Key terms based on past papers

Accompaniment
Backing vocals
Cadence
Dynamics
Harmonic device
Harmony
Instrumentation
Melodic interval
Melody
Metre
Musical elements
Octaves
Orchestration
Playing technique
Rhythm
Studio effects
Tempo
Texture
Tonality

Most frequent question types based on past papers

‘describe the music’

Accompanying instrument
Accompanying instrument
Add chords to extract
Typical characteristics of the style (Baroque, , Jazz, African etc)
Cadence
Changes in texture
Compare backing vocals and lead
Compare instruments between two extracts
Identify/compare sections in the structure (verse/chorus, exposition/recapitulation etc)
Create mood using dynamics, harmony, rhythm
Create contrast using accompaniment, tempo, dynamics
Describe accompaniment
Describe dynamics
Describe melody
Describe rhythm, texture, tonality
Describe tempo and rhythm
Describe texture
Describe the melody
Describe the music
Describe differences between extracts
Differences between rhythm, metre, tempo
Harmonic device
Harmony typical of style/period
Identify metre
Identify melodic interval
Identify rhythm from multiple choice
Identify studio effects
Identify tempo from multiple choice
Identify texture
Melody similarity/difference
Multiple choice on tonality
Musical device
Playing technique
Rhythm similarity/difference
Similarities between extracts
Typical texture of style/period
Word painting using melody and rhythm

Question 7 is always dictation

Question 9 is always an essay