Edexcel As Music, listening.......... ahhh Options

[talierama]

Is it just me or is the listening and analysing paper in AS music really difficult??? I can't get to grips with the some of the listening questions like aural recogniation and comparison of performances. Plus how on earth do you revise all the effects and key terms for music for large ensemble??

Does anyone have any tips????

[nicki_flute]

I empathise (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

For the aural part you have to keep practicing cadences/keys/chords. It is hard, but practice makes perfect. But saying that I'm really unconfident with the A2 listening paper this year.

Comparison of performances - look a lots of mark schemes and see what they look for. State the obvious. It sounds stupid but sometimes you can get marks for stating instruments. Try and do as my papers as possible.

[guilmant]

Tips from a teacher and marker!

Listening: the comparison of performances there are lots of correct answers to the last question about commenting on differences. Remember to compare features, as sometimes a statement about each gets a mark for each, e.g. Performance A is homophonic, Performance B is meldoy and accomp etc. Also, be specific, eg perf A is faster at the start/end/middle whatever.

For the analysis, I get my pupils to list each feature on a post-it note and stick to the music. Then, on a sep piece of paper write out a concise and succinct definition for each one. Now that most of the questions have been repeated at some point already over the last 6 years, the edexcel mark schemes provide very concise meanings. Failing that, the rhinegold dictionary of music is good, but a little wordy. Usually the first couple of sentences make sense.

Best piece of advice, you'll only learn where the features are through constant listening with the music in front of you. Once a week after you've covered each set work is a minimum.

Hope thats helpful.

[talierama]

Thanks very much, where do i find edexcel's old mark scemes and are there any past papers which are on the internet which i could practise on??

[nicki_flute]

Guilmant - do you have any tips for A2 students?

Talierema - your teacher should have some.

[guilmant]

Rather disappointingly, I thought the mark schemes would be on the website, but they're not. The examiners reports are and they do make some reference to the definitions. Try

http://www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/gce/music-mt/adv/9501

Your teacher will have past papers, again sadly edexcel don't put them on the website. You can order them from edexcel (at a cost), but they aren't allowed to sell the cds, which is a bit useless for the listening. Rhinegold do some very good practice questions and you can buy a cd from them.

As for A2, use the time wisely. Question 1 shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes and it should be a good confidence builder at the start. I advise my students to do Q3 next, as half the marks for the exam are on that question. Listen to it once all the way through just following the music and listening, it gives you a much better overall view of the piece. I'll admit its a difficult exam (its supposed to be, its A2), but by not panicking, you shouldn't run out of time. Rhinegold do practice papers for the A2 as well, two books, so if you haven't done them in class, you can do them at home.

[Manek]

Lol...

I have my AS Music listening paper in a couple of weeks... Although I find it easy!

The one I find hard is the Anthology paper, where you have to answer questions on the pieces you've studied in class...

[nicki_flute]

Rather disappointingly, I thought the mark schemes would be on the website, but they're not. The examiners reports are and they do make some reference to the definitions. Try

http://www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/gce/music-mt/adv/9501

Your teacher will have past papers, again sadly edexcel don't put them on the website. You can order them from edexcel (at a cost), but they aren't allowed to sell the cds, which is a bit useless for the listening. Rhinegold do some very good practice questions and you can buy a cd from them.

As for A2, use the time wisely. Question 1 shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes and it should be a good confidence builder at the start. I advise my students to do Q3 next, as half the marks for the exam are on that question. Listen to it once all the way through just following the music and listening, it gives you a much better overall view of the piece. I'll admit its a difficult exam (its supposed to be, its A2), but by not panicking, you shouldn't run out of time. Rhinegold do practice papers for the A2 as well, two books, so if you haven't done them in class, you can do them at home.

Thanks, yes Edexcel are rubbish for past papers and markschemes.

I have some past papers and markschemes, but the written paper *touch wood* should be much better than the listening paper.

Is q3 the aural perception one, which I can't actually do.

I do have the Rhinegold listening tests, and would love more, but at £25 per CD and £9 (!?) per book, it gets rather expensive.

How do you go about revising composers etc?

The thing is, I always look for the complex things in the comparisons question...

ARGH. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[cellocase]

I hate the comparison question. You get two incredibly different pieces to listen to, and then it says "Name the differences". I always end up sitting there, thinking "Well - where do I start?!"
And then I miss out all the obvious things, etc, etc....
Oh dear!

The other thing I just can't get to grips with is identifying types of voices. I don't know why, I just can't hear the differences, and I end up working it out from the range rather than the type of voice, and even then I'm usually wrong! Any hints?

I'm generally okay on the listening - melodic dictation etc is much easier with perfect pitch (though the last question is still hard!).

As for anthology, I hate the essays, or, rather "essays", but I do find it pretty easy to get most of the marks just by rambling. You don't need quality writing, just lots of points!

[Manek]

For anybody who's done last year's Edexcel listening test... How hard was that question with the Irish singer??

[nicki_flute]

For anybody who's done last year's Edexcel listening test... How hard was that question with the Irish singer??

I know!

I had NO idea what it was (bear in mind this was my actual AS exam)

If you want to know, it's a song from Guys and Dolls - musical. But, I didn't even think of that.

For the anthology paper - use bullet points - saves SO much time, and good for making sure you don't waffle.

For A2 anthology paper you have to write 5 essays in 2 hours...rahhhhhhhh.

I give up.

[Manek]

I know - my teacher told me was from Guys and Dolls afterwards...

Doesn't sound anything like stage music to me!

Question "What kinda of Voice is this?" I put "Irish"... "Name the Original Composer" - "Anon"...


It was impossible!

[nicki_flute]

I can't remember what I put, apart from my answers were wayyy out.

Was one of the questions how you could tell it was Irish?

[BBTOTW]

I did last year's paper the other day and got 6 1/2 out of12 for that question... How were you supposed to know it was from a musical?

[nicki_flute]

I did last year's paper the other day and got 6 1/2 out of12 for that question... How were you supposed to know it was from a musical?

I have no idea. I don't know anyone who got good marks for it, unless they knew the song!