Answering Aural Questions A framework for answering aural questions using the 6 concepts of music.

Answer the question Read the question carefully and take careful note of key words. Which of the concepts are involved? Words like unity, contrast and interest!

Structure, Structure, Structure On first listen work out the structure of the excerpt. This gives you the opportunity to answer with reference to a number of sections and fills out your answer. Use dot points or short sentences with one idea per point or sentence.

Practice, Practice, Practice Listen to an excerpt and write down the structure. Duration Tempo and Metre? What is the tempo marking overall? (use musical terms if possible eg largo, lento, andante, adagio, moderato, allegro, vivace, presto)

Duration Does the tempo change or remain constant? Describe any changes and where they happen What is the time signature? Does the time signature change (multimetre)? If so describe where. Describe the beat! Is it steady, strong, indefinite, is it a backbeat (accents on 2 and 4)

For each section!! How many bars in this section? Describe the rhythm. Is it animated, lively, free, slow and ponderous, rigid and march like? What instruments create the rhythm? Describe the use of note values (long, short, dotted etc)

For each section (cont.) Does the excerpt use syncopation? http://www.thefreedictionary.com/syncopation Does the excerpt use Ostinato? http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ostinato Does the excerpt use polyrhythms? http://www.thefreedictionary.com/polyrhythms

For each section (cont.) Does the excerpt use imitation? http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Imitation+(music) Finally! Describe and notate the main rhythms in this section. http://www.musictheory.net/ http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/rhythmDict.html

Repeat the process!! Now repeat the questions for any other sections in the except. For classical music this might mean ABA or rondo form. For popular music this might mean verse/chorus.

Unity Unity refers to anything that is the same or similar. Listen for all the duration elements that are constant, such as constant tempo, constant metre, even pulse and repetitive ostinato patterns. Are the rhythms mostly dotted throughout the excerpt or are they mostly long note values. Write about anything that is similar or constant. Is there a rhythmic fragment that is imitated and repeated?

Contrast? Contrast refers to difference and diversity! Listen for all the duration elements that change like time signature, tempo (accelerando and ritardando). Are new rhythm patterns introduced? Examine the different rhythms between the different instruments. Are there pauses or silences? Are there any changes or surprises.

Important words Rhythm refers to patterns of long and short sounds. Rhythm involves the grouping and organisation of sounds and how long and short notes are arranged. Beat is the main time unit of a composition. A beat occurs on a strong accent. If you clap along in time with music, you are clapping the beat.

more important words! Pulse refers to the underlying pattern of strong beats. Pulse is very similar in meaning to “beat”. Metre is the way beats are grouped together and measured. Beats are arranged into bars with the same number of beats in each bar. A time signature is used to show how many beats are in each bar and the duration of each beat..

And more important words! Bar means a group of beats, separated by bar lines. The first beat is usually accented, which means that it is emphasised or stressed. Usually there is the same number of beats in each bar (but not always!). Anacrusis is a note or notes occurring before the first beat of the first bar of a composition. The notes in an anacrusis form an incomplete bar and the their value is subtracted from the final bar of the piece. It is also called an upbeat.