APPENDIX:
MUSICAL CONCEPTS
(LEVEL A-F)
Concepts new at level F are in bold. Others are included or implied in attainment targets and programmes of study for levels A-E, in the published 5-14 guidelines.
COMPOSITIONAL TECHNIQUES
CONTEXTS
MELODIC
HARMONIC
RHYTHMIC
STRUCTURAL
TIMBRE
STYLES/
FORMS

Ascending
Descending
Stepwise
Leaping
Broken Chord

Repetition
Sequence
Phrase
Question
Answer


Theme
Variation

Imitation
Ornament


Scales:
Pentatonic
Major /minor
Chromatic

Tone
Semitone
Scat singing




Consonance
Dissonance


Notes together

Chord
Chord change
Chord progression using l, lV, V in major

Tonality: major/minor

Modulation


Vamp

Drone



Repetition

Faster/slower
Longer/shorter
Pause

Accented
Beat/pulse

In simple time: 2/3/4 beats in a bar
On/off the beat

Pattern
Drum fill
Scotch snap


Down/up beat
Anacrucis

Compound time


Speed change:
Accelerando
Rallentando
Rubato


Syncopation


Single line
Unison/octave
Harmony

Solo
Ensemble

Ostinato
Rift

Round

Accompanied
Unaccompanied

Repetition/
contrast
Section

Chords, cluster
Arpeggio
Walking bass
Descant
Contrary motion
Canon

Binary, ternary
AB, ABA, ABBA

Rhondo
Minuet and trio

Theme and variations
Programme

Sound, silence

Louder, softer
Sustained, staccato, legato
Striking, blowing, bowing
Strumming, plucking, slapping
Orchestra: woodwind, brass, strings, percussion
Bands: brass, pipe, rock, steel, dance (Scottish), wind/military
Groups: folk, pop, jazz Instruments: guitars (electric, acoustic),
keyboards (piano, organ, synthesiser), fiddle, drums, pipes, voice
Vocal: choral, lead vocals, backing vocals
Individual orchestral instruments
Recorders, pan pipes

Voices: soprano, alto, tenor, bass

Effects: distortion, reverb, delay

Electronic drums

Ghanaian drum ensemble
Ghamelan
Latin percussion
ensemble


Scottish
Folk

Jazz
Blues
Dixieland, Ragtime, swing, boogie woogie

Baroque
Romantic
Rock/pop

March, strathspey, reel, waltz


Latin American

Opera/ musical
Fanfare
Concerto, symphony
Psalms

Scots ballad, bothy ballad
Pibroch, waulking song, mouth music
Ghanian
Indonesian gamelan

Improvisation
Jig
Samba, salsa



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© The Scottish Office Education and Industry Department, February 1999