RSCDS TEACHER'S EXAM QUESTIONS

These questions were gathered by Bob Blair <bob.blair@curley.com> and his wife when they were taking the exam.

Examples
More Examples
  History
  The Society
  Teaching Content and Method
  Teaching Content
  Teaching Technique
  Methods of Teaching
  Scottish Country Dancing
  Music
Further Examples


Examples

1 Technique is important but so is the social feeling of dance. Construct a lesson for the first session with an adult class - give structure and time allocations and brief comment only.

2 a) How many steps are used in each bar of music in
    i) strathspey
    ii) jig
    iii) reel
  b) When looking at printed music - how can you tell if it is a reel or jig?

3 The teacher's voice is important. Which other aspects would you expect to find in a good teacher; and what is important about the use of the eyes? Tabulate and comment.

4 Steps/Formations
Choose three of the following and highlight specific points to look for in teaching these elements of dance.
  i) slip step
  ii) strathspey setting
  iii) poussette - reel time
  iv) allemande - strathspey time


1 Explain the difference between the rhythms of reel and jig time and say how you would try to develop an awareness of the difference in your class.

2 In your training for this test you have studied five steps
  a) which do you consider is the easiest and
  b) which the most difficult to learn, to dance and to teach?
State the reasons for your choice.

3 What do you consider would be the difficulties experienced by a class learning Peggy's Love? Explain how, as the teacher, you would help that class through these difficulties.

4 a) How do you intend to spread the knowledge and work of the RSCDS if you gain this Certificate?
  b) What makes Scottish Country Dancing so well worth teaching?


1 OUTLINE a programme for the FIRST LESSON of 1.5 hours duration for a class of adult beginners. State your objectives and explain how you would propose to achieve them.

2 Name the progressions found in the set dances you have studied for this examination. Which one of these progressions do you find most difficult to teach and state why.

3 Why should a high standard of technique be necessary in Scottish Country dancing? Are there any circumstances at all where this may need to be modified? How does good technique relate to the other aspects of the dance?

4 a) Explain the difference between the rhythms of Reel and Jigtime and say how you would try to develop an awareness of the difference in your class.
  b) The original tune for a dance is not always played by bands at dances. Is this important? Discuss.


More Examples

History

1 Why is it incorrect to describe SC Dancing as Folk Dancing?

2 Explain why the SCD Society was founded in 1923. State the principal objectives of the Society and comment on the results of its efforts to achieve them during the past 70 years.

3 The SCDS was formed in 1923. Why did Mrs Stewart and Miss Milligan feel so strongly that such a movement had become necessary? What were their objectives? - Tabulate.

The Society

1 The RSCDS has clearly defined aims and objectives. Suggest how, in your teaching, your own aspirations may perhaps be combined with those of the Society.

2 How if you gain this Certificate, do you intend to teach so that it is not only dancing that is taught, but also the maintenance of a tradition?

3 You are a member of the RSCDS. Name some of the benefits you have derived from your membership.

4 Being a teacher for the RSCDS involves certain privileges, duties and responsibilities. What in your opinion are they?

5 Discuss what effect working for this Certificate has had on your approach to SC Dancing and to the work of the RSCDS.

6 How do you intend to spread the knowledge and work of the RSCDS if you gain this Certificate? What makes SC Dancing so well worth teaching?

Teaching Content and Method

1 At which stage in the teaching of children would you introduce the strathspey? Justify your answer. Devise a teaching sequence for its introduction.

2 Encouragement of correct footwork should be an essential feature of classes. Discuss.

3 How would you vary your lesson for
  a) a children's class
  b) a mixed general class
  c) a demonstration class

4 The rhythm of the p d b can be difficult for some dancers. How would you coach them in order to make it easier for them? Having achieved a good 3 beat p d b, what practices would you use to get fluency of music with it?

5 State briefly how you would correct the following faults in technique
  a) a bent, lifted knee in the skip in the travelling step
  b) a 2 beat p d b
  c) a hard definite hop in strathspey travelling step.

6 Why is a knowledge of good footwork essential? Describe briefly the most important points in each one of the steps used in SCD.

Teaching Content

1 State the points you would emphasise when teaching 3 of the following
  a) double triangles
  b) tournee
  c) poussette right round (strathspey)
  d) 6 hands round and back, followed by promenade with 3 couples (jig)
In your teaching programme, in which order would they appear? Give your reasons

2 State what work you might take if unexpectedly you were asked to teach an advanced class for about 1 hour. (Make it clear if you would be teaching with a pianist or recorded music.

3 SC dancing is Ballroom dancing. What points of ballroom etiquette would you mention to beginners?

4 a) Make a detailed lesson plan for the first week of a beginners' class. List the subsequent steps and formations you would teach in the next 5 lessons, with examples of suitable dances.
  b) State, in your opinion, what contributes to a successful lesson.

5 Write a thorough description of a poussette right round in strathspey time. Explain the difference between this formation and the half poussette.

6 Tabulate the teaching points for
  a) skip change of step
  b) strathspey travelling step
Compare and contrast these steps.

7 What do you understand by progressive teaching and why is it important for beginners? Give a lesson plan for the 4th week in a beginners' class, indicating what had previously been taught.

8 What is the difference between reel and strathspey dancing? Why is it important that a teacher should understand this?

Teaching Technique

1 Teaching skills which can be acquired and improved combine with natural qualities to produce a good teacher. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

2 The teacher's manner and example is of prime importance. Discuss this.

3 As a fully qualified teacher of SC dancing what will you do to make your class a really successful one?

4 What do we mean by "Class Management"? How does a good teacher stand out against an inferior one? Discuss this.

5 Adaptability is essential in a good teacher. Name some of the circumstances in which your prepared lesson might have to be changed. State how you would cope in such cases.

6 What is an over-particular teacher? Give an explanation.

Methods of Teaching

1 Imagine that you have an opportunity to teach ONE of your set dances to an adult class of intermediate standard. Provide an outline plan of your lesson stating your precise objectives and indicating how you propose to achieve them.

2 Give a lesson plan for teaching the allemande
  a) in reel time to a beginners' class
  b) in strathspey time to an advanced class
Detail all the teaching points and faults likely to occur.

3 Demonstration in a lesson sets the standard of technique and formations. Discuss this and give examples to illustrate the points in the 5 steps and any 2 formations.

4 Give a lesson plan for teaching
  a) allemande
  b) a reel following set and turn corners
State clearly points which require particular attention.

Scottish Country Dancing

1 "SC dancing is a happy social pastime". How would you seek to achieve this while at the same time maintaining the standards approved by the Society?

2 There has been an influx of recently composed dances.
  a) Has this been to the advantage or disadvantage of the RSCDS? Discuss.
  b) What points would you consider if you were composing a dance?

3 "A well performed SC dance is a blending together of many aspects of the dance". So what points of assessment would you look for in a team dancing a reel/jig dance?

4 In your RSCDS books the bars for the dances are numbered very carefully. Why is numbering so important and why should the teacher be very aware of these?

5 In your training for this test, you have studied 5 steps. a) Which do you consider is the easiest? and b) which the most difficult to learn , to dance and to teach ? State reasons for your choice.

6 In WYJTD Dr. Milligan writes of "ways of progressing" and "forms of progression". a) Describe the ways of progressing, giving examples of dances. b) List the forms of progression in the 12 prescribed dances.

Which do you consider are the easiest and most difficult forms? Give reasons for your selection.

7 Write short notes on a) teacher's voice and manner b) the meaning and importance of phrasing c) deportment - how does it affect the correctness of technique?

8 a) What do you expect to see in well performed SC dancing?
  b) Write notes on what you consider are the 3 most important points.

9 "Many teachers may do a disservice to the RSCDS by including in their class programmes all the new dances they find instead of those approved and published by the Society".

"SC dance is a living art but an art that will decline unless newly devised dances of a high artistic standard are available".

Discuss these two statements, making your personal opinion clear.

10 What is the importance of technique in SC dancing? What relationship does the technique have to the rest of the dance?

Music

1 "Make the dance an integral part of the music & the music an integral part of the dance" (Jean Milligan - Introducing SC Dancing )
How in your teaching would you endeavour to achieve this?

2 If your pianist was ill 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.

3 For teaching and for dancing, give the advantages and/or disadvantages of music provided by
  a) pianist
  b) records
  c) cassettes

4 Explain the difference between the rhythms of reel and jig time and say how you would try to develop an awareness of the differences in your class.

5 Name an appropriate time you would use for teaching each of the 5 basic steps & give reasons for your choice in each case

6 In co-operation with your pianist, make notes on a lesson a) in rhythm b) in phrasing.

7 "The music is the stimulus of the dance and the dance should be the physical expression of the music". (J C Milligan) Comment fully on this statement.

8 When, before teaching a new step, formation or dance, you ask the pianist to play the tune, how, apart from clapping, can you ensure that the class listens purposefully? Name 2 examples.

9 "So much depends on the music of our dances". What difficulties might you expect in taking classes today? Comment on the alternative forms of providing music for SC dancing.

10 a) What does good music do for dancers and their dancing?
  b) Suggest some ways in which unsatisfactory music may cause unsatisfactory dancing.
  c) How would you interest your students in Scottish music apart from its use as a rhythmic accompaniment to dances?

Further Examples

1 Name the positions of the foot in all steps used in the dances. Name two faults you might expect to find in an inexperienced dancer and give corrections for these faults.

2 What is the value of demonstration in your lesson.

3 What is the value of stressing the foot positions? What are they?

4 Give the reasons why SCD should not be called Folk Dancing.

5 What is the importance of
  a) Good Phrasing
  b) Good use of hands
  c) Good Team Work
  d) Teachers own demonstration.

6 Whether is it better to have a thorough knowledge of a number of dances or a thorough knowledge of formations.

7 How do you teach your class to listen to the music and get the most value from it.

8 State what common faults you know in
  a) Pas de Basque
  b) Skip Change of Step.

9 Write brief notes on the importance of
  a) Rhythm
  b) Technique
  c) Phrasing
  d) Music
  c) Voice when teaching.

10 In teaching a beginners' class in what order of importance would you place the following
  a) Technique
  b) Use of hands
  c) Social enjoyment
  d) Rhythm.

11 Are you in favour of or against, giving individual corrections when teaching technique? Give reasons for your answer explaining how you would help a dancer who finds steps difficult.

12 Write short notes on
  a) The teacher's voice
  b) The teacher's manner.

13 a) What part does the music play in your lesson? b) Do you consider that the tunes played matter? c) How do you use your pianist?

14 When teaching Strathspey travelling step to a class familiar with that of Reel or Jig time, what points would you stress of
  a) Similarity
  b) Difference.

15 What are the essentials of a well danced SCD? Tabulate your answer.

16 If some of your class found the rhythm of the p d b difficult, explain how you would help them. What would you do to improve the rhythm of the class generally?

17 How would you correct the following faults and state what may cause them.
  a) Skip change of step with poor skip.
  b) A two beat pas de basque.
  c) Strathspey travel step with too quick a carry through and a hard hop.

18 "The music is the impulse of the dance". Comment on this statement and explain how you would teach your class to appreciate this and get the maximum help from the music.

19 How many technique steps have you learned for this examination? Make a list of the common faults found in each.

20 Explain what you consider are the essential qualities of a good teacher.

21 Why is it that the over meticulous teacher can do even more harm than the rather careless teacher.

22 What difference would there be in teaching
  a) A children's class
  b) A social club
  c) An RSCDS advanced class.