Ear Training, Music Theory & Exam Preparation
OUR TEACHERS
Ear Training/Music Theory Session Details
Length 50 Minutes
Age 7+
Levels Beginner, Intermediate,
Advanced
RCM Exams Any instrument
Start Date Anytime
Term Flexible Plan | Yearly Program | Package of classes
Style Classical | Jazz | North American
Ear training and music theory work together to help students become confident, well-rounded musicians. Ear training develops the ability to recognize and understand music by listening, while music theory explains how music is organized and written. Both are naturally incorporated into lessons at KSM and can also be studied separately for additional support or RCM exam preparation.
Ear Training
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Ear training develops a student’s ability to recognize and understand music through sound. Students strengthen essential listening skills involving rhythm, melody, intervals, chords, playback, and sight-reading.
We naturally incorporate ear training into regular music lessons. Students learn to connect what they see on the page with what they hear, play, or sing. Dedicated ear-training sessions are also available for students who are preparing for an RCM exam, where 20% of the mark comes from the ear training portion of it.
Music Theory
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Music theory gives students the language to understand how music works. It includes rhythm, notation, scales, intervals, chords, key signatures, musical structure, and other concepts that support confident reading, listening, performing, and creating.
Theory is embedded in every music lesson at KSM. Students often learn it so naturally that they may not realize how much they already understand—it simply becomes part of how they experience and make music.
Music theory can also be studied as a separate subject. Dedicated theory lessons allow students to explore concepts in greater depth, strengthen their overall musicianship, and prepare for RCM theory examinations.
RCM Exams
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Ear training and music theory are important parts of the Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum. Current KSM students preparing for an RCM practical examination receive two complimentary ear-training lessons. These sessions allow students to review exam requirements, identify areas that need additional attention, and practise with the guidance of an experienced teacher. Additional ear-training and exam-preparation lessons are also available.
Beginning at RCM Level 5, students working toward a Comprehensive Certificate must complete the corresponding theory co-requisite in addition to their practical examination. As students advance, further theory, harmony, history, and analysis requirements become part of the RCM certification pathway. Dedicated preparation lessons are available for students completing these requirements.
