MUSIC THEORY

PRACTICE PAPERS

GRADE 5 - PAPER D
This practice paper is for the ABRSM Grade 5 syllabus.
It contains 7 questions. You should answer them all.
You are allowed 2 hours to complete this paper which is out of 100.

Total marks: /100

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 GRADE 5 PRACTICE PAPER D

Question 1. Take a look at the extracts of music and answer the questions. 15

a) The melody below begins on the first beat of the bar but is missing bar lines. Add them in as (6)
appropriate.

b) Take a look at the extract of music below and answer the questions.

* * *

i) The above extract is missing some rests at points marked with stars ( * ). Add in the correct rests to (7)
complete the bars.

ii) What key is the extract in? ………………………………… (2)

Question 2. Describe fully ( e.g perfect 4th, minor 6th etc ) the intervals of the notes in 10
brackets ( ) and marked with the capital letters A - E.

A B C D E

A ……………………………………………………… D ………………………………………………………

B ……………………………………………………… E ………………………………………………………

C ………………………………………………………

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 GRADE 5 PRACTICE PAPER D

Question 3. Look at the piece of music written for piano and answer the questions.

A B C

a) i) Give the meaning of the following terms or symbols: 10

……………………………………………………………………………. (2)

……………………………………………………………………………. (2)

(e.g bars 11 and 12) ……………………………………………………………………………. (2)

ii) Tick one of the boxes that best describes each term/sign. (4)

Dolce means: Tenuto means:

plainly hold back

sweetly freely

softly out of time

in a singing style held

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 GRADE 5 PRACTICE PAPER D

b i) The extract is in the key of D major. Which other key has the same key signature? 10

…………………………………………………………………… (2)

ii) Describe the chords marked with the letters A, B and C with roman numerals ( I, II, IV or V ). Also,
indicate if the lowest note of the chord is the root ( a ), the 3rd ( b ) or the 5th ( c ).

A ………………………………………….. (2)

B ………………………………………….. (2)

C ………………………………………….. (2)

iii) Is the time signature:

simple or compound …………………………………………… (1)

duple, triple or quadruple …………………………………………… (1)

c) i) What is another instrument that could play the right hand piano part bars 1 - 3 and what 10
is another instrument from the same family that sounds at a lower pitch?

instrument …………………………………………… (2)

lower pitch instrument …………………………………………… (2)

ii) Write as a breve ( double whole note ) an enharmonic equivalent of the last note in bar five of the right (3)
hand piano part marked with a star ( * ).

iii) Write as a breve ( double whole note ) the very last chord in the left hand so that it is at the same (3)
pitch but in the alto C clef.You should include the key signature.

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 GRADE 5 PRACTICE PAPER D

Question 4. This is a piece of music is at concert pitch. Transpose it up a perfect 5th so it can 10
be read by a cor anglais. You don’t need to use a key signature but include all the sharps, flats
and natural signs as appropriate.

Question 5. 10

a) Add sharps and/or flats in front of the notes below that are needed so that it shows an Eb melodic (5)
minor ascending scale.

b) Write the correct key signature and one octave ascending of the major scale with 5 flats as it’s key (5)
signature. Use semibreves ( whole notes ) beginning on the tonic and add in any necessary sharps, flats
or natural signs.

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 GRADE 5 PRACTICE PAPER D

Question 6. Look at the piece of music written for trombone and answer the questions. 15

estinto
X Y

a) The extract is in G minor. Indicate what the technical note names ( tonic, subdominant etc ) of the notes
marked with the letters X and Y are.

X ( bar 2 ) …………………………………………… (2)

Y ( bar 4 ) …………………………………………… (2)

b) Tick one of the boxes that best describes each term/sign. (4)

estinto means: con rubato means:

hold as long as possible with some freedom of time

as soft as possible strictly in time

pause on the note but not too much

use the soft pedal with movement

c) Rewrite bar 1 using notes and rests of half the value. Remember to add the new time signature. (4)

d) Rewrite the first note of bar 2 so that it sounds the same but instead use the tenor C clef. You should (3)
include the key signature and the clef.

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 GRADE 5 PRACTICE PAPER D

Question 7. Suggest suitable chord progressions for the two cadences in the extract below. 10
You should indicate which chord by placing a roman numeral ( I, II, IV or V ) in the boxes
below the staves. You should only use one chord per box.

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