Resources for GCSE and exams
Here are some great resources for those working towards music grades and exams. Keep up the practice and all the good work you have been doing. Remember practice makes perfect. (Last updated: Nov 2020)
ABRSM
- Downloadable resources [https://gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-support/apps-and-practice-tools/]
- Apps and practice tools [https://gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-support/apps-and-practice-tools/]
Chrome Music Lab
Have some fun composing your own music [https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Song-Maker/].
MTB exams
Grade 1-8 exams conducted via a webcam [http://www.mtbexams.com/].
Orchestra of the Swan
A series of short videos from Diane Clark [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF68CFED48723F23F], our principal flautist, talking about how she became a flautist and the flute extracts from Berlioz symphony Fantastique and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4, plus some hints and tips for practising. Also are three short videos from our principal bassoonist Philip Brookes, talking about the Mozart Bassoon concerto, his bassoon and how he became a player and Mozart's overture to the Marriage of Figaro. These are aimed at instrumental students and those studying GCSE/A Level. More videos will be available soon. let us have your feedback on these resources so we can pass it on to the makers.
Trinity College
Find a range of resources [https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/music/resources/general-resources] providing general support for music teaching and learning and preparing for a Trinity music exam.
String resources
Upper Strings
ABRSM
ABRSM has a free Speedshifter app [https://gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-support/apps-and-practice-tools/] which is useful and there are some paid apps for string practice of ABRSM grade material
Violin Practice Partner [https://gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-support/apps-and-practice-tools/violin-practice-partner/] is a an app which provides a simple way to make practise pieces for your ABRSM exam in a musical, enjoyable and fun way. It is useful for anyone learning or teaching pieces from the ABRSM Violin Exam Pieces 2016–2019 [https://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/bowed-strings-exams/violin-exams/] at Grades 1–7.
Cello Practice Partner [https://gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-support/apps-and-practice-tools/cello-practice-partner/] is a simple downloadable app - to make practising pieces for your ABRSM exam more musical, enjoyable and fun. It is useful for anyone learning or teaching pieces from the ABRSM Cello Exam Pieces 2020-2023 [https://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/bowed-strings-exams/cello-exams/] at Grades 1–5.
Kathy & David Blackwell
These downloads [https://www.kathyanddavidblackwell.co.uk/downloads/] on the Blackwell’s site are really useful for string players
Ros Stephen
We can recommend Ros Stephen’s YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/user/RosStephen] for violin practice – she’s got a good tutorial on how to tune the violin and lots of useful practice-along videos too
Simply Tuner
Simply Tuner is a free, ad-free app, for tuning violin, viola and cello. It will take you through everything you need to tune your instrument accurately and safely, even if you’ve never tried it before.
Trinity College
Discover a range of resources to support Trinity’s new String Syllabus [https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/music/grade-exams/strings/resources].
Guitar/Ukulele
Trinity College
Discover a range of resources to support Trinity’s new Classical Guitar syllabuses [https://resources.trinitycollege.com/classical-guitar].
Discover a range of resources to support Trinity's new Acoustic Guitar syllabus [https://resources.trinitycollege.com/acoustic-guitar].
ABRSM
90 day free trial to support your personal learning journey, with expert guitar tuition [https://www.rslawards.com/resources-help-learn-ukulele-rockschool/] on your terms.
RSL
Junior rockers can get stuck into a free 16-page Rockschool activity pack [https://www.rslawards.com/free-rockschool-kids-activity-pack/], crammed full with fun activities, including imaginative colouring exercises, engaging word searches and crosswords, troublesome mazes, and entertaining dot to dot puzzles.
We’ve compiled 12 chords that will give you the ultimate introduction to playing a wealth of songs on the instrument, as well as kick-start your journey towards Rockschool debut & grade 1 Ukulele. We recommend printing these off and either sticking them on your wall or putting in your music bag so you can refer back to these chords whenever and wherever you need them!
We’ve consulted some of the best ukulele experts around to create our FREE downloadable 7-step guide [https://www.rslawards.com/resources-help-learn-ukulele-rockschool/] to learning the ukulele. Featuring guides and video to help you hold, strum, and pick your ukulele correctly, chord diagrams to get you playing your first few songs, and extended reading once you’ve got the basics nailed down.
Ukulele Rocks
A great site [http://www.ukulelerocks.co.uk/home.htm] for all you ukulele players out there.
Brass resources
Mike Lovatt
Here are some great resource from Mike Lovatt who recently starred in an online workshop with us, in partnership with Solihull and Warwickshire Music Service
Mike Lovatt's Easy Jazzy Tudes [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaot4HKzh2jprkJfeHbn2TAj14g59xEA8], Making your first sound on the pTrumpet, with Mike Lovatt. Lesson 1 [https://youtu.be/3honJwGgd-o], and lots more great videos on YouTube
and watch him perform Mike Lovatt and Whitburn Band in Virtual Concert [https://youtu.be/CRcg_A_8pEQ] or The Sandpiper ( The Shadow of Your Smile ) [https://youtu.be/rIqoaIH_lXE]
Visit Mike Lovatt's website [http://www.mikelovatt.co.uk/].
Trinity College
Discover a range of resources [https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/music/grade-exams/brass/resources] to support brass teaching and learning, and for preparing for an exam using Trinity’s new Brass Syllabus 2019-2022.
Warwick Music
Warwick Music catalogue includes over 1,000 titles covering a variety of genres, styles and abilities and representing composers from across the globe. Warwick Music Publishing is part of Warwick Music Group [http://www.warwickmusicgroup.com/], the company behind the award-winning range of instruments that include pBone, pTrumpet, pCornet, pBuzz and hyTech [http://www.pbone.co.uk/]. Warwick Music Group believe in the transformational power of music, that everyone should have the opportunity to make music and that by thinking differently we can make the joy of music accessible and fun!
Woodwind resources
ABRSM
Make practising pieces for your ABRSM exam more musical, fun and effective with a downloadable app [https://gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-support/apps-and-practice-tools/woodwind-practice-partner-apps/]. Play along with the accompaniment, the solo part or both together. Change the tempo of the piece without altering the pitch – perfect for students who want to practise at their own pace. Available for Flute and Clarinet at Grades 1–7 and Alto Saxophone at Grades 1–5.
Trinity College
Discover a range of resources [https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/music/grade-exams/woodwind/resources] to support Trinity's woodwind syllabus.
Percussion and other resources
Piano/Keyboard
ABRSM
Piano Practice Partner [https://gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-support/apps-and-practice-tools/piano-practice-partner/] is a simple app which makes practising pieces for your ABRSM exam more musical, enjoyable and rewarding. It's useful for anyone learning or teaching pieces from the ABRSM Piano Syllabus 2017 & 2018 at Grades 1-8. Pieces from the new Piano syllabus 2019 & 2020 are now available on Piano Practice Partner.
Music Tech Teacher
Some great resources [http://www.musictechteacher.com/index.htm] for teaching keyboards with quizzes and activities
Trinity College
Access a range of resources [https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/music/grade-exams/piano/resources] to support piano teaching and learning and for preparing for an exam using Trinity’s Piano Syllabus 2018-2020.
Discover a range of resources [https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/music/grade-exams/electronic-keyboard-organ/resources] to support electronic keyboard teaching and learning, and for preparing for an exam using Trinity’s new Electronic Keyboard & Organ Syllabus 2019-2022.
Percussion/World Music
Drumbit
A very easy to use web based drum machine, [https://drumbit.app/] offering means to put together a drum beat very quickly and in a very intuitive way.
Little Kids Rock
Play the drums [http://jamzone.littlekidsrock.org/lessons/body-drumset/] anywhere! All you need is your body.
Learn a song on drums [http://jamzone.littlekidsrock.org/songs/?instrument=drums]
Percworks
Some great opportunities for percussion players from percworks [https://www.percworks.co.uk/]
Digital Drumline Performance
We are excited to share with you our first Digital Drumline performance [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_FjB7Mx7t0], featuring a few of our brilliant students!
We are looking to go to the extreme with our River Dance video, featuring all members of the Digital Drumline and PERC E-NSEMBLE as well as musicians from other youth ensembles on strings and more - watch this space for updates!
Trinity College
Discover a range of resources [https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/music/grade-exams/percussion/resources] to support Trinity’s new Drum Kit & Percussion Syllabus
YouTube
A great introduction to drumming [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Mrn4IHsgyw] using a chair