MUSIC THEORY: from 1 January 2018
ABRSM Music T h eory exams are available for Grades 1–8. Candidates may be entered for any grade irrespective of age and without previously having taken any other grade. T h e full syllabus is available at /theory.
About Music T h eory
Developing musical literacy forms a key part of a rounded education for performers, compors and listeners of all kinds. An understanding of how written symbols relate to the elements of music, and having the skills to interpret and translate them into sounds, empowers us to communicate and experience music in a meaningful way. Music theory is a very practical subject that is completely entwined with performance and composition.
ABRSM’s Music T h eory exams give students:
•a knowledge of the notation of western music, including commonly ud signs and terminol o gy
•a n understanding of fundamental musical elements such as intervals, keys, scales and chords
•an ability to apply theoretical knowledge and understanding to score analysis
•skills in harmonic completion of extracts and melody writing (at Grades 6–8) Candidates are assd on their ability to identify, u and manipulate musical symbols, to complete extracts and to answer questions relating to the elements of music according to the parameters detailed in the full syllabus at /theory.
Grade 5 as a prerequisite
雨脚如麻未断绝We believe that a thorough understanding of the elements of music is esntial for a full and satisfying performance at the higher grades.
A longstanding ABRSM requirement is that candidates must pass Grade 5 or above in Music T h eory (or in Practical Musicianship or any solo Jazz instrument) before they can enter for Grades 6, 7 or 8 Practical exams.
Marking scheme
孕妇能不能吃火龙果T h eory exams are marked out of a total of 100, with 66 marks required for a Pass, 80 for a Merit and 90 for a Distinction. T h e marking criteria for T h eory exams are available at / theorymarkingcriteria.
1 N ote values of mibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver and miquaver, and their equivalent rests
(candidates may u the terms ‘whole note’, ‘half note’, etc.). Tied notes. Single-dotted notes and rests.
2 Simple time signatures of 243444 , bar-lines and the grouping of the notes listed above within the times.
3 T h e stave. Treble (G) and bass (F) clefs. Names of notes on the stave, including middle C in both clefs.
Sharp, flat and natural signs, and their cancellation.
4 Construction of the major scale, including the position of the tones and mitones. Scales and key
signa t ures of the major keys of C, G, D and F in both clefs, with their tonic triads (root position), degrees (num b er only), and intervals above the tonic (by number only).
5 Some frequently ud terms and signs concerning tempo, dynamics, performance directions and
articula t ion marks. Simple questions will be asked about a melody written in either treble or bass clef.
As in Grade 1, with the addition of:
1 Simple time signatures of 22324238and the grouping of notes and rests within the times. Triplets, and
triplet note groups with rests.红楼梦原名
2 Extension of the stave to include two ledger lines below and above each stave.
3 Construction of the minor scale (harmonic or melodic at candidate’s choice, but candidates will be
expected to know which form they are using). Scales and key signatures of the major keys of A, B b and E b, and the minor keys of A, E and D, with their tonic triads (root position), degrees (number only), and intervals above the tonic (by number only).
4 More terms and signs in common u.
As in preceding grades, with the addition of:
1 Compound time signatures of 6898182and the grouping of notes and rests within the times. T h e
demimiquaver (32nd note) and its equivalent rest.
2 Extension of the stave beyond two ledger lines. T h e transposition of a simple melody from the treble clef
to the bass clef, or vice versa, at the octave.
3 Scales and key signatures of all major and minor keys up to and including four sharps and flats, including
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both harmonic and melodic forms of minor scales, with their tonic triads (root position), degrees (number only), and intervals above the tonic (number and type).
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4 More terms and signs. T h e simple questions about a melody may include one on its phra structure.
As in preceding grades, with the addition of:
1 All simple and compound duple, triple and quadruple time signatures, and the grouping of notes and
rests within the times. T h e breve and its equivalent rest. Double-dotted notes and rests. Duplets.
2 Alto clef (C clef centred on 3rd line). T h e identification of notes in the alto clef in any of the keys t for
this grade (e below), and the transcription at the same pitch of a simple melody from the treble or the bass clef to the alto clef, and vice versa. Double sharp and double flat signs, and their cancellation.
Enharmonic equivalents.
3 Scales and key signatures of all major and minor keys up to and including five sharps and flats, with both
大杨杨forms of minor scales. Technical names for the notes of the diatonic scale (tonic, supertonic, etc.).
Construction of the chromatic scale. All intervals, not exceeding an octave, between any two diatonic notes in any of the keys t for this grade.
4 T h e identification and writing of triads (root position) on the tonic, subdominant and dominant notes in
any of the keys t for this grade. T h e recognition of 53 (root position) chords on the tonic, sub- dominant and dominant notes in any of the keys t for this grade (the harmonic form of the scale will be ud in minor keys).
5 More terms and signs, including the recognition and naming (but not writing out) of the trill, turn, upper
and lower mordent, acciaccatura and appoggiatura. Questions about a passage of music will include sim p le related questions about standard orchestral instruments.
As in preceding grades, with the addition of:
1 Irregular time signatures of 54745878and the grouping of notes and rests within the times. Irregu l ar
divi s ions of simple time values.
2 Tenor clef (C clef centred on 4th line). T h e identification of notes in the four clefs in any of the keys t
for this grade (e below), and the transposition at the octave of a simple melody from any clef to another.
T h e writing at concert pitch of a melody notated for an instrument in B b, A or F, and vice versa (the interval of transposition up or down will be given).
3 Scales and key signatures of all major and minor keys up to and including six sharps and flats. All simple
and compound intervals from any note.
杨梅酒4 T h e identification of the 53 63 and 64forms of the tonic, supertonic, subdominant and dominant chords
in any of the keys t for this grade. T h e identification of the progression 6453(Ic-V) on the dominant note in any of the keys t for this grade. T h e choice of suitable chords at cadential points of a simple melody in the major key of C, G, D or F.
5 More terms and signs. T h e recognition of ornaments, including the replacement of written-out
ornamen t ation with the appropriate signs, but not vice versa. Questions about a passage of music written for voices or instruments appropriate to the grade will include questions on the types of voice and names of instru m ents, the clefs they u, instrument family groups and the basic way by which they produce sound, as well as points of general musical obrvation designed to test the candidate’s ability to apply theoretical knowledge to actual music.
As in preceding grades. T h e harmonic vocabulary expected will include: the u of 5363 and 64 chords on any degree of the major or minor (harmonic and melodic) scale; the recognition of the dominant venth chord in root position, first, cond and third inversions, and the supertonic venth chord in root position and first inversion, in any major or minor key; and the figuring for all the chords. An understanding of the principles of modulation and a knowledge of cadences, ornamentation and melodic decoration (which might include passing notes, auxiliary notes, appoggiaturas, changing notes and notes of anticipation) will also be expected. Questions will cover:
1 Writing specified chords for voices in four parts or for keyboard (at the candidate’s choice) above a given
bass part of about four bars.
2 T h e indication of suitable chords for the accompaniment of a diatonic melody of about eight bars in any
key, using any recognized method of notation, or, at the candidate’s choice, the provision of a bass to a given melody, adding figures to indicate the intended harmonies.
3 Composition of a melody for a specified instrument (a choice will be given), using a given opening.
Modulation to the dominant, subdominant, relative major or relative minor may be required.
4 Questions on short extracts of music written for piano or in open score for voices or for any com b ination
of instruments and/or voices, designed to test the candidate’s knowledge of the elements and notation of music, including the realization of ornaments, the identification and notation of underlying harmonic struc t ure, phra structure, style, performance, and on the voices and i nstruments for which the works were written.
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As in preceding grades, with the addition of recognition of all diatonic condary venth chords and their inversions, the Neapolitan sixth and the diminished venth chords, and of all figures c ommonly ud by compors during the period c.1620–1790 to indicate harmonies above a bass part. Questions will cover:
1 T h e indication of chords and movement of the inner parts by figuring the bass in a passage in which both
the melody and bass are given.
2 Rewriting a given passage to include appropriate suspensions and notes of melodic decoration.
3 Continuation of a given opening for solo instrument with keyboard accompaniment, which will be given
in full throughout the passage, by completing the solo part, or, at the candidate’s choice, composition of
a melody for a specified instrument (a choice will be given) bad on a given progression of chords or
melodic figure.
4 Questions on short extracts of music written for piano or in open score for voices or for any com b ination
of instruments and/or voices, designed to test the candidate’s knowledge of the elements and notation of music, including the realization of ornaments, the identification and notation of underlying harmonic structure, phra structure, style, performance, and on the voices and i nstruments for which the works were written.
As in preceding grades. T h e harmonic vocabulary expected will include all standard diatonic and chro-matic chords. Questions will cover:
1 Continuation of a given opening of a passage from a Baroque trio sonata for two treble instru m ents and
basso continuo. T h e basso continuo part will be given throughout and fully figured (but a realization for keyboard will not be required).
2 Completion of an outline of a short passage for keyboard. Some knowledge of the styles practid
by
com p ors from the time of Haydn onwards will be assumed.
3 Continuation of a given opening of a melody for a specified instrument (a choice will be given).
4 Questions on short extracts of music written for piano or in open score for voices or for any
com b ination of instruments and/or voices, designed to test the candidate’s knowledge of the elements and notation of music, including the realization of ornaments, the identification and notation of underlying har m onic structure, phra structure, style, performance, and on the voices and instruments for which the works were written.
