gcse listening guide
TRANSCRIPT
Contents Basics
Elements of Music Pg 1
Elements of Music Home Learning Due: Pg
Area of Study 1
Rhythm and Metre
Area of Study 2
Harmony and Tonality
Area of Study 3
Texture and Melody
Area of Study 4
Timbre and Dynamics
Area of Study 5
Structure and Form
Extended Questions
Worksheets
Strands of Learning linked to Keywords–
FILL OUT THE BLANKS
Below are strands of learning
a) The Western Classical Tradition
Baroque orchestral music
The concerto
Music for voices
Chamber music
The sonata
b) Popular Music of the 20th & 21st centuries
Blues
Popular music of the 1960s
Rock music, R’n’B, Hip-Hop
Music Theatre
Film music
c) World Music
Music of the Caribbean
Music of Africa
Music of India
Common Errors highlighted in red
Italian Terms in purple italics
Websites in bold blue
Example questions in the yellow boxes
Elements of Music
PITCH
PG 1
High
Low
TEMPO (Speed)
Fast
Slow
Italian words you can use for tempo
Largo: Slowly
Andante: Walking Pace
Moderato: Moderately
Allegro: Fast
Vivace: Lively
Presto: Very Fast
Accelerando: Gradually speeding up
Rallentando: Gradually slowing down
Ritenuto: Immediately slower
Allargando: Getting slower and broadening
Rubato: Literally 'robbed time', where rhythms are played freely for expressive effect.
Elements of Music
Dynamics
(Volume)
Loud
Quiet
Italian words you can use for dynamics and the symbols you would see on the score (dynamic markings)
Crescendo: Getting louder <
Diminuendo: Getting quieter <
Pianissimo: very quiet pp
Piano: quiet p
Fortissimo: very loud ff
Forte: loud f
Mezzo forte: fairly loud mf
Mezzo piano: fairly quiet mp
Accent: emphasis on a particular note > (marked near the note)
Timbre
The instruments
Texture
Words you can use for texture
A capella= Voice singing on its own
Unison= Playing or Singing together
Call and Response= A solo melody is then answered by other instruments
Monophonic= 1 Melody on its own
Homophonic= 1 melody plus accompaniment (chords being played underneath= usually
found in a pop song)
Polyphonic= Many melodies all playing at the same time
Elements of Music
How many layers
There are other elements of music which will be explored further on in this guide...
1Now insert the CD and answer the questions below.
Track Number 1:
What happens to the dynamics in the first section of
this piece?
Describe the use of pitch with the opening of the
violin
The beginning of this extract is monophonic, then
what happens?
Circle the word which best describes the tempo of
the opening section of this extract
Vivace Largo Moderato
Elements of Music
Home Learning
Due: February 24th 2012
Recognising Instruments
If you visit this website you can click on lots of instruments
which you can listen to:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/
elements_of_music/instrumentationrev1.shtml
Violin
Trumpet
Piano
Guitar
Drum Kit Saxophone
Recognising special instruments
relating to the strand of learning
Strand of Learning
A) The Western Classical Tradition
Harpsichord
(Baroque Era)
Listen to track 2 on
your CD
B) Popular Music of the 20th and 21st Century
The instruments heard within this time period are instru-
ments you use at school and that you are use to hearing.
Listen to track 3 on your CD
C) World Music
Music of the Caribbean
Listen to track 4
Clavas Maracas Cabasa Guiro
Recognising special instruments relating to the
strand of learning
C) World Music
Indian Music– Listen to track 5
Sitar
African Music– Listen to track 6
African Drumming
Tabla
Harmonium
If you are still not sure about these instruments type
them in to Youtube!
Family of Instruments
Woodwind
Piano
Organ
Keyboard Family
To look more into instrument families and sounds visit:
http://www.dsokids.com/listen/instrumentlist.aspx
COMMON ERROR
The saxophone and flute are actually woodwind
instruments– NOT BRASS
Family of Instruments
Home Learning Due:
February 24th 2012
1Now insert the CD and answer the questions below.
1. Which family of instruments is playing the melody on track
7?
2. On track 7 which family of instruments respond?
3. Which instrument is like a guitar but is used for Indian
music?
4. Name all instruments playing on track 8.
5. What instrument is playing the melody for track 1?
Area of Study 1
Rhythm and Metre
Pulse– is the beat!
Tempo– is the speed of the beat
Tempo is measured in BPM
(Beats Per Minute)
In the chapter on ELEMENTS OF MUSIC you will find Italian words related to tempo!
Example Question: How would you describe the tempo
of this extract?
What is the time signature of this piece?
You will be asked about the time signature
of the piece. Usual answers will be:
4/4, 2/4, 3/4, 6/8
To work this out you need to work out the
strongest beat and then count until the next
strongest beat. Listen to the pulse!
Rhythm
Augmentation: An increase in the length of notes. The
music will sound slower when imitated or repeated.
Therefore your answer could be– the rhythm is
augmented
Example Question:
How does the rhythm change in the second extract?
Please comment on the rhythm of this extract.
Diminution: A decrease in the length of notes. The music
will sound quicker when repeated.
Syncopation: Off beat.
Dotted Rhythm: A dot after the note increases it by
half the size. Dotted crotched equals one and a half
beats. (Usually sounds long– short)
Cross Rhythm/ Polyrhythm: 2 different rhythms being
played at the same time on different instruments
Rubato: when directed to play “rubato” the performer
has freedom with the rhythm and the speed.
Drum Fill– Rhythmic decoration used on the drums
Triplets: A group of 3 notes having the same time as 2.
Have a listen on this website to an example of a triplet
http://www.teoria.com/tutorials/reading/09-
triplets.php
Rhythm and Metre
Home Learning Due: 24th February
1Now insert the CD and answer the questions below.
(Aim to use rhythm keywords!)
Track Number 8:
What is the time signature of this piece?
Describe the rhythm of this piece.
Track Number 9
What is the tempo of this piece?
Describe the rhythm used in this piece.
Track Number 10:
What is the time signature of this piece?
Describe the rhythm of this piece.
AoS2 Harmony & Tonality
Harmony is what happens when two notes at different pitches are
played together!
Diatonic: occurs when only the notes from the key signature are
played
Chromatic: happens when you use notes that do not belong in that key
signature (it adds colour)
Consonant: the harmony sounds nice
Dissonance: doesn’t sound so nice! Sounds like a clash
Pedal/Drone– is a note that is held on for a long time below the melody.
(A drone note is usually played in the bass part and you will find this
when listening to Indian music or Bagpipes!)
Cadences: The two chords at the end of a phrase (ends the musical
sentence)
Perfect– Sounds finished
Imperfect– Sounds unfinished
Interrupted– Sounds like it is going to, but then doesn’t (Surprise
cadence)
Plagal– Amen cadence
To hear examples and for more information go to the GCSE Bitesize
Website
Example Question:
In this extract which cadence is located at point A on
the score?
Tonality means the music belongs in a key
Tonic– Strongest note of the key (this is the first note and is usually
what the piece starts and ends on)
Major– has a happy feel
Minor– has a sad feel (through out!)
Modes– ancient scales
Pentatonic– 5 note scale
Whole tone– made up of tones (whole steps- no semi-tones)
Modulation– when the piece changes key. (Usually this will be the domi-
nant or the relative major or minor as they flow nicely in to each oth-
er)
Key Signatures
You can work out key signatures by using the Circle of 5ths
Harmony & Tonality
Harmony and Tonality
Home Learning Due: March 2nd
1Now insert the CD and answer the questions below.
Track 1
1. What is the tonality of this piece?
2. Comment on the harmony
Track 3
3. Is this piece major or minor?
4. Which cadence is at the end of the chorus?
Track 11
5. Comment on the harmony
Track 12
6. Does this piece modulate? If so when and what to?
7. Which key signature has 2 sharps in?
8. Which key signature has 1 flat in?
AoS3 Texture and Melody
To find out about TEXTURE turn to the first chapter on the Elements
of Music!
As well as the words– Unison, Monophonic, Homophonic, Polyphonic you
will also need to know the following:
Broken Chords– is when the notes of the chord are played separately,
not together! The accompaniment sounds more gentle and flowing com-
pared to block chords. You probably used broken chords for your 32
bar song.
Imitative/Canonic– Imitate is to copy. That is exactly what happens!
An instrument copies another instrument. A canon is a type of imita-
tion where an instrument copies the whole of melody not just part.
Many instruments could be involved in a canon.
Antiphonal– special kind of imitation. This is where a musical
phrase is passed between many instruments. In some antipho-
nal music the parts are played in different areas of the build-
ing and produces a stereo effect.
All of the above can be found:
http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/learnlisteningonline
Just click on the letter and find the keyword. Click on and listen to it!
Example Question: Describe the texture of the piece
Melody is a pattern of notes.
AoS3 Texture and Melody
Example Question: Which bar does the melody start in?
Identify the interval between the first two notes played in the melo-
Intervals– the distance in pitch between two notes.
E.g. The distance between C and G is a 5th.
If you go to http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/learnlisteningonline
and go to intervals it plays all the intervals for C.
Conjunct– is a type of melodic movement. Conjunct means step wise
(the notes are mainly next to each other)
Disjunct– Means the melody moves in leaps
Triadic– a triadic melody is one that mainly plays the 3 notes of a
chord
Scalic– A scalic melody is one that follows a scale
Arpeggio– is a type of broken chord. Usually ascending (going up) or de-
scending (going down)
Passing Note– is a note that connects another two notes that are part
of the harmony. For instance, a C note followed by an E note, the pass-
ing note would be a D.
Acciaccatura and Appoggiatura– these are types of ornaments. They
are little added decorations that sound crushed.
Blue Notes– These are special notes used in the blues and often ‘slide’
from one to another.
You can also use words like: diatonic, chromatic, modal, pentatonic,
whole tone (turn to the section on harmony to help you with these
words) You can also use augmentation, diminution (which can be found
in the rhythm section)
Sequence– is where a melodic phrase is repeated immediately at a
different pitch
http:// www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/
elements_of_music/melody5.shtml
Inversion– is where the melody is turned upside down
Slide/Glissando/Portamento– All mean the same thing which is
sliding from one not
Ornamentation- Little decorations (ornaments) to make the melo-
dy interesting.
Ostinato– a repeated musical phrase
Riff– Same as an ostinato but found in popular music
Phrasing– dividing the melody into smaller sections– like a sen-
tence
Articulation– extra little information for the performer on how to
play the note. E.g. Staccato, accents etc.
Pitch Bend– found in guitar playing.
Improvisation– To make it up on the spot (usually found in blues
and jazz)
Example Question: Which melodic device is being used?
Texture and Melody
Home Learning
1Now insert the CD and answer the questions below.
Describe the texture of these pieces and which musical term
best describes it
Track 13-
Track 8-
Track 4-
Describe the melody of the following pieces
Track 1-
Track 7-
Track 14-
Track 15-
Area of Study 4
Timbre and Dynamics
For definition of these words you can find in chapter one on the Elements
of Music!
As well as them you need to also need to know-
Example Question: Name the instrumental technique
the violin is using.
Timbre and Dynamics
Home Learning Due
1Now insert the CD and answer the questions below.
Track 15
1. Name the instruments playing and any instrument tech-
niques
2. Describe the dynamics
Track 16
3. Name the instruments playing and any instrument techniques
4. Describe the dynamics
15. Which instrument is playing the melody on track 1?
6. Which instrument is playing the accompaniment on track 2?
7. List all instruments playing on track 3?
Area of Study 5
Structure and Form
Example Question: Describe the structure of this
piece.
How does section A differ from section B?
Example Question: Which of the following best de-
scribes the form of this excerpt?
ABA ABCD ABCA AAA
Structure and Form
Home Learning Due
1Now insert the CD and answer the questions below.
Describe the structure of the following pieces-
Track 1
Track 12
Track 17
Track 18
Which term best describes the form of this excerpt? Circle
Arch– shape binary through-composed twelve-bar blues
Extended Question
In the exam you will be asked to listen to an excerpt a few
times and then you will be asked to comment on certain areas.
TIP! Use bullet points. List like this
E.g.
Rhythm– dotted and syncopated
Metre– 4/4
Texture– homophonic
Melody– improvisation and pitch bend
You take the keywords you know and place them in the appro-
priate areas depending on the piece you are listening to.
Example Question:
Comment on this music, referring only to:
Rhythm
Metre
Texture
Melody
Extended Question
Home Learning Due
Track 1
Comment on– Pitch, Dynamics, Timbre
Track 2
Comment on– Timbre, Texture, Structure
Track 3
Comment on– Rhythm, Metre, Texture, Melody
Extended Question
Home Learning Due
Track 4
Comment on– Melody, Metre, Form
Track 5
Comment on– Structure, Dynamics, Pitch, Melody
Track 6
Comment on– Rhythm, Metre, Texture, Melody
Websites!
REALLY GOOD WEBSITE:
http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/learnlisteningonline/atozdictionary/
A.asp
Any keywords in this book can be heard by going to this website,
finding the keyword then clicking and listening!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music
This has all the areas of study for you to read and listen to
Intervals
http://www.musictheory.net/exercises/ear-interval
http://www.musictechteacher.com/aq_rhythm_sound_match/
quiz.html
http://www.musictechteacher.com/quiz_rhythmquiz01.htm
Musical term
http://www.musictechteacher.com/
aq_music_terms_expressions_match/quiz.html
Instruments
http://www.dsokids.com/listen/instrumentlist.aspx
Texture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWmctnwoe50