Music Language test and Listening Analysis
There will be one musicianship test this year, in term 2 and one Listening Analysis in term 4.
Music Language
This will include testing of some of the aural and musical elements as listed on the Musicianship page.
Alongside learning and revision in the classroom, everyone is encouraged to review their musicianship knowledge via the videos, information and exercises linked below or under the Musicianship tab on this site.
- Clefs and Note Naming
- Conventions of Music Notation
- Duration
- Dynamics
- Music Notation Explained in 5 Minutes
- Rhythm Exercises
Listening Analysis
This test will involve active listening of some musical excerpts and analysis involving the following musical elements. Some musical terms and suggestions are below each element. Everyone is encouraged to familiarise themselves with the elements and some of the terms below to help to inform their Listening Analysis.
Character – how could you describe the character of the music?
Examples could be playful, serious, angry, cheerful, happy, joyful, sad, melancholy…
Instrumentation – which instruments can you hear?
Voice/Vocals
Woodwind Family – Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone
Brass Family – Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, French Horn, Euphonium
Percussion Family – Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Drum Kit, Cymbals, Timpani, Xylophone, Glockenspiel
Strings Family – Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
Ensemble – what type of ensemble is it?
Concert Band
Orchestra
String Ensemble
Vocal Ensemble/Choir
Brass Ensemble
Solo instrument
Duet
Trio
Dynamics – how would you describe the volume of what you can hear?
Pianissimo – Very Soft
Piano – Soft
Mezzo Piano – Moderately Soft
Mezzo Forte – Moderately Loud
Forte – Loud
Fortissimo – Very Loud
Crescendo – Gradually getting louder
Decrescendo – Gradually getting softer
Tempo – how fast or slow is the music?
Lento – Very Slow
Largo – Slowly
Andante – Walking Pace
Moderato – At a moderate tempo
Allegro – Fast and Lively
Presto – Very Fast
Accelerando – Gradually increase the tempo of the music
Ritardando – Gradually decrease the tempo of the music
Articulation – how could you describe the articulation?
Staccato – Short/detached
Legato – Long/Smooth
Marcato – Marked/Clearly Articulated/Lightly Accented
Tonality – what is the tonal quality of the music?
Major – happy sounding
Minor – sad sounding
Atonal – the absence of a defined key
Listening examples: