Aural training (solfa) 2A
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- Start Date: 18 Sep 2025End Date: 27 Nov 2025Thu (Daytime): 14:00 - 15:30In PersonFull fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £139.00
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What is the course about?
A continuation from year 1, this course develops students’ aural awareness, sight singing and transcription skills. The course is suitable for those wanting to improve their musicianship with a focus on deep internalisation of musical concepts where the musical experience is at the centre of learning.
Leads to part 2 next term.
What will we cover?
Sight singing melodies
Transcribing rhythm and melodies
Triads in major and minor keys
Develop understanding of chord progressions
Use knowledge of chords to navigate both melodic and harmonic material.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
Sight-sing melodies with greater confidence
Write down melodies and rhythms that you hear with increased confidence
Construct and identify chords in major and minor keys
Develop confidence with identifying the chords which accompany a melody.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Students should have a reasonable degree of fluency with relative pitch, should be able to pitch notes accurately with their voice and be familiar with music theory to at least ABRSM grade 3 (or equivalent).
You need to be able to follow written and verbal instructions in English, and participate in class discussions and practical activities.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The classes will consist of lots of practical exercises involving singing, movement, clapping and listening.
There will be no mandatory homework, but practice of the material between classes will be very beneficial.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will need to bring manuscript paper and a pencil.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
This class leads to MG422B:Aural training (solfa) intermediate 2 in the same time slot next term.
For more details about musicianship and music theory please visit our blog: Musicianship and music theory at City lit which lists our full sequence of musicianship and music theory classes.
Selena began her musical career as a composer, gaining a Dutch Government scholarship to study at the Royal Conservatory, The Hague with Louis Andriessen. As a student she won numerous prizes including BBC Young Composers, resulting in a commission for the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Radio 3 broadcasts. She has wide musical interests ranging from Renaissance counterpoint and the origins of tonality to twentieth-century composition techniques and electronic music. Selena performs in an experimental electronic music duo KOGG with Cerys Hogg. They create music by sampling vocals, sound objects, and home-made instruments, combining composed and improvised material. They have performed live and are producing an album. Selena has a keen interest in music pedagogy, particularly the social and cognitive benefits of music education, and is a specialist Kodály practitioner. She is also advisor in further education for the British Kodály Academy. Selena holds BMus (Hons), MMus and PGCE degrees, has held positions at Goldsmiths and Middlesex University and currently teaches at City Lit and Morley College.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
