Miss Kendall’s

Year 11

GCSE Music Revision

Guide

Contents Basics

Elements of Music

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

Below are the 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= Voices 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)

Elements of Music

How many layers/

instruments are

playing at any time.

Example Questions:

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

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

Make sure you can identify the sound of each one.

This is a common question in the exam.

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)

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.

C) World Music

Music of the Caribbean

Clavas Maracas Cabasa Guiro

Stee

l Pan

s

Recognising special instruments

relating to the strand of learning

C) World Music

Indian Music– Listen to ‘Pata Pata’ by Miriam Makeba

Sitar

African Music– Listen to ‘Homeless’ by Ladysmith Black

Mambazo

African Drumming

Tabla

Harmonium

If you are still not sure about these instruments type

them in to Youtube and listen to them.

Family of Instruments

Brass Family

String Family

Family of Instruments

Woodwind

Harpsichord

Piano

Organ

Keyboard Family

To look more into instrument families and sounds visit:

http://www.dsokids.com/listen/instrumentlist.aspx

Family of Instruments

The Voice

Soprano– High Female

Alto– Low Female

Tenor– High Male

Bass– Low Male

Vocal Ensembles

You can get all female

choirs, male choirs or mixed

choirs.

Barbershop/ acapella groups

Gospel Choir

Choral Music

COMMON ERROR

The saxophone and flute are actually woodwind

instruments– NOT BRASS

Family of Instruments

Questions always come up where you have to

identify the instrument playing. Too many

pupils get an oboe confused with a flute or a

clarinet. Make sure you know your instrument

sounds!

These are easy marks!

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 Keywords

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

Pick some pieces of music from your listening chart at

the beginning of the booklet and answer these ques-

tions( Aim to use rhythm keywords from the opposite

page.)

1. What is the time signature of this piece?

2. Describe the rhythm of this piece.

3. What is the tempo of this piece?

4. Describe the rhythm used in 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

Listening Guide-go through your listening chart and answer the

following questions:

What is the tonality of this piece?

Comment on the harmony

Is this piece major or minor?

Which cadence is at the end of the chorus?

Comment on the harmony

Does this piece modulate? If so when and what to?

Which key signature has 2 sharps in?

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

Use pieces of music in your listening chart to

answer the following questions:

Describe the texture of each piece and which

musical term best describes it.

Describe the melody of each piece.

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

Example questions:

1. Name the instruments playing and any instrument tech-

niques used.

2. Describe the dynamics.

3. Name the instrument playing the accompaniment.

4. Describe the dynamics throughout the piece of music.

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

Example Questions:

1. Describe the structure of the following piece.

2. 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

Pick a different piece of music from your listening chart and

answer the following questions:

Track 1

Comment on– Pitch, Dynamics, Timbre

Track 2

Comment on– Timbre, Texture, Structure

Track 3

Comment on– Rhythm, Metre, Texture, Melody

Track 4

Comment on– Melody, Metre, Form

Track 5

Comment on– Structure, Dynamics, Pitch, Melody

Track 6

Comment on– Rhythm, Metre, Texture, Melody

Listening Guide Old R&B (1950’s)

Fats Domino-Blueberry Hill

Little Richard-Tutti Frutti

Ray Charles– Mess Around

BB King-Three O’Clock Blues

Soul (1960’s/70’s)

Ben E King– Stand by Me

Aretha Franklin-Say a little Prayer

Stevie Wonder-Superstition

Bill Withers– Lean on me

Jackson Five-ABC

Disco (1970’s/80’s)

Donna Summers-I Feel Love

Rose Royce– Car Wash

Bee Gees– Stayin’ Alive

Village People– YMCA

Gloria Gaynor– I will Survive

Funk (70’s/80’s)

Michael Jackson-Thriller

Earth, Wind and Fire– Let’s Groove

Chaka Khan-Ain’t Nobody

Modern R&B (21st Century)

Beyonce Knowles– Best Thing I Never Had

Rihanna-Unfaithful

Mariah Carey– Hero

Whitney Houston-The Greatest Love

Mary J Blige– Just Fine

Caribbean Music

1. Soca Calypso– Lord Kitchener-

Sugar Bum Bum

2. Ska– Millie Small-My Boy Lollipop

3. Rock Steady– The Jamaicans-Baba

Boom Time

4. Reggae-Desmond Dekker and the

ACES-Isrealites

Indian Music

1. Rag Desh by Saraswati

Dhandhada

African Music

1. Yiri by Koko

2. Homeless by Ladysmith Black

Mambazo

Websites!

REALLY GOOD WEBSITE:

http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/learnlisteningonline/atozdictionary/

A.asp

Any keywords in this booklet can be heard by going to this web-

site, 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