Aural Training for Musicians and Music Students

Welcome to the companion learning materials site for the Tomasz Spiewak Aural Training Workbooks.

Here you will find many musical examples that you can play to practise and test your aural skills. The audio files are in MP3 format, and you will need a media player (for example, iTunes or Windows Media Player) to listen to them. You can download the files to your computer or play them online.

Since 1990 this series of books has been used throughout Australia at both secondary and tertiary level and remains a popular training tool for the improvement of aural perception skills for music students and musicians. The CDs that accompanied the Teacher’s Manuals are no longer available and we are pleased to announce the introduction of this new online format. It is easy to use and we hope you find it to be of benefit to you in developing your skills.

There are four volumes and the musical examples are labelled to match the hard copy books.

Volume 1

The examples that you will hear are designed to start at the very beginning in identifying pitch differentiation and rhythmic notation. Even if you have been working on your aural perception skills for some time, it is worth revisiting at the grassroots level.

There are a number of exercises in singing and recognition of intervals, which should be practised while conducting the required beat pattern to consolidate the concept of connecting pitch to rhythm.

Exercises in rhythm are extensive and by the time you have completed Chapter Three, you will have mastered most of the basic pattern combinations. Remember to test yourself regularly. It is advisable that you repeat the exercises until you have mastered them before progressing to the next chapter.

It is recommended that you also practise the duets with a friend or colleague to develop the skill of holding an independent part. This is quite often a challenge and not easy to practise individually.

Using your hard copy workbook, you are now ready to go to the musical examples and start improving your skills. The sound files are numbered so that they match the numbering system in your workbook. Please enjoy this resource and we look forward to your feedback.

Volume 1 Chapter 1 Audio Files
Volume 1 Chapter 2 Audio Files
Volume 1 Chapter 3 Audio Files

For further information in relation to the distribution and purchasing of all materials associated with this publication, please contact:

Box Hill Institute Bookshop
Level 1, 1000 Whitehorse Rd
Box Hill
Victoria 3128
Australia
Telephone: 03 9286 9629
Fax: 03 9286 9715
Email: bookshop@bhtafe.edu.au
Website: http://www.bhtafe.edu.au/Bookshop