Improve your Grade 1 Aural [ABRSM]: Online Exams, Apps, and Resources:

Aural Book APP trainer is free!

Aural skills are important for musical development. The ability to hear and understand musical features, will improve your playing and your appreciation of music. You will develop according to ABRSM, your "inner ear" and "musical ear".

Grade 1 ABRSM Aural is a component, you can't ignore. If you do well in this element, the better your chances of moving upto the next category of achievement, if that aim is to get a Merit, or a Distinction.

Practice makes perfect, as the old adage goes. So if you're preparing for an exam and haven't even covered the Aural aspect, help is at hand. There are practice simulated exams on the Internet. These are wonderful to supplement your weekly lessons, and with Aural training, the more you practice, the better your score and skill will be.


Terminology
For the non musician parents out there, the ABRSM exams are using standardised terminology, so they will use smooth and detached as synonyms for legato and staccato.

Smooth = Legato (where one note connects seamlessly to another note without a perceived 'break' in the musical line)
Detatched - Staccato (plucky sound, like you would hear on a pizzicato effect on a stringed instrument)


Online Practice Tests

ABRSM (official) Mock Aural Tests
http://www.abrsm.org/en/exams/gradedMusicExams/mockauraltests2.html

E-musicmaestro Practice Tests
http://e-musicmaestro.com/auraltests/grade1/

The UK Music Teachers website has example sound file questions with an answer sheet.
http://www.musicteachers.co.uk/resources/grade1/

APPS


AURALBOOK for ABRSM Grade 1 HD - FREE on Itunes
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/auralbook-for-abrsm-grade-1-hd/id465267146?mt=8

ABRSM (official) - Aural App Trainer £4.99 for Grades 1-5 which works with the Ipod, Ipad and Iphone.
http://www.abrsm.org/en/students/abrsm-aural-trainer

Both apps give feedback after the simulated test, to give you an indication of what needs to be improved.

ABRSM Guide to Aural Exam Requirements
http://www.abrsm.org/regions/fileadmin/user_upload/syllabuses/auralComplete11.pdf