Intermediate Level

New at this Level

Singer/songwriters are welcome to include their own compositions and accompany themselves as they normally would. Just be mindful of keeping your performance flowing when you transition to and from playing and singing your song and be aware of the effect on the balance of the audio. Make sure that your singing is clearly heard.

Other requirements that begin at this level are the need to sing at least one song in a language other than English, the use of a professional accompanist and the original key must be adopted for songs sung from the Stage.

The inclusion of a classical, contemporary, or music theatre song by an Australian composer is required for Australian Singers.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

SONGS

7 songs:
1 classical song, 1 contemporary song and 1 Music Theatre song
4 own choice
Your program must contain at least one song in a language other than English.

AUSTRALIAN SINGERS: Please include a classical, contemporary, or music theatre song by an Australian composer.

Song Definitions

PERFORMANCE FOOTAGE

All performance footage needs to be in a single take with no editing of any kind. Your footage needs to be converted into a YouTube link which you will copy and paste into the application form. When uploading to Youtube, ensure the visibility setting is set to Unlisted. This ensures that your video will only be seen by those that are given the link.

application form

KEYS, BACKING TRACKS AND OTHER LANGUAGES

Songs from the stage ie; opera; oratorio; G&S; Music Theatre MUST be in the correct key as they appear in the show.

You should use a professional accompanist for your performance in order to develop your own feeling and musical expansion in your songs, rather than be dictated by the backing. This does not apply if COVID restrictions are in force, or you have other extenuating circumstances, such as lack of access to a qualified accompanist.

Art Songs and arias from operatic and oratorio works, must be sung in the original language; except Russian, other Eastern European and Asian languages.

PROGRAM NOTES

Understanding the origins of your chosen songs, the audience they were written for, and so on will add to your connection with each song and thereby enhance your performance.

Gathering interesting information, including wiki references, translations, links and images is enjoyable and helps to reflect upon your learning journey.
These need to be cited as shown on the sample.

Little tip - doing your program notes AS you are learning each song is way better than getting to them AFTER your performance is done and dusted!

Program notes are marked out of 10.

PROGRAM EXAMPLE

Australian Songs for Australian Singers

See here for links to Australian song ideas.

Recording Tips

Your recital is both a visual and audio experience, so make sure that you can be clearly seen and heard.
A designated video camera is best but if that is not possible a phone or device is fine.

Choosing Your Songs

Consider your program as a whole

At all levels you need to consider your program as a whole. Have a mix of tempi, a range of emotions, humour and dynamics. Variety is important, as is the order in which you choose to perform your songs.

3 Broad areas of Assessment

There are three broad areas of assessment, each scored out of 30, that should be considered when choosing your songs:

Vocal Command (30 marks)
Musical Security and Stylistic Nuance (30 marks)
Communication and Entertainment (30 marks)

Sometimes a song might be easy to sing musically and vocally, but the emotional challenge is high. Sometimes a song might be easy emotionally, but tricky musically and vocally. Sometimes a song might be easy vocally, but musically and emotionally taxing etc, etc.

Songs won’t always tick all the boxes of criteria. That’s fine. If you’re finding a song a stroll in the park, chances are it’s too easy for the level you’re working towards. Alternatively, if the challenge you’ve given yourself is just not working, it might belong to the next level. Try not to get too bogged down.

Listen to Suggested Samples

Listen to the suggested samples for your level to find a starting point and take it from there.

Think of your program as a three course meal. Have something to settle you and your voice into the feast at the start. Have the weightier songs in the middle. With a colourful dessert at the end.

This is only a suggestion, but a good one until you have gained experience and understand your voice and your strengths, musically and emotionally.

SHEET MUSIC

All levels require a single PDF of your legally obtained sheet music, in the order in which you are singing your program. Illegal sheet music deprives composers of their livelihood.

If your music is not licensed with your name, you need to write your source on the first page by naming the website (even if it is out of copyright), inserting a receipt as proof of purchase or, a photo of the cover from a song book which you own if you have scanned a pdf from it.

If you have not created formal sheet music for your composition, you are welcome to put your lyric/chord chart into the correct place of your sheet music PDF.

Kate Sadler in action

Suggested Samples

A NOTE ABOUT THE SUGGESTED SAMPLES FOR THE INITIAL LEVEL

The songs listed below are merely a guide to the level of musical and vocal ability at your stage of progress.
Where possible they are generic and can be sung by any voice type.
You do not have to sing any of the songs listed.

GET THE KEY THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU

It is highly likely that the artists singing in the YouTube reference links will not be singing the song in a key that is right for you. This will also be true for YouTube clips you find when you are researching your songs.
Check with your teacher before purchasing your sheet music, especially if it’s from a site where there is no facility for transposing to another key.