Kinlochleven High School Music Department

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Intermediate Listening Topics/Course Plan

Some of these things should already be revision since we're working towards covering all Access 3 concepts + selected Int 1/2 concepts by the end of S2.

KHS i1: Basics (not a topic as such, but a starting point for discussion)

Compositional Techniques Contexts
Melodic Harmonic Rhythmic Structural Timbre Styles/Forms
  • Ascending
  • Descending
  • Stepwise, Leaping
  • Phrase
  • Question, Answer
  • Chord
  • Discord
  • Faster, Slower
  • Beat/pulse
  • Simple Time: 2/3/4 Beats in the bar
  • On the beat, Off the beat
  • Single line
  • Solo
  • Round
  • Accompanied
  • Unaccompanied
  • Sound/Silence
  • Louder/Softer
  • Striking, Blowing, Bowing, Strumming, Plucking, Slapping
  • Orchestra: Woodwind, Brass, Strings, Percussion
 
       
  • Individual instruments: Orchestra
  • Improvisation

Please note that the Intermediate Listening Concepts have been arranged into topics for teaching purposes in this school only. Many of the concepts apply to a range of musical styles, so a concept's appearance in one topic does not necessarily mean that it is specific to that topic. And some concepts not introduced until later topics could equally well apply to earlier ones, but you can't learn it all at once!

For the official list (not divided into course topics), see SQA Listening Concepts.

KHS i2: From Blues to Pop

Compositional Techniques Contexts
Melodic Harmonic Rhythmic Structural Timbre Styles/Forms
  • Repetition
  • Chord change
  • Repetition
  • Pattern
  • Drum fill
  • Harmony
  • Ostinato/Riff
  • Repetition, Contrast
  • Section
  • Bands: Rock
  • Groups: Pop
  • Instruments: Electric Guitars, Acoustic Guitar
    Drumkit
    Keyboards: Piano, Organ, Synthesiser
  • Voice, Vocal, Lead vocals, Backing vocals
  • Rock
  • Pop
  • Scat singing
  • Chord Progressions using I, IV, V in Major
  • Tonality: Major, Minor
  • Syncopation
  • Chords
  • Walking Bass
  • Middle 8
  • Effects: Bending, Rolls, Distortion, Reverb, Delay
  • Electronic drums
  • Blues
  • Blues scale
  • Chord Progressions using I, IV, V, VI in Major and Minor Keys
   
  • 12-string guitar
  • Slide guitar
  • Fretless bass guitar
  • Boogie-woogie
  • Soul
  • Country

Remember that many of the concepts apply to a range of musical styles.

KHS i3: Scotland

Compositional Techniques Contexts
Melodic Harmonic Rhythmic Structural Timbre Styles/Forms
  • Sequence
 
  • Accented
  • Scotch snap
 
  • Bands: Pipe, Scottish Dance
  • Groups: Folk
  • Instruments: Accordion, Fiddle, Pipes
  • Scottish
  • March
  • Strathspey
  • Reel
  • Waltz
  • Ornament
  • Scales: Pentatonic
  • Vamp
  • Drone
  • Down beat, Up beat
  • Anacrusis
  • Compound time
  • Binary, Ternary
  • AB, ABA, AABA
  • Individual Instruments: Folk, Scottish
  • Ceilidh Band
  • Gaelic Psalms
  • Scots ballad
  • Bothy ballad
  • Waulking song
  • Mouth music
  • Slow air
  • Jig
  • Grace note
 
  • Groupings in Simple and Compound time
  • Triplets
  • Dotted Rhythms
  • Strophic
 
  • Pibroch

Check out Learning and Teaching Scotland's Scottish music modules at http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/nq/resources/musicofscotland/ and note Int 1 'set works' (Scottish Music) from LTS MUSICWORKS DVD 1.

Remember that many of the concepts apply to a range of musical styles.

KHS i4a: Forms, Styles and Techniques (Access 3/Intermediate 1)

Compositional Techniques Contexts
Melodic Harmonic Rhythmic Structural Timbre Styles/Forms
  • Broken chord
  • Chord Change
  • Pause
  • Harmony
  • Unison/Octave
  • Ensemble
  • Sustained, Staccato, Legato
  • Choral
  • Baroque
  • Theme
  • Variation
  • Imitation
  • Scales: Major, Minor, Chromatic
  • Semitone, tone
  • Chord Progressions using I, IV, V in Major
  • Change of key
  • Speed Change: Accelerando, Rallentando, Rubato
  • Chords
  • Arpeggio
  • Descant
  • Contrary Motion
  • Canon
  • Minuet and Trio
  • Rondo
  • Theme and Variations
  • Programme
  • Crescendo, Diminuendo
  • Individual Instruments: Keyboard, String
    Recorders
  • Voices: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
  • Chamber Music
  • Romantic
  • Opera
  • Musical
  • Fanfare
  • Concerto
  • Symphony

Remember that many of the concepts apply to a range of musical styles.

Some key concepts for revision are shown in italics.

KHS i4b: Forms, Styles and Techniques (Intermediate 2)

Compositional Techniques Contexts
Melodic Harmonic Rhythmic Structural Timbre Styles/Forms
  • Modulating
  • Relative major
  • Relative minor
  • Trill
  • Syllabic word setting
  • Melismatic word setting
  • Word painting
  • Interval
  • Chord Progressions using I, IV, V, VI in Major and Minor Keys
  • Modulation
  • Modulation to Relative Minor
  • Perfect Cadence
  • Imperfect Cadence
  • Tierce de Picardie
  • Suspension
  • Passing note
  • Interval
  • Consonance, Dissonance
 
  • Pedal
  • Inverted Pedal
  • Ground Bass
  • Alberti Bass
  • Homophony
  • Polyphony
  • Contrapuntal
  • Obbligato
  • Countermelody
  • Through-composed
  • Coda
  • Cadenza
  • Voices: Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor, Baritone
  • Muted/Con sordino
  • Glissando
  • Double stopping
  • Arco
  • Pizzicato
  • Col legno
  • Tremolando/tremolo
  • Vibrato
  • A capella
  • Register
  • Classical
  • Scherzo
  • Cantata
  • Oratorio
  • Passion
  • Chorale
  • Hymn tune
  • Recitative
  • Aria
  • Chorus

Note Int 2 'set works' by Bernstein (Suite from West Side Story) and Beethoven (Scherzo and Trio from String Quartet in F) from LTS MUSICWORKS DVD 1.

Remember that many of the concepts apply to a range of musical styles.

Some key concepts for revision are shown in italics.

KHS i5: Introduction to World Music

Compositional Techniques Contexts
Melodic Harmonic Rhythmic Structural Timbre Styles/Forms
   
  • Repetition
  • Pattern
 
  • Bands: Steel
  • Latin American
  • Ornament
  • Drone
  • Syncopation
 
  • Pan pipes
  • Ghanaian drum ensemble
  • Gamelan
  • Latin percussion ensemble
  • Ghanaian
  • Indonesian gamelan
  • Improvisation
  • Samba
  • Salsa
   
  • Cross rhythms
 
  • Sitar
  • Tabla
  • Indian

Remember that many of the concepts apply to a range of musical styles.

Some key concepts for revision are shown in italics.

KHS i6: Impressionism and Beyond (new concepts at Intermediate 1/2 only)

Compositional Techniques Contexts
Melodic Harmonic Rhythmic Structural Timbre Styles/Forms
 
  • Discord
       
  • Scales: Pentatonic, Chromatic
  • Semitone, tone
   
  • Cluster
  • Programme
   
  • Tonal
  • Atonal
  • Whole-tone scale
  • Consonance
  • Dissonance
   
  • Flutter tonguing
  • Impressionist
  • Minimalist
  • Aleatoric

Note Int 1 'set work' by Rouse (Ogoun Badagris) from LTS MUSICWORKS DVD 1.

Remember that many of the concepts apply to a range of musical styles.

Some key concepts for revision are shown in italics.

KHS i7: Introduction to Jazz

Compositional Techniques Contexts
Melodic Harmonic Rhythmic Structural Timbre Styles/Forms
     
  • Solo
  • Riff
  • Repetition, Contrast
  • Section
  • Bands: Brass, Wind/Military
  • Groups: Jazz
  • Jazz
  • Scat singing
 
  • Syncopation
  • Walking Bass
  • Middle 8
 
  • Blues
  • Ragtime
  • Swing
  • Improvisation
  • Blues scale
   
  • Polyphony
  • Glissando
  • Pizzicato
  • Dixieland

Remember that many of the concepts apply to a range of musical styles.

Some key concepts for revision are shown in italics.

Higher Listening Topics/Course Plan

KHS h1: The Renaissance Period

Compositional Techniques Contexts
Melodic Harmonic Rhythmic Structural Timbre Styles/Forms
  • Mode
 
  • Augmentation
  • Diminution
  • Antiphonal
  • Consort
  • Renaissance
  • Pavan & Galliard
  • Plainchant
  • Mass
  • Motet
  • Madrigal
  • Anthem
  • Air
  • Chant
  • Ballett

Please note that the Higher Listening Concepts have been arranged into topics for teaching purposes in this school only. Many of the concepts apply to a range of musical styles, so a concept's appearance in one topic does not necessarily mean that it is specific to that topic. And some concepts not introduced until later topics could equally well apply to earlier ones, but you can't learn it all at once!

For the official list (not divided into course topics), see SQA Listening Concepts.

KHS h2: The Baroque Period

Compositional Techniques Contexts
Melodic Harmonic Rhythmic Structural Timbre Styles/Forms
  • Appoggiatura
  • Turn
  • Mordent
  • Plagal cadence
  • Interrupted cadence
  • Hemiola
  • Episode
  • Exposition
  • Subject
  • Countersubject
  • Basso continuo
  • Inversion
  • Tonal answer
  • Real answer
  • Stretto
  • Ritornello
  • Ripieno, Concertino
  • Suite
  • Concerto grosso
  • Chorale prelude
  • Chaconne, Passacaglia
  • Fugue
  • Da capo aria

Note Higher 'set work' by Bach ('In dulci jubilo' from Orgelbuchlein) from LTS MUSICWORKS DVD 1.

Remember that many of the concepts apply to a range of musical styles.

KHS h3: The Classical Period

Compositional Techniques Contexts
Melodic Harmonic Rhythmic Structural Timbre Styles/Forms
  • Harmonic and Melodic minor
  • Acciaccatura
  • Dominant 7th
  • Diminished chord
  • Diminished 7th
  • Three against two
  • Exposition
  • Subject
  • Transition
  • Bridge
  • Sonata form
 
  • Overture
  • Sonata

Note Higher 'set work' by Mozart ('Poco adagio' from Symphony No 36 Linz) from LTS MUSICWORKS DVD 1.

Remember that many of the concepts apply to a range of musical styles.

Some key concepts for revision are shown in italics.

KHS h4: The Romantic Period

Compositional Techniques Contexts
Melodic Harmonic Rhythmic Structural Timbre Styles/Forms
 
  • Augmented chord
  • Added 6th
 
  • Leitmotiv
  • Harmonics
  • Coloratura
  • Nationalist
  • Late Romantic
  • Lied, Song cycle
  • Symphonic/Tone poem

Note Advanced Higher 'set work' by Verdi (Finale from Falstaff) from LTS MUSICWORKS DVD 1.

Remember that many of the concepts apply to a range of musical styles.

KHS h5: The Twentieth Century

Compositional Techniques Contexts
Melodic Harmonic Rhythmic Structural Timbre Styles/Forms
  • Microtone
  • Tritone
  • Tone row
  • Polytonality
  • Time changes
  • Pulse and Beat Irregular metres
  • Inversion
  • Retrograde
  • Sprechgesang
  • Serial
  • Neo-classical
  • Jazz-funk
  • Musique concrète

Note Higher/Advanced Higher 'set works' by Webern ('Sehr schnell' from Variations for Piano), Stravinsky ('Sanctus' from Mass) and Rachmaninov (Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini) from LTS MUSICWORKS DVD 1.

Remember that many of the concepts apply to a range of musical styles.

Some key concepts for revision are shown in italics.

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