What pieces would suit do you think?

He's a good singer but not a treble treble if you know what I mean, he sings 3rd in his choir (all boys! Hurray!)

He'll do the exam in December this year and will also use 2 of the pieces for NYC audition next month so looking for some contrasts for that...

TIA for ideas!

Depends on voice type too...aswell as range... a few of my boys have done Jone's Boys as their A song...lively and fun..not too high...a couple Since first I saw your face...a more lyrical voice has done Salley Gardens or My Heart.
New Year Carol has worked well for all....am trying Dusk with one at the moment. Have done Hunting Song with a very performance type boy...but it is high...Sleep little Babe with a pure and very tuneful voice.also done The Orphan and Cabinet maker...JOD reccomended the Rodrigo to me for a boy...but didn't work for him.
A fair few have done Consider Yourself and use a sort of chest voice...have been working on Matchmaker with one...and trying Comedy tonight...have had one do One Hand..I see Jazz man has gone...but it was really hard for G4.
It's worth trying a few and seeing what suits him and what he likes...there are quite a few extra in the C section now...hope this helps a bit

Which version of Salley Gardens is that? For some reason the Britten is on the LRSM list (although at that level they might expect a slightly higher standard of performance)

Thanks for the info so far!

I think the Rodrigo is only on the new list isn't it? If he does the exam in Dec we have to use the old syllabus...

the Hughes I think...yes


maybe I was wrong...JOD recomende one for my son and thought it was that..that was a while ago.don't think comedy tonight or matchmaker are on the old syllabus...but have done all the others so must be...and Jazz man would still be on it...sorry didn't read the December bit...not much time if not chosen songs yet.

Is that not getting a bit late? Sorry if this sounds harsh, but are you saying you've entered him before even considering which songs he might sing. I'm afraid that I expect the songs to be of a reasonable standard before I enter candidates these days as the timings are so tight.

This is about my son who I know pretty well

The exam is a Special Visit and so we didn't need to enter yet, this week as we are both off on half term we're spending lots of time exploring many different songs for the exam and the NYC audition. He learns very very quickly and his sight reading is already very good so I am sure we have more than enough time.

Ah well, you didn't say he was your son, and you didn't say it was a Special Visit.

yes...but maybe that wasn't the one Jod said...confused now.
TELL US WHAT YOU DECIDE

... I had a similar question for my own 11 year old...but Grade V.. and Jod suggested the Rodrigo song En Jerez de la Frontera sorry got jumbled went back and checked old posts...let us know what you chhose this week.

I will do yes, thanks.

We will probably choose songs in English though since I know my limits!

My son is taking his Grade 4. He is 9.

He is singing RVW Cradle Song
RRB Clock-a clay
Robertson My love is like a Red Red Rose, (alas eing dropped in 2009)


I have found lots of songs suitable for trebles in the syllabus. He is sing the Vaughan Williams Cradle song from the perpsetive of an elder sibling watching his mother lulling a baby brother or sister to sleep

As for his unaccompanied folk song he is going to sing Land of the Silver Birch.

Well we've moved the goal posts a bit now...

It's been FUN trying out loads of songs and for the NYC audition he wants to do Where'ere you Walk and Consider Yourself which are both sounding great.

Sight singing is coming on in leaps and bounds. We're thinking that Grade 4 in December may be an unnecessary jumping through a hoop exercise and it may be more useful to wait and do Grade 5 some time next year. Partly since exams are SO expensive, partly because there are festivals coming up to work towards...

Now that really does seem like a good idea. If I have to choose festivals over exams the festivals win every time. They are getting expensive and I prefer my singers to spend £30 or more on music these days. The two most important grade exams are five and eight in my opinion. The rest have their uses of course but apart from one introductory exam at an easy level I tend to forget about the others.

This of course depends on the child, some actually want to collect Exam Certificates and take exams. I go with what the pupil wants.

Sorry to disagree Jod, but I tend not to go with the pupil's wishes if I would rather that they went down a different path. When I was learning in my teens I was not offered exams on a regular basis and did festivals instead. This meant that I had to learn a lot of new material quickly and my sight reading came on by leaps and bounds. I gained a huge amount of stage presence and confidence that a series of grade exams would not have given to me. I used to like collecting money rather than spending it on exam fees. A few wins at a local eisteddfod would pay for my pony for the next month.

Hurray, a happy ending to this thread since the NYCGB letter came today offering a place in the Boys' choir...thanks for all the advice everyone

Brilliant news. Well done both of you.

Thanks, I think he was spectacular on the day of the audition because I was in hospital having an emergency operation and he'd previously said he was very nervous and that he needed me to come along too to the audition as well as his dad...they both had to just manage since I was so conclusively Out Of It.

It helped that the NYCGB people were VERY lovely!