Answering Aural Questions-Dynamics and Expressive techniques

1. Answering Aural Questions-Dynamics and Expressive techniques A framework for answering aural questions using the 6 concepts of music.

2. 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!

3. 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.

4. Practice, Practice, Practice • Listen to an excerpt and write down the structure.

5. Dynamics and Expressive Techniques Dynamics? • How loud or soft is the music and how and when does this change? • Does the volume change because a single instrument is played louder or because more instruments are introduced?

6. For each section!! • List the prevailing dynamics and any changes that occur. Are they sudden changes or gradual. • List the performing media and describe any expressive techniques for each instrument. These may include bowing or pizzicato for string instruments, drum rolls or rim shots, accents, legato (smoothly connected notes) or staccato (detached), intonation techniques such as slides, note bending, pitch changes and ornaments such as trills.

7. 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.

8. Unity • Unity refers to anything that is the same or similar. • What aspects of dynamics or expressive techniques are repetitive or consistent?

9. Contrast? • Contrast refers to difference and diversity! • In what ways are dynamics and expressive techniques used to change the music? For example sudden changes in volume or crescendos and decrescendos.

10. Important words • Pianissimo means very soft • Piano means soft • Mezzoforte means moderately loud • Forte means loud • Fortissimo means very loud • Sforzandomeansloud and forcefully • Crescendo means gradually getting louder • Decrescendo means gradually getting softer

11. More important words! • Subitomeans suddenly • Legato means smoothly and well connected • Staccato means detached • Accent means emphasising a note or chord • Vibrato means shaking the sound • Tremelo means quick repetition of the same note • Glissando is a rapid scale played in a sliding motion.

12. Important words for expressive techniques • Strings – arco, pizzicato, col legno, con sordino, double stopping, strum, slap, vibrato and tremelo • Percussion – rolls, rim shots • Brass – mutes to create wahwah type effects • Wind – tonguing, slurs, flutter tonguing • Electronics – distortion, delay, attack, decay IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THESE MEAN LOOK THEM UP!

13. Vocal Techniques! • Some vocal techniques include screaming, laughing, shouting, clicking, gulping, yelping, breathing, screeching, yelling, whispering and panting. • In jazz you might hear bending, slurping, dropping, scat and doinking • A glottal stop is the sudden closure of the wind pipe used in yodeling • Falsetto is a male singing higher than normal range