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Musical elements and theory

9 dot points across 9 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do I analyse an unfamiliar listening extract for the Section A and Section B questions?

Analysing unfamiliar extracts: a systematic method for describing the musical elements of an unheard extract in Section A listening and Section B analysis, using precise terminology and, where a score is given, bar references.
A focused answer to analysing unfamiliar extracts in AQA A-Level Music Component 1, covering a systematic element-by-element listening method for the Section A listening and Section B analysis questions, with guidance on using precise terminology and bar references to earn marks.
12 min answer →

What do harmony and tonality mean, and how do you describe them accurately in the appraising exam?

Harmony and tonality: chords, cadences, functional harmony, diatonic and chromatic harmony, modulation, keys and modes, and dissonance and consonance.
A focused answer to the harmony and tonality element of AQA A-Level Music, covering chords, cadences, functional harmony, diatonic and chromatic harmony, modulation, keys and modes, and consonance and dissonance, with the precise vocabulary the appraising exam rewards.
9 min answer →

How do you describe melody and motif accurately, and how are melodic ideas developed?

Melody and motif: melodic shape and contour, conjunct and disjunct movement, intervals, phrasing, ornamentation, motifs and motivic development including sequence, inversion and augmentation.
A focused answer to the melody and motif element of AQA A-Level Music, covering melodic shape and contour, conjunct and disjunct movement, intervals, phrasing, ornamentation, motifs and development techniques such as sequence, inversion and augmentation.
8 min answer →

How do you read a score and analyse it under exam conditions?

Reading and analysing scores: clefs, key and time signatures, transposing instruments, score layout, identifying chords and cadences from notation, and applying the musical elements to a printed extract.
A focused answer to the score-reading and analysis skills of AQA A-Level Music, covering clefs, key and time signatures, transposing instruments, score layout, identifying chords and cadences from notation, and applying the musical elements to a printed extract in the exam.
9 min answer →

How do you describe rhythm, metre and tempo accurately in the appraising exam?

Rhythm, metre and tempo: note values, simple and compound time, syncopation, dotted and triplet rhythms, cross-rhythm and polyrhythm, ostinato, rubato and tempo markings.
A focused answer to the rhythm, metre and tempo element of AQA A-Level Music, covering note values, simple and compound time, syncopation, dotted and triplet rhythms, cross-rhythm, ostinato, rubato and tempo markings, with the vocabulary the appraising exam rewards.
8 min answer →

How do I notate a short rhythm by ear for the Section A dictation question?

The Section A rhythmic dictation: notating the rhythm of a short heard passage in staff notation, including compound time, working from the given time signature and pulse to accurate note values.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Music Component 1 rhythmic dictation question, covering how to feel the pulse, count beats in simple and compound time, notate note values accurately in staff notation and check your answer, so you can score the dictation marks in Section A.
12 min answer →

How do you describe sonority, timbre and instrumentation accurately in the appraising exam?

Sonority and instrumentation: timbre and tone colour, the families of the orchestra, playing techniques, voice types, electronic and amplified sounds, and how instrumentation creates colour and effect.
A focused answer to the sonority and instrumentation element of AQA A-Level Music, covering timbre and tone colour, the orchestral families, playing techniques, voice types, electronic and amplified sounds, and how instrumentation creates colour and effect.
8 min answer →

How do you describe musical texture and structure accurately in the appraising exam?

Texture and structure: monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic and heterophonic textures, layering and number of parts, and structural forms including binary, ternary, rondo, sonata, theme and variations, verse-chorus and through-composed.
A focused answer to the texture and structure element of AQA A-Level Music, covering monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic and heterophonic textures, layering, and structural forms including binary, ternary, rondo, sonata, theme and variations and verse-chorus.
8 min answer →

How do I plan and write the 30-mark Section C essay on an area of study?

The Section C essay: choosing one question, building an argument from named works in an area of study, using precise musical detail and context, and structuring an extended response to the level-of-response mark scheme.
A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Music Component 1 Section C essay, covering how to choose the question, plan an argument from named works, use precise musical detail and context, and structure a 30-mark extended response to the level-of-response mark scheme.
12 min answer →