-5 reare three set songs and an unaccomanied traditional song. Those taking Grades 6-8 sing an additional fourth set song to build a varied rogramme. All grades also include aural tests and sight-singing. The revious syllabus contained over 600 songs, of which aroximately three quarters have been retained. The addition of new reertoire brings the extent u to nearly 1,000 items, roviding an extraordinarily wide choice for candidates In resonse to requests from teachers, we are now adoting the Helmholtz itch notation system for defining the recise range of each song in the syllabus Grades 1-5 Songs may now be sung in any language at Grades 1-5, rovided that the candidate has an edition with a ublished 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 ublished edition exists, but List B songs must still be erformed in their original language only List C exands geograhically from being a 20th-century English list to encomass music from Sain, Wales, Norway, Iceland, Russia, China, New Zealand, Australia and the Americas List D now encomasses 19th- to 21st-century songs written for the stage and screen Oera arias reviously found in Grade 8 List B now move to List D. The worlds of oera and oeretta oen u with songs by Gilbert and Sullivan, Lehar, Bellini and Humerdinck, amongst many others. At all grades the range of songs from musicals and films has grown, taking in examles by Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, Charlie Chalin and Ivor Novello, as well as the Gershwins, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Cole Porter. This art of the syllabus also features suerb examles of Edwardian music hall and arlour songs as well as Flanders and Swann s legendary tribute to The Hiootamus. Suorting Publications The ABRSM Songbook, a five-volume series, will be available from late 2008. This series will offer singers an unrivalled choice of reertoire u to Grade 5. Each volume contains around 20 songs, each of which has a background note to hel with study and erformance rearation, as well as a recorded accomaniment designed for ractice uroses (but not for exam use). Each Songbook also contains a selection of unaccomanied folksongs from around the world that have been chosen to reflect the exectations at each grade and are suitable for use in the Unaccomanied 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 comlement 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 hoe that the songs in each volume will give an indication of the technical exectations at each level. There are also recordings of every song text (including all the unaccomanied traditional songs) in the original language, roviding a useful ronunciation guide. Order your coies from your local retailer or visit www.abrsmublishing.com 3
Changes to the Sight-Singing Tests There are no longer iano introductions to the sight-singing tests; as a result, candidates are able to set their own ulse To give the candidate greater control over the musical effectiveness of the sight-singing test, they will no longer have to erform at a temo set by the examiner. In Grades 1 and 2 the accomaniment is minimal (occasional chords) with the to notes of the chords doubling the vocal line. At Grades 3-5 the accomaniment becomes slightly fuller, while in Grades 6-8 it is more akin to a real song accomaniment. 2 Dancing f f Grade 1 sight-singing Suorting Publications The new edition of Secimen 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 coies from your local retailer or visit www.abrsmublishing.com 4
There is a logical rogression of musical demands through the grades, and the use of Italian descritors relates to the requirements of the Associated Board s Theory of Music exams for the equivalent grade. English descritors are also still used There are now no texts in Grade 1-5 tests, allowing candidates to focus on intervals, dynamics, exression and breathing 7 ( & ) & # & # # # # ) (w?# # # # w w & # # # # Grazioso 6 8 m J j ä & # # # # 6 8 ä j ä j j ä j j ä m?# # # # 6 8 ä J ä ä J J J j ä j j ä J J ä J J ä J j ä ä & # # # # & # # # # mf j ä j ä mf?# # # # J ä j J j ä j J ä f j rall. j j j ä j rall. j ä j j ä j f J J ä J j ä j J ä J j Grade 5 sight-singing??# # 6 5
Changes to the Sight-Singing Tests Clear, simle 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 er test (i.e. not both the treble- and bass-clef versions rinted together above the iano art), and dynamic markings continue to be rinted above the vocal line These factors increase the clarity of the notation to assist candidates in their erformance. 4 Gently Come to me in the si - lence of the night; words: Christina Rossetti Come m m 3 in the seak - ing si - lence of a dream; mf Come with soft round-ed cheeks mf and eyes as bright As rit. sun-light on rit. a stream. 6 Grade 8 sight-singing AB 3446 25
When do these changes take effect? The new Singing Syllabus is ublished 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). Overla information Set songs Candidates may erform songs from the revious syllabus as follows: UK & Reublic of Ireland until the end of Period A (sring examinations) 2009 only All other countries until 31 December 2009 All the songs must be from the same syllabus candidates may not erform a mixture of songs from old and new syllabuses Sight-singing There is no overla eriod 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 lease contact us. Contact us UK & Ireland Our offices are oen on weekdays from 8am to 5.30m. You can also get information from the website (www.abrsm.org) or from your Honorary Local Reresentative, who is listed at the website and in the Examination Information & Regulations booklet. Alternatively, contact our UK and Ireland Oerations team: Northern Region, Scotland & Wales Exams t: 020 7467 8261 e: londonandnorth@abrsm.ac.uk London Region Exams t: 020 7467 8261 e: londonandnorth@abrsm.ac.uk Southern Region Exams t: 020 7467 8211 e: midsandsouth@abrsm.ac.uk Midlands Region Exams t: 020 7467 8211 e: midsandsouth@abrsm.ac.uk Ireland Exams t: 020 7467 8296 e: ireland@abrsm.ac.uk Secial Visits t: 020 7467 8221 e: secialvisits@abrsm.ac.uk Dilomas t: 020 7467 8829 e: dilomas@abrsm.ac.uk Theory Exams t: 020 7467 8270 e: theory@abrsm.ac.uk Music Medals t: 020 7467 8853 e: musicmedals@abrsm.ac.uk Outside of the UK & Ireland Reresentatives and contacts are listed at www.abrsm.org/regions and in the International edition of the Examination Information & Regulations booklet. Alternatively, contact the International Deartment: t: +44 20 7467 8240 e: international@abrsm.ac.uk Coies 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 7
Singing New titles for Secimen Sight-Singing Tests 2 volumes: Grades 1-5, 6-8 New tests to reflect new exam requirements For ublication July 2008 with CD The ABRSM Songbook Books 1-5 Five volumes offering singers an unrivalled choice of reertoire for exams and concerts Over 100 songs from the AB singing syllabus Includes CDs of accomaniments and ronunciation guide For ublication Setember 2008 Available from all good music retailers worldwide www.abrsmublishing.com ublishing@abrsm.ac.uk