3.1 Appraising music
The areas of study provide an appropriate focus for students to appraise, develop and demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of musical elements, musical contexts and musical language. The areas of study can also provide a rich source of material for your students to work with when developing performance and composition skills.
There are seven areas of study:
- Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (compulsory)
- Pop music
- Music for media
- Music for theatre
- Jazz
- Contemporary traditional music
- Art music since 1910.
Students must study Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 and choose two from Areas of study 2–7.
Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (compulsory)
For the purposes of this specification, the western classical tradition is defined as art music of (or growing out of) the European tradition, normally notated, and normally intended for public performance.
There are three strands of music represented which cover three key genres:
- Baroque: the solo concerto
- Classical: the operas of Mozart
- Romantic: the piano music of Chopin, Brahms and Grieg.
Listening – unfamiliar music
Students must be able to listen attentively to unfamiliar music from each of the three strands to identify and accurately describe musical elements and use musical language (including staff notation).
Analysis and contextual understanding – set works
For two of the selected strands, students must also be able to critically appraise music through analysing excerpts from the set works using knowledge and understanding of:
- the effect of audience, time and place on how the set works were created, developed and performed
- how and why the music across the selected strand is different
- how the composer’s purpose and intention for the set works is reflected in their use of musical elements
- relevant musical vocabulary and terminology for the set works
- the complex interdependencies between musical elements
- the sophisticated connections between music and its context.
Strand A: Baroque solo concerto
Composer |
Set works |
---|---|
Purcell |
Sonata for trumpet and strings in D major Z.850 (complete) |
Vivaldi |
Flute concerto in D Il Gardellino op.10 no.3 RV428 (complete) |
Bach |
Violin concerto in A minor BWV1041 (complete) |
Strand B: The operas of Mozart
Composer |
Set works |
---|---|
Mozart |
Le Nozze di Figaro k.492: Act 1, focusing on:
|
Strand C: The piano music of Chopin, Brahms and Grieg
Composer |
Set works |
---|---|
Chopin |
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Brahms |
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Grieg |
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The edition and any translation used are at the discretion of the teacher and student. However we will name the editions used for the exam at aqa.org.uk/music.
Musical elements
Students must be able to use knowledge and understanding of the following musical elements when appraising music from this Area of study.
The following table contains all the musical elements, for this area of study, that students must know and understand, to answer questions in section A (Listening) and section B (Analysis and Contextual understanding) of the exam. Marks will also be awarded for knowledge of other terms, if relevant to this area of study, in section B (Analysis and Contextual understanding) of the exam.
Element type |
Element |
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Melody |
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Harmony |
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Tonality |
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Structure |
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Sonority (Timbre) |
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Texture |
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Tempo, metre and rhythm |
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Dynamics and articulation |
|
Musical language
Students must be able to use musical language appropriate to this Area of study in the following ways:
Reading staff notation
Students must be able to identify musical elements (as above) when reading staff notation.
For unfamiliar music, students must be able to read short passages of a minimum of four bars and a maximum of eight bars.
For familiar music, students must be able to read approximately two pages of music score.
Writing staff notation
Students must be able to:- write melodic notation in all keys within short passages of music of a minimum of four bars and a maximum of eight bars
- write rhythmic notation, including compound time within short passages of a minimum of four bars and a maximum of eight bars.
Chords
Students must learn standard and extended chords, including chord inversions and secondary dominant 7ths, and be able to identify them in aural and written form. Examples of relevant types of chords can be found in the Musical elements.
Musical vocabulary and terminology
Students must be able to identify and apply appropriate musical vocabulary and terminology to both music heard and notated. The appropriate vocabulary and terminology required can be found in the tables appropriate to the student's selected area of study.
Areas of study 2–7
Students must choose two areas of study from the following:
2. Pop music
3. Music for media
4. Music for theatre
5. Jazz
6. Contemporary traditional music
7. Art music since 1910.
Listening – unfamiliar music
Students must be able to listen attentively to unfamiliar music from all the named artists/composers in their selected areas of study to identify and accurately describe musical elements and use musical language (including staff notation).
Analysis and Contextual understanding
For three of the named artists/composers from each of their selected areas of study, students must be able to appraise music and make critical judgements, using knowledge and understanding of:- how the artists’/composers’ use of musical elements for at least two published works reflects the style of the genre and their purpose and intentions for the work
- how the style of the artists’/composers’ music has varied over time through comparison of published works
- musical vocabulary and terminology relevant to the work and area of study.
Selection of the published works for each named artist/composer is at the discretion of the teacher and student. However, the works must be in the public domain such that they are easily accessible to examiners.
Area of study 2: Pop music
For the purpose of this specification, pop music is defined as popular mainstream music derived from and including a number of musical genres including rock, funk and R&B from 1960 to the present.
Named artists
- Stevie Wonder
- Joni Mitchell
- Muse
- Beyoncé
- Daft Punk
- Labrinth
Musical elements
The following table contains all the musical elements, for this area of study, that students must know and understand to answer questions in section A (Listening) and section C (Essay) of the exam. Marks will also be awarded for knowledge of other terms, if relevant to this area of study, in section C (Essay) of the exam.
Element type |
Element |
---|---|
Melody |
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Harmony |
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Tonality |
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Structure |
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Sonority (Timbre) |
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Texture |
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Tempo, metre and rhythm |
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Dynamics and articulation |
|
Area of study 3: Music for media
For the purpose of this specification, music for media is defined as music specifically composed for film, television and gaming from 1958 to the present.
Named composers
- Bernard Herrmann
- Hans Zimmer
- Michael Giacchino
- Thomas Newman
- Nobuo Uematsu
Musical elements
The following table contains all the musical elements, for this area of study, that students must know and understand to answer questions in section A (Listening) and section C (Essay) of the exam. Marks will also be awarded for knowledge of other terms, if relevant to this area of study, in section C (Essay) of the exam.
Element type |
Element |
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Melody |
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Harmony |
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Tonality |
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Structure |
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Sonority (Timbre) |
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Texture |
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Tempo, metre and rhythm |
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Area of study 4: Music for theatre
For the purpose of this specification, music for theatre is defined as music composed to govern, enhance or support a theatrical conception from 1925 to the present.
Named composers
- Kurt Weill
- Richard Rodgers
- Stephen Sondheim
- Claude-Michel Schönberg
- Jason Robert Brown
Musical elements
The following table contains all the musical elements, for this area of study, that students must know and understand to answer questions in section A (Listening) and section C (Essay) of the exam. Marks will also be awarded for knowledge of other terms, if relevant to this area of study, in section C (Essay) of the exam.
Element type |
Element |
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Melody |
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Harmony |
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Structure |
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Sonority (Timbre) |
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Texture |
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Tempo, metre and rhythm |
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Area of study 5: Jazz
For the purpose of this specification, jazz is defined as a style of music characterised by a strong but flexible rhythmic understructure with solo and ensemble improvisations on basic tunes and chord patterns and a highly sophisticated harmonic idiom from 1920 to the present.
Named artists
- Louis Armstrong
- Duke Ellington
- Charlie Parker
- Miles Davis
- Pat Metheny
- Gwilym Simcock
Musical elements
The following table contains all the musical elements, for this area of study, that students must know and understand to answer questions in section A (Listening) and section C (Essay) of the exam. Marks will also be awarded for knowledge of other terms, if relevant to this area of study, in section C (Essay) of the exam.
Element type |
Element |
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Melody |
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Harmony |
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Tonality |
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Structure |
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Sonority (Timbre) |
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Texture |
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Tempo, metre and rhythm |
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Area of study 6: Contemporary traditional music
For the purpose of this specification, contemporary traditional music is defined as music influenced by traditional musical features fused with contemporary elements and styles.
Named artists
- Astor Piazzolla
- Toumani Diabaté
- Anoushka Shankar
- Mariza
- Bellowhead
Musical elements
The following table contains all the musical elements, for this area of study, that students must know and understand to answer questions in section A (Listening) and section C (Essay) of the exam. Marks will also be awarded for knowledge of other terms, if relevant to this area of study, in section C (Essay) of the exam.
Element type |
Element |
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Melody |
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Harmony |
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Tonality |
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Structure |
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Sonority (Timbre) |
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Texture |
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Tempo, metre and rhythm |
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Area of study 7: Art music since 1910
For the purpose of this specification art music since 1910 is defined as music that comprises modern, contemporary classical, electronic art, experimental and minimalist music as well as other forms.
Named composers
- Dmitri Shostakovich
- Olivier Messiaen
- Steve Reich
- James MacMillan
Musical elements
The following table contains all the musical elements, for this area of study, that students must know and understand to answer questions in section A (Listening) and section C (Essay) of the exam. Marks will also be awarded for knowledge of other terms, if relevant to this area of study, in section C (Essay) of the exam.
Element type |
Element |
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Melody |
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Harmony |
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Tonality |
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Structure |
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Sonority (Timbre) |
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Texture |
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Tempo, metre and rhythm |
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Musical language: Areas of study 2-7
Students must be able to use musical language appropriate to their selected area of study, in the following ways:
Reading staff notation
Students must be able to identify musical elements relevant to their selected area of study (as above) when reading staff notation.
For unfamiliar music, students must be able to read short passages of up to eight bars.
For familiar music, students must be able to read extended passages of score of approximately two pages.
Chords and their associated chord symbols
Students must learn standard and extended chords, including chord inversions and secondary dominant 7ths and their associated symbols, and be able to identify them in aural and written form. The specific types of chords and symbols can be found in the tables relevant to the student's selected area of study.
Musical vocabulary and terminology
Students must be able to identify and apply appropriate musical vocabulary and terminology to both music heard and notated. The appropriate vocabulary and terminology required can be found in the tables appropriate to the student's selected area of study.