MUSIC Details of exam Part 1: Pupils will sit a listening paper of 1 hour 15 minutes. This is a past GCSE paper and will test pupils on everything they have learnt so far in the course. Part 2: Pupils will submit a recording and score of a solo performance which will be marked using GCSE Performance criteria. The results from both parts of the exam will be combined to give a grade for this year’s summer exam.
Topics to revise The main areas to revise are: Pupils must have a secure understanding of the elements of music and be able to recognise aurally, the following devices: • • • • • • •
Structure: different types of forms, such as binary, ternary, rondo, verse-chorus, strophic Tonality: major, minor, modulations to related keys such as the dominant Melody: recognise devices such as conjunct, disjunct, scalic, chromatic, ascending and descending sequences, ornamentation such as trills, mordents, appoggiaturas Harmony: diatonic chords, dissonance, chords I, IV, V, cadences, extended chords such as 7ths, pedal point, suspensions Rhythm: note values, recognise triplets, septuplets, dotted rhythms, syncopation, be able to read and write rhythmic patterns and recognise them aurally Tempo: recognise changes in tempo, be able to identify tempi by applying correct terminology e.g. allegro, presto, largo Metre: time signatures, changes of metre, simple or compound time
Area of Study 1: Musical Forms and Devices • • • •
The development of music and features of the Western Classical Tradition Describe and recognise musical forms and structures Musical devices (see list of elements above) An in-depth understanding of how the elements of music are used in the set work ‘Badinerie’ by J.S. Bach.
Area of Study 2: Ensemble Music • • • • • •
Sonority, timbre and texture Textural devices Musical ensembles Chamber Music: the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras Musical theatre Jazz and Blues
Area of Study 3: Film Music • • •
The film industry The use of musical elements in film music Musical devices: leitmotif, ostinato, minimalism, riffs, layering
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