The Elmgreen Sixth Form Induction Programme 

 

 

Eduqas A Level Music Welcome to A Level Music! Over the summer it is important for you to brush up on your music theory skills. For A Level Music you need to be really secure with your reading of both treble clef and bass clef staff notation. You also need to know your key signatures and be familiar with the circle of 5ths. This will help you with unit 2 and unit 3 of the course. Lots of practise on your instrument is also essential – you should be practising at least 4 times a week if not every day. Below is a quick breakdown of the A level course. Unit 1 ‐ Performing Music (30%): 6‐8 minute recital. Pieces need to be a minimum of grade 6 standard. You need to attend regular lessons on your chosen instrument and complete regular performance tasks. A final recording of two or more pieces of music will be made in March 2019. Unit 2 – Composing  (30%): Creation of 2 pieces  in  response  to a chosen brief, between  3 – 6 minutes in length combined. This needs to be written using staff notation either by hand or using Sibelius. You also need to complete a composition log describing the musical features in your compositions. Deadline for this is March 2019. Unit 3  ‐ Developing Music Understanding  (40%): A  listening exam,  focusing on your analysis of the 4 set‐works and unfamiliar pieces of music. Also questions on the Area of Study “Rock and pop Music” from 1960 – 2000. The exam will be June 2021. For resources and additional advice:  http://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/music/as‐a‐level 

Summer research work:  Task 1:  Complete the Music theory booklet and hand it in on your first lesson in September 2019.  Task 2:  Practise on your instrument regularly in preparation for a performance of two pieces in September 2018.  Task 3:  Listen to the following pieces of music which will form part of your study next year:  

1. Haydn’s Symphony 104 in D major, ‘London’; Mvts 1 and 2 2. The Beatles’ A Day in the Life   3. Sex Pistols’ Anarchy in the UK 4. Pink Floyd The Great Gig in the Sky 5. September Earth Wind & Fire  6. Temptations’ My Girl 

Listen to the music above and then create a spider diagram commenting on all the elements of music eg. Texture, tonality, sonority (instrumentation), rhythm and metre, harmony, and melody. If you have any question please contact:  Teacher: Mr S Gravett (Music Subject Leader). Email address sgravett@the‐elmgreen‐school.org.uk Please be aware that staff may not be available to respond to emails after Friday 20 July 

Musical Intervals

Complete the table below with at least two melodies that start with each interval.

Interval Distance in

semi-tones

Association

Minor 2nd 1

Major 2nd 2

Minor 3rd 3

Major 3rd 4

Perfect 4th 5 Away in a manger,

Tritone 6

Perfect 5th 7

Minor 6th 8

Major 6th 9

Minor 7th 10

Major 7th 11

Octave 12

Scales and intervals

1. Name the intervals reached for the tonic for a) a major scale b) a melodic minor scale.

a) Major scale (this example: C major)

________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

b) Melodic minor scale (this example: C melodic minor)

ii) Ascending

________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

ii) Descending

________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

2. Which intervals can be found in all three excerpts above? ___________________________________________

Ways of naming notes of a scale

There are many different ways to name the notes of a scale. Here are some examples:

Example for C major:

8 VIII Do C

7 VII Ti B

6 VI La A

5 V So Dominant G

4 IV Fa Sub-dominant F

3 III Mi E

2 II Re D

1 I Doh Tonic C

*You need to know these terms*

The terms Tonic, Sub-dominant and Dominant will crop up numerous times throughout the course. Make sure you know that

they mean the 1st, 4th and 5th note of the scale respectively!

Key point to understand: The Tonic, Sub-dominant and Dominant refers to the 1st, 4th and 5th note of the scale. However,

these words also refer to the chords built upon each note.

Major Scales

Every major scale has the following pattern of tones and semi-tones: T T St T T T sT

Because of where the black notes on the piano are placed, the key of C major uses all the white notes (no sharps or flats):

Use the piano above to work out what flats or sharps are needed for major scales starting on D, E, F, G, A and B, then write

them in. D major has been done for you.

Example: D major: D E F# G A B C# D

a) E major: E F G A B C D E

b) F major: F G A B C D E F

c) G major: G A B C D E F G

d) A major: A B C D E F G A

e) B major: B C D E F G A B

What accidentals do I need for each major scale?

Complete the tables below:

Sharps:

Scale Number of sharps Which are the sharpened

notes?

C major 0 N/A

1

2

3

4

5

Flats:

Scale Number of flats Which are the flattened notes?

C major 0 N/A

1

2

3

4

5

AMDG Name: ....................................................

More on sharps and flats

1. How can we remember the order of sharps / flats that are used?

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

2. If we know what sharps are used, how can we work out the key signature?

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

e.g. ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

3. If we know what flats are used, how can we work out the key signature?

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

e.g. ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Key point to understand: The Tonic, Sub-dominant and Dominant refers to the 1st, 4th and 5th note of the scale. However,

these words also refer to the chords built upon each note.

What is the key?

You need to be able to recognise ear whether music is major or minor. If you have a

notated score, you should also be able to name the key of the piece (e.g. ‘B minor’)

1. When I have music notation, I can use the following tips to work out the key

signature:

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

2. Name the key signature for the following excerpts:

a)

Key signature = .......................................

b)

Key signature = .......................................

c)

Key signature = .......................................

Triads

A triad is made up of three notes: the 1st, 3rd and 5th. For example, a triad on C would be C, E and G. We use roman numerals to

explain what degree of the scale the triad is based on.

1. Complete the following triads on the correct note of the scale. The first 3 have been done for you

a) C major

I II III IV V VI VII

b) Bb major

I II III IV V VI VII

c) B minor

I II III IV V VI VII

Chords

The aim of this task is to find out the ways that different chords can be strung

together to make musical phrases. The choice of chords used and the order they are

played in affects how the music sounds.

What do you think is the difference between a triad and a chord?

Task: Familiarise yourself with the chords below. Take three or four of the

chords and choose an order to play them in. Experiment with different

combinations, and note down which combinations sound particularly good.

For guitarists – use D major:

I II III IV V VI VII

D Em F#m G A Bm C#m°

For pianists – use C major:

I II III IV V VI VII

C Dm Em F G Am B°

Hint: Chords I, IV and V are most common in music. Include one or two in each

combination

Your task: Try out the chpord progressions below and decide which sound the best:

I – V - I I – II – V – I II – V - VI I - IV - VII - I

I – III – VI – I I – IV - V – I V – I – I - IV I - III - II - V

Sequences that sound good Sequences that don’t sound good

Cadences

As you should already know, most Western European music (up until 1900, at least) along with most pop and rock music, is

based around chords.

In the same way that words make up a sentence, chords make up a ‘chord sequence’ or ‘chord progression’.

How the sequence ends is very important. This is called a cadence.

1. Play the following cadences through in a key of your choice.

a) Discuss which cadence

i) sounds like it has returned ‘home’ - perfect

ii) sounds unfinished - imperfect

iii) sounds unexpected - interrupted

iv) sounds like the end of a hymn (“Amen”) - plagal

I – V IV – I V – VI V - I

This sounds ......................... This sounds ......................... This sounds ......................... This sounds .........................

Name of cadence: ...................... Name of cadence: ...................... Name of cadence: ...................... Name of cadence: .....................

Inversions

Task #1: What does the word ‘inverted’ mean? Discuss.

When a chord is played, the lowest note...Chords can be played in many different

ways. Here are some different voicings of the same chord:

All of the versions above will sound slightly different when played, but it is the lowest

note of the chord that really affects how the chord sounds.

We use the terms ‘root position’, ‘1st inversion’ and ‘2nd inversion’ to explain whether

the 1st note of the chord, the 3rd, or the 5th note of the chord is lowest, i.e:

Root position 1st inversion 1st inversion Root position 2nd inversion

It is more common, however, that the lowest note will be in the bass line. This is

what you will have to listen out for in your exam.

The examples below show the chord of C major in root position and with 1st and 2nd

inversion:

Root position 1st inversion 2nd inversion

(C in bass) (E in bass) (G in bass)

Task #2: Two for the following examples are wrong. Cross out the two descriptions

that are wrong and write in the correct description underneath.

2nd inversion Root position 2nd inversion Root position 2nd inversion 1st inversion Root position

Other notes can be in

any combination