Choosing elements and comparing music
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can choose which elements to focus on in a musical description and can write an effective musical comparison.
Key learning points
- The way we structure a description is dependent on the question.
- If the question is linked to a particular style or context, every point must link to that.
- If the question is linked to a musical purpose (e.g. depicting a specific scene) every point should link to that.
- If it is a comparison, every feature that is described should be compared to the other clip.
- Being concise, making only relevant points and using technical vocabulary are also key to effective responses.
Keywords
Musical element - the building blocks of music which include rhythm, melody, harmony, structure and others
Musical purpose - what the piece of music is trying to achieve; this could be to represent something, encourage an action or to create a mood or emotion
Common misconception
Choosing elements to discuss is just a case of thinking of the easiest ones to talk about.
While this might seem like the best option, it is more important that you choose elements that are relevant to the question. Remember, always link your points back to the purpose of the music, or to the style that they are part of.
Teacher tip
The strategies for answering questions in this lesson are effective, but there are other strategies. If your pupils/class/school have already learnt an effective strategy for planning long-form questions, use the principles outlined in this lesson to help pupils enhance and refine their planning.
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