These questions were gathered by Bob Blair <bob.blair@curley.com> and his wife when they were taking the exam.
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Other Examples
History
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Teaching Content
Methods of Teaching
Teaching Technique
Scottish Country Dancing
1 Compare skip change of step with Strathspey travel step noting similarities and differences.
2 You wish to introduce "corners" to a beginners class. Write out a lesson
plan for this purpose.
Name two other formations which involve "corners" and for each, list the
polishing points which you would stress to a more advanced class.
3 "Voice is the most important tool in the teacher's armoury".
To what extent do you think this is true?
List other attributes that a good teacher should have.
1 Music is the life of the dance. Explain how you would use it to get the most help for the class and the teacher.
2 Describe how you would teach the main points in the following steps.
a) Skip change of step
b) Pas de basque
c) Travelling strathspey
Draw and use your foot positions.
3 Write brief notes on
i) The use of voice when teaching SCD
ii) The importance of demonstration in a class
iii) Phrasing and its importance.
4 a) List what one expects to see in a well performed SCD
b) What are the objects of the RSCDS today?
1 In a class of beginners how would you introduce the aims of the RSCDS without giving a lecture on the subject? Comment briefly.
2 In the five steps you have studied for this test, in what order would you
introduce the to
a) a beginner's class?
b) a children's class?
Make brief notes on the technical reasons for your choice.
3 Music is an essential part of our dance. What are the benefits of knowing dances to their original tunes?
4 What qualities do you consider essential in a teacher of dance? Tabulate and make brief notes on three of them.
1 To what extent do you agree with the view that the objects drawn up by the RSCDS in 1923 are still relevant and important in 1987. (1994?)
2 In teaching technique what are the points to be particularly emphasised
in
a) pas de basque and strathspey travelling step
b) use of hands.
What formation would you choose to teach to incorporate both (a) and (b)?
3 If a pianist was unavailable what form of music would you prefer to use for your class? Give reasons for your choice and note any difference you would expect to find between your choice and the music provided by the absent pianist.
4 Note down the progressions which occur in the set dances you have studied. Describe the method you would adopt to teach one of them.
1 What do you expect to see in a well performed Scottish Country Dance?
Tabulate.
Write fuller notes on what you consider the two most important points.
2 You have been studying the foot positions used in SC dancing. What is their
value
a) to the student
b) to the teacher?
3 What points have you had to note in
a) the skip change of step
b) pas de basque
c) strathspey travelling step
d) set and turn corners - followed by reel of three
4 Music
Does the name tune matter - why?
What is the reason for the numbering of the bars as dictated by the
RSCDS?
1 What are the aims and history of the RSCDS and what would you suggest to other dancers would be the advantage of individual RSCDS membership?
2 You have studied 5 steps for this test.
a) TABULATE these steps in the order in which you would introduce
them to a class of adult beginners.
b) Make brief comments on your reasons for the order of your list.
c) State one fault which you would expect to see in each step and
the method by which you would hope to correct this fault.
3 a) Your pianist has not turned up - how would you adapt your lesson to
a record player?
b) Your record player has broken and someone from the class has offered
to play the piano - how would you adapt your lesson?
Answer a) or b).
4 Note down the progressions which have occurred in the twelve prescribed dances. Describe the method you would use to teach one of them to adult beginners. Use diagrams to illustrate your answer.
1 Initially the aims of the Society were three-fold. Do they still satisfy the demands of the social aspect today? Comment briefly.
2 What are the important foot positions used in Scottish steps?
What are their value - a) to the student b) to the teacher.
3 What is the value of good demonstration in your lesson?
4 Tabulate the points you have had to note in
a) Skip change of step
b) Pas de basque
c) Strathspey travelling step
d) Strathspey setting step
e) Slip step
and state one fault which you would expect to see in either a) or b) above
and the method by which you would hope to correct this fault.
1 With your knowledge of the aims of the RSCDS comment on the reasons for the need of a Preliminary Test and Teacher's Certificate.
2 Note down the similarities and differences in
a) Skip change of step and Strathspey travelling step
b) Pas de basque and Strathspey setting step.
Which of the above noted steps, in your opinion, is the most difficult to
teach? Why?
3 a) Poussette
b) Allemande
c) Turn with right hand and cast, turn with left hand to finish in
2nd place on own side
d) Rights and Lefts.
In what order would you teach these formations in the first term of a beginners
class. Give reasons for your choice.
4 Write a short paragraph on "the use of music" in Scottish Country Dancing, especially for beginners.
1 List the common faults in
a) Skip change of step, backwards
b) Common Schottische step
and say how you would attempt to correct them.
2 "Good footwork alone does not make the accomplished dancer." Enumerate other necessary attributes then write short notes on two of them.
3 Why are the following important to the teacher?
a) Demonstration
b) Class Management
c) Use of the voice
4 Discuss the following
a) The speed of the music
b) Suitable choice of tunes
1 Write brief notes on each of the following
a) The teacher's voice and manner
b) The teacher's position during the lesson
c) The teacher's ability to demonstrate
2 What are the teaching points you have to note in
a) Skip change of step
b) Strathspey travelling step
c) Pas de basque
d) Slip step
3 Allemande occurs in two of the set dances. Name the dances and give the teaching points you would stress in each dance, taking into consideration the formation preceding and following the Allemande.
4 "So much depends on the music of our dance". Comment on the alternative forms of providing music for Scottish Country Dancing. What difficulties might you expect in taking classes today?
1 To a teacher of Scottish Country Dancing, what is the importance of having
-
a) a sound knowledge of the objectives of the RSCDS
b) good powers of observation
c) good technique.
2 What are the most important points to stress in teaching the following
steps?
a) Skip change of step
b) Pas de basque
c) Strathspey travelling step
3 There are various forms of dancing a reel of three in the set dances. Name the dances and give the teaching points you would stress with regard to the rule in each dance, taking into consideration the formation preceding and following them.
4 If your pianist was ill (presuming have one), what form of music would you prefer to use for your class? Give reasons for your choice, noting any difference you would expect to find between your choice and the music provided by the absent pianist.
1 For the Preliminary Test there are 12 prescribed dances - 3 reels, 3 jigs
and 6 strathspeys.
Select the one reel or jig and the one strathspey which
you found the most difficult to dance proficiently. State what the difficulties
were and explain how you overcame the difficulties.
2 Deportment, Handing, Phrasing, Rhythm, Set Management (team work), Sociability, Technique (accuracy of footwork). Place these seven elements in what you consider to be the order of importance in Scottish Country Dancing and write three or four paragraphs explaining your reasons.
3 Give three important teaching points you would stress when introducing
a class to the following
a) Strathspey setting step
b) Skip change of step
c) Four hands round and back (jig time)
d) Reel of three after set to and turn corners
4 Music is an essential in the teaching of Scottish Country Dancing. Write notes on three of the ways in which a class could benefit from the good use of music.
1 With the world-wide interest in our dancing being ever increasing, make brief notes on the need to maintain our aims and objects and also the Teaching Certificates.
2 In order of teaching them, tabulate the five steps you have studied for this test. Comment briefly on your choice. What are the first three figures you would teach to beginners?
3 There are various methods of providing music for teaching. Make brief comment on each and state your personal choice with reasons.
4 "Other parts of the body are used in producing good dancing, other than feet!" Discuss this briefly .
1 TABULATE the points you have had to note in
a) skip change of step
b) pas de basque
c) strathspey travel
d) strathspey setting step
e) slip step
and state one fault you would expect to see in b) and c) giving the
method by which you would hope to correct these faults.
2 a) Describe exactly how you would introduce a class of beginners to
"corners"
b) What rule applies when the formation of Set and Turn Corners is
followed by a Reel of Three?
c) Name two other formations which involve "Corners"
3 a) Your pianist has not turned up - how would you adapt your lesson to
a record player
b) Your record player has broken and someone from the class has offered
to play the piano - how would you adapt your lesson?
Answer a) or b).
4 List all the elements necessary in a well performed Scottish Country Dance. Write brief notes on two of them.
1 How would you vary your approach in teaching
a) a social class
b) a children's class
c) an advanced RSCDS class
If you were unexpectedly asked to teach a class for each of these types which
four dances would you teach? Give your reasons.
2 What part does music play in your lesson? How do you train your class to listen t the music and get real help from it?
3 List the main teaching points you would emphasise in
a) skip change of step
b) strathspey setting step
c) pas de basque
4 When teaching a class of beginners a Poussette, what difficulties would you expect them to have and how would you anticipate them?
1 To a teacher, what is the importance of
a) accurate demonstration
b) keen observation
c) understanding rhythm and phrasing
d) correction?
2 How many steps are used to each bar of music in
a) strathspey time
b) reel time
c) jig time?
When looking at printed music how can you tell the difference between Reel
and Jig?
3 Write a brief paragraph on when and why the RSCDS was formed. Give the aims of the Society.
4 Name one fault which can occur in each of the following
a) Pas de Basque
b) Rights and Lefts
c) Strathspey Travelling Step
d) Poussette
State how you would correct each fault you have mentioned.
1 "Correction" is an art which teachers should strive to cultivate. Discuss various ways in which you would help a beginner or a poor dancer, to improve without being made to feel that he/she is being singled out or 'picked on'.
2 Discuss the place and use of Demonstration in your lesson.
3 Pupils model themselves on their teachers. What can a teacher do to make a class successful and popular?
4 a) Describe exactly how you would introduce a class of beginners to
"corners"
b) What rule applies when the formation of Set and Turn Corners is
followed by a Reel of Three?
c) Name two other formations which involve "corners"
5 Briefly, enumerate the similarities and differences in the travelling step
in Reels and Strathspeys.
Where and when possible, tabulate your answers.
1 List the methods of progression found in the twelve prescribed dances you have studied. Select one of them and describe in detail how you would teach it to a class of inexperienced dancers.
2 Write short notes on
i) the founding of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
ii) the teacher's voice and manner
iii) the value of demonstration in a lesson
3 a) Name TWO faults commonly found in the following steps
i) skip change of step
ii) pas de Basque
iii) strathspey travelling step
b) Choose ONE fault in each step and describe how you would try to
correct it.
4 a) What is the value of the music in your Scottish Country Dance lesson?
b) State whether you would prefer to use a musician or recorded music
and give reasons for your choice.
1 Compare skip change of step with strathspey travel step noting similarities and differences.
2 You have studied 12 dances. In the DANCING of them
a) which dance presented most difficulty?
b) which phrase or linkage required most thought (not necessarily
in the same dance as a) above.
Give reasons.
3 "The voice is the most important tool in the teacher's armoury". To what extent do you think this is true? List other attributes that a good teacher should have.
4 In RSCDS Books, bars for both dance instructions and music are clearly numbered. Why should the teacher be aware of this?
1 If you were asked to start a class in your town or area, how would you
a) interest the pupils in the aims of the RSCDS
b) explain where and why the Society was formed.
2 Name ONE fault which can occur in each of the following
a) Pas de Basque
b) Strathspey Travelling Step
c) Rights and Lefts
d) Poussette
State how you would correct each fault you have mentioned.
3 Different standards of classes require a different approach. Select an 8 bar formation, involving progression, from your Test pieces and highlight the essential teaching points - for an intermediate group of dancers.
4 Do you consider the choice of music is important when teaching a new dance? How would you prepare for this when making up your programme for the class? State any difficulty you may encounter if using recorded music and not a musician.
Tabulate wherever possible
1 a) Name two faults commonly found in the following steps
i) skip change of step
ii) pas de basque
iii) strathspey travelling step
b) Chose one fault in each step and describe how you would try to
correct it.
2 Which points would you emphasise when teaching the following figures
a) Two couples, set and dance right hands across half way round, set
and dance left hands across half way round to place (as in De'il Amang the
Tailors)
b) Turning partners once round using four pas de basque steps
c) Six hands round and back in strathspey time.
3 You have studied twelve dances for this test
a) State which dance you found most difficult to dance proficiently
b) Write short notes to explain what the difficulties were and how
you overcame them.
4 As a teacher, what is the importance of the following
a) Demonstration
b) Class Management
c) Use of Voice
d) Use of Music
1 What are the differences in technique, rhythm and style in skip change of step and strathspey travelling step? List the important teaching points you would use to achieve a good performance of these steps.
2 a) How would you train your class to listen to the music and get real help
from it?
b) What words would you use for each of the five steps when teaching
them for the first time, before bringing in the music?
c) What music would you use for teaching each of the five steps, naming
any tunes you think particularly suitable.
3 Write short notes on
a) The founding of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
b) Phrasing
c) Use of voice
d) Demonstration in the class
4 a) List the reels, jigs and strathspeys you have studied for the Preliminary
Test.
b) Choose ONE from each section and explain in detail how you would
prepare a general class for these dances.
1 What have you learned from your First Certificate Class?
If you become a teacher what would your main priorities be for a happy, good
standard Scottish Country Dancing class.
BRIEFLY
2 Using foot positions only for each movement, teach
skip change of step
pas de basque
travelling strathspey
common schottische.
State very briefly the main feature of each step.
3 In the twelve prescribed dances, there is a variety of methods of
progression.
a) Which one do you consider the most difficult to dance? Why?
b) Describe, in detail, how you would teach it to a class of inexperienced
dancers.
4 Which points would you bear in mind when preparing the music for your programme
when teaching a Scottish Country Dance class?
State any difficulties you may encounter if using recorded music and not
a musician.
1 Describe fully, with organisation and teaching points clearly stated, how
you would teach the following to a class of inexperienced dancers
a) pas de basque
b) strathspey travelling step
2 Of what importance to the teacher is
a) demonstration
b) use of voice
c) pace of lesson
3 a) How many steps are there to one bar of music?
b) What are the teaching points in an 8 bar, right shoulder, reel
of three?
c) Draw the positions of the feet used in Scottish Country Dancing
4 Write short notes on the following
a ) The part music plays in the class
b) What do you consider to be vital elements in the class social
interaction?
1 To what extent do you agree with the view that the objects drawn up by the RSCDS in 1923 are still relevant and important in 1994.
2 Why is it incorrect to describe Scottish Country Dancing as folk dancing?
1 With your knowledge of the aims of our Society, please comment on the reasons for the need of a Preliminary Test and Teacher's Certificate.
2 You have just completed a course of training in preparation for the Prelim Test. Comment on the ways in which the training has contributed to your awareness of the tradition and technique of the RSCDS.
3 In a class of beginners how would you introduce the aims of the RSCDS without giving a lecture. What would you suggest to them would be the advantage of individual membership?
1 How do you interest your class in the music so that they get the most help from it?
2 Does the name tune matter in our Traditional dances? Make a few brief notes on this.
3 Music helps immensely in our dancing - please compare the use of available music today, i.e. live and recorded.
4 a) Write short notes on
i) the importance of the music in the teaching of Scottish
Country Dancing
ii) the reasons for the numbering of the bars of music in the
RSCDS books
b) State how many bars of music should be played for
i) 4 hands round, followed by set twice to partners in jig
time
ii) 6 hands round and back, followed by 1st couple lead down
the middle and up and cast off in strathspey time
5 If a pianist was unavailable, what form of music would you prefer to use for your class? Give reasons for your choice and note any difference you would expect to find between your choice and the the music provided by the absent pianist.
6 a) What does good music do for dancers and their dancing?
b) Suggest some ways in which unsatisfactory music may cause
unsatisfactory dancing.
7 Why do we use original tunes? Give the time signatures for reel, jig and
strathspey.
Draw the foot positions. Why are foot positions important?
8 "So much depends on the music of our dance" Comment on the alternative forms of providing music for Scottish Country Dancing. What difficulties might you expect in taking classes today?
9 What part does music play in your lesson? How do you train your class to listen to the music and get real help from it?
1 Tabulate 2 important teaching points in each of the following
a) pas de basque
b) slip step
c) strathspey travelling
d) strathspey setting.
2 Different standards of classes require a different approach - select an 8 bar formation, involving progression, from your test pieces and highlight the essential points - with an intermediate group.
3 What are the most important points to emphasise in
a) the steps of progression
b) the setting steps (omit Highland Schottische and Glasgow Highlanders
setting steps)
4 In teaching technique, what are the points to be particularly emphasised
in
a) pas de basque and strathspey travelling step
b) the use of hands.
What formation would you choose to teach to incorporate a) and b)?
5 What are the teaching points you have to note in
a) skip
b) strathspey travelling
c) pas de basque
d) slip step
6 What are the differences in technique, rhythm and style in skip change of step and strathspey travelling? List the important teaching points you would use to achieve a god performance of these steps.
1 Why do we put so much stress on correct technique?
2 a) Write notes on the value of demonstration in your lesson.
b) Why is good handing so important in SCD?
3 Your are given a class of adult beginners. Devise a teaching sequence for the first lesson of 11/2 hours. State briefly how you propose to progress i lesson 2.
4 Note down the progressions which occur in the set dances you have studied. Describe the method you would adopt to teach one of them.
5 You are going to teach strathspey travelling to beginners
a) What would you tell your class?
b) What would you say during your demonstration?
6 When teaching a class of beginners a poussette what difficulties would you expect them to have and how would you anticipate them?
1 Write short notes on
a) the teacher's voice
b) the teacher's manner
c) the teacher's appearance.
2 How would you vary your attack in teaching
a) a social class
b) a children's class
c) an advanced RSCDS class?
If you were unexpectedly asked to teach a class for each of these types,
which 4 dances would you teach? Give your reasons. Do not give dances which
are on your set list for this examination.
3 What do you consider the important points of
a) phrasing
b) teamwork in the Braes of Breadalbane?
4 Write brief notes on each of the following
a) the teacher's voice and manner
b) the teacher's position during the lesson
c) the teacher's ability to demonstrate.
1 What do you expect to see in well-performed Scottish Country dancing? Write short notes on 3 of the points mentioned that you think the most important.
2 A good team of SC dancers should have several outstanding qualities - note these briefly.
3 Our dances are full of movement - please make brief notes on the several aspects required to express this, e.g. head, eyes, hands etc.
4 A good teacher is essential for the maintenance of a standard in our dance. Make brief notes on 3 of the the essential characteristics required.
5 There are various forms of dancing a reel of three in the set dances. Name the dances and give the teaching points you would stress with regard to the rule in each dance, taking into consideration the formation preceding and/or following.