Throughout the academic year, the Trinity College London UK and Ireland Music and Drama blog covered a vast number of topics in music and drama education. So as the academic year comes to a close, let's take a moment to highlight the top 10 most-read blog posts that have resonated with our community of teachers and students.
10 Introducing Piano 2023
Trinity introduces Piano 2023, expanding repertoire options and technical exercises to cater to diverse musical tastes and exam preferences, ensuring candidates are well-prepared for their musical aspirations. The repertoire now includes various styles from classical to Latin, jazz, film scores, and pop hits, reflecting a commitment to ongoing musical exploration and candidate choice.
9 Teaching singing technique
James Gower shares creative approaches to teaching singing techniques across genres, emphasising personalised learning and fostering a supportive environment for vocal improvement. From posture to personalised warm-ups and repertoire learning, effective teaching involves understanding each student’s unique physiology and musical preferences. By embedding technique into every lesson and adapting exercises accordingly, teachers foster a relaxed, confident environment conducive to vocal improvement and expressive singing.
8 Preparing for your Trinity Music Examination
A comprehensive guide through digital and face-to-face exam options, providing step-by-step insights from exam selection to submission to help candidates navigate their musical journey effectively. Whether you choose Digital Grades with flexible pathways like Technical work or Repertoire-only or opt for traditional face-to-face exams in Classical and Jazz or Rock & Pop, we provide detailed steps from exam selection to submission.
7 Drama, mental health and well-being
Exploring drama’s role in promoting mental health among young people, this post highlights its benefits in self-expression, communication skills, and stress relief, aligned with Trinity’s flexible drama qualifications. Amid rising stress levels and challenges exacerbated by events like the Covid-19 pandemic, engaging in drama offers benefits such as self-expression, improved communication skills, confidence-building, stress relief, and a sense of community.
6 Introducing the 2023 Singing Syllabus
Trinity unveils the updated Singing Syllabus with new repertoire and pedagogical resources, ensuring inclusivity and support for singers transitioning smoothly from the 2018-2023 syllabus, which remains valid indefinitely. Highlights include newly graded Singing books with a diverse repertoire, featuring songs from musicals like Matilda and Dear Evan Hansen. They introduce a redesigned sight-reading test and new pedagogical resources, emphasising inclusivity and comprehensive support for singers.
5 Our guide to preparing for exam success in 2024
Trinity provides essential guidance on preparing for music exams in 2023, covering exam selection, repertoire choices, and digital vs. face-to-face exam formats to support candidates effectively. With resources and tips provided, Trinity ensures candidates feel supported and ready to focus on their performances, whether they are new to exams or preparing for their next musical challenge.
4 The value of drama for students in Key Stage 3
In this post we underscore the importance of investing in drama education early on, enhancing student engagement, life skills, and educational outcomes leading into GCSEs. By igniting students' passion during the initial secondary years, drama not only enhances engagement and commitment but also fosters crucial life skills and enriches overall educational experiences, positioning students for success in GCSEs and beyond.
3 Introducing Trinity’s new Repertoire-only pathway for digital exams
Natalie Christopher introduces a flexible new exam pathway focusing solely on repertoire performance, offering candidates diverse options to showcase their musical strengths. This pathway allows candidates to focus solely on performing pieces from the repertoire list, offering a flexible alternative to the traditional Technical Work pathway. It aims to cater to diverse musical strengths and preferences, accommodating performances with live accompanists, backing tracks, duets, or original compositions.
2 Top 8 transferable skills developed through drama
Here we explore the transformative power of drama activities. Highlighting skills such as communication, confidence, time management, research and critical thinking that enrich personal development and academic success. This post emphasises how drama enhances social and emotional understanding, benefiting students in their academic and future pursuits.
1 How to turn a Pass into a Distinction in your Trinity graded exam.
Jean McCreery’s comprehensive guide breaks down the criteria and strategies needed to achieve a Distinction in Trinity-graded music exams. It details the exam structure, scoring breakdown and specific criteria examiners use to assess performance, emphasising the importance of understanding these elements to improve practice and earn higher marks.
Throughout these posts, Trinity remains committed to supporting educators and students alike, enriching musical and dramatic experiences with innovative resources and insights. Stay connected with us as we continue to empower learning and creativity in the years ahead!
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