Music

Music – How to get an A / A*

Performance

·  Performance confident & fluent with good technical control and is appropriate to the demand of the music.

·  Intonation & tone production are good.

·  Demonstrates mastery of the instrument.

·   Performance has a clear direction.

·   Phrases are well shaped.

·   Good attention to articulation, dynamics and conventions appropriate to the style.

·   Outcome is convincing.

·   High level of stylistic understanding.

·   Sensitive to their role in the group, makes appropriate adjustments to their part to meet the demands of coordination & balance.

·  Taking the lead where appropriate.

·  Positive & stylish contribution is made to the outcome.

·  Demonstrates empathy with the other performer(s).

·  Makes a powerful contribution to the impact of the performance.

Composition

·  Imaginative musical ideas – conceived through the effective combination of all the musical elements appropriate to the style.

·  Development using a range of compositional techniques.

·  Demonstrates good understanding of stylistic & structural conventions.

·  Highly imaginative & original musical ideas – demonstrate high level of understanding.

·  Advanced compositional techniques applied in a craftsman like way.

·  Structural framework supports the impact of the piece.

Commentary

·         Musical insights into the use of the instrument in the piece in relation to its context.

·         Subtleties of a range of performing techniques are described.

·         Evaluation of the performance shows musical understanding.

·         Composition brief shows that musical decisions have been made about the techniques to be used.

·         Commentary is written accurately & precisely using a wide range of technical language confidently.

·         Spelling, punctuation & grammar are correct.

Log & Evaluation

·         Intention is musically conceived and detailed.

·         Log demonstrates understanding of the musical impact of the piece as it progresses.

·         Evaluation provides perceptive insights relating to the effectiveness of the outcome.

Creative Task

·   Piece communicated musically & stylishly.

·  Recorded outcomes contain musical shaping, articulation & dynamic shading that are appropriate to the resource & style.

·   Performance is confident – very good technical control.

· Written outcomes clearly show how the piece is performed.

·   Musically conceived dynamics & marks of articulation.

·  Piece communicated in a way that shows consistently mature insights into the musical impact of the composition.

·   Recorded outcomes are flawless.

·   Written outcomes show a level of detail appropriate to the musical style throughout.

·   Musical devices and structure are clear.

Listening

General Advice

1.     Never leave gaps or unanswered questions.

2.    All the 1 mark questions add up and can be the difference between one grade and another.

3.    Multiple choice questions are generally 1 in 4, if you are unsure attempt it because the right answer is one of them.

Power words

Find these in the question and ensure that you use your knowledge in the right way.

·  Suggest – Give a possible feature based on what you can hear. This may not be present but your answer is based on some knowledge of the style.

·  Give – Write a straight to the point, exact answer for 1 mark.

·  Describe – Use adjectives and musical terms to give some more detail.

·  Explain – Use musical terms with description and precise evidence from the piece you are listening to in order to give full answer. Generally high mark questions.

·  Compare/Differences/Similarities – Always involving 2 extracts. Whatever musical feature you focus on mention both extracts highlighting something the same or something opposite. Generally high mark questions.

·  Features – Musical things that are happening in the piece. It could require a keyword or a description. This word is used in lots of questions. Don’t over think this or look for something complicated.

Specific Question Types

1.  Describe Question – Descriptive/Film Music

The best approach is to imagine the scene that is given and, listening to the music, link the music’s features to the elements/images/objects/movements/moods in the scene.

Always mention a musical feature linked to something in the scene.

Talk about how combinations of musical features create particular parts of the scene.

Make reference to any musical features you are guided to in the question, for example instruments, rhythm, melody, texture, or tempo.

2.  Comparison Questions

Always mention both extracts when making a point. Never think that an answer is too simple, it is probably right.

If given focus on the Musical Feature you are directed but again always mention both extracts.

3.    Score Questions

When filling in notes listen for obvious shapes e.g. Scales, Sequences, Arpeggios, Repetition.

Always use the rhythm above the stave.

Always attempt this as any shapes/notes/direction that shows understanding will be credited.

When looking for articulation/expression/decoration, listen for things that are extra from the notes written. Follow the melody note by note.

When listening for cadences think about the logical places for these to happen, the end of a phrase or section.