ACO SCHOOLS RESOURCES MUSICOLOGY & AURAL

The orchestra performs all around Australia and the world. "The energy and vibe of a rock band with the ability of a crack classical chamber group." Washington Post Its unique programming spans popular masterworks and adventurous cross-artform projects. Check out this video about our project The Reef https://vimeo.com/175661017 Outstanding Australian violinist Richard Tognetti has been at the helm of the ACO since 1989. He’s an enthusiastic surfer and skier and loves pushing the boundaries of classical music

Musicology & Aural Skills In this series of lessons, we’re going to be building our aural and musicology skills through: rhythm dictation melodic dictation transposition This series of lessons assumes a working knowledge of intervals.

Rhythmic Dictation We’re going to use the opening theme of Haydn’s Symphony No. 27 to begin our rhythm dictation. You can apply these concepts and activities to all of our concert programs, just pick a piece to use for your rhythmic dictation. Here’s a YouTube link to a performance. Listen to the violin part in the opening 10 bars (the first 15 seconds of the video). ACTIVITY 1. Notate the rhythm of the first violin in percussion clef. The first violin plays the melody. Hint: be sure to distinguish it from the second violin, which has running semiquavers. Here’s a little help to get you started – it’s in 4/4 and the first note in a minim.

What do you need to work on? Rhythmic Dictation Here’s the Rhythm of the opening: How did you do? How can you improve? What do you need to work on?

Melodic Dictation Now we have the RHYTHM of the opening section, let’s try and get the pitch. Let’s move on to MELODIC DICTATION ACTIVITY 2 Notate the pitch of the first violin (the melody) in the opening 10 bars.

Melodic Dictation Does the melody move in steps, or leaps? If it moves in leaps, can you identify an interval? Does the melody outline a chord? 4. Individually or as a class, notate the melody in the first violins. Your teacher will guide you through this section.

Melodic Dictation ACTIVITY 3 Here’s the melody in the first violins. 1. How did you do? 2. Where can you improve? 3. What do you need to work on?

Transposition If you are conducting an ensemble, or reading a score in an exam, you need to be able to transpose from the written pitch to the concert pitch. This is called TRANSPOSITION. Some instruments are in the key of C, such as flute or violin. This means, that if these instruments play a C that it would sound as a C on the piano. Some instruments are in the key of Bb, such as the trumpet or clarinet. This means, that if these instruments play a C, it comes out as a Bb on the piano. Instruments can be in other keys, such as the alto saxophone in Eb or a french horn in F.

Transposition ACTIVITY 4 1. If a violin were to play this part, what pitches would sound? Discuss this as a class or notate the new part, as directed by your teacher. 2. If a trumpet were to play this part, what pitches would sound? Discuss this as a class or notate the new part, as directed by your teacher. 3. If a french horn in F were to play this part, what pitches would sound? Discuss this as a class or notate the new part, as directed by your teacher.

Transposition ACTIVITY 5 Instruments out This time, it is your job to transpose. Try playing this Melody a tone higher, then a tone lower. You could even try more difficult transpositions such as a minor third or perfect fourth, for the alto saxophone or french horn, respectively.

At The Concert In the concert you will hear Haydn’s Symphony No. 27, which we have listened to and notated. Listen to Bach’s Partita no. 3 in E major (or another piece in the program) What do you notice about the rhythm? Hint: Sometimes, the greatest works of works can be the most uncomplicated. Enjoy the concert!