Music

Home > Music > Musicology > Music 2: Musicology/Aural > Preparing for the Musicology/Aural skills examination

Preparing for the Musicology/Aural skills examination

Dynamics and expressive techniques

Dynamics refers to the volume of sound. Important aspects include the relative softness and loudness of sound, change of loudness (contrast) and the emphasis on individual sounds (accent).

Expressive techniques refers to the musical detail that articulates a style or interpretation of a style.

Dynamics and expressive techniques	Observations
Students should understand and apply the following (where appropriate to the musical context): a range of dynamics, including gradations articulations tempo and gradations of tempo stylistic indications.	Dynamics volume levels and changes such as crescendo and decrescendo common terminology (may be Italian, German, French or English) terraced dynamics accents. Expressive techniques articulation patterns such as staccato, legato, tenuto various accents, e.g. sfz instrumental techniques such as glissando, sul ponticello, spiccato, con sordino (mute), distortion, guitar pedal effects etc. stylistic indications such as dolce, cantabile, con forza, tranquillo, rubato, various tempo changes.

Dynamics and expressive techniques

Observations

Students should understand and apply the following (where appropriate to the musical context):

a range of dynamics, including gradations
articulations
tempo and gradations of tempo
stylistic indications.

Dynamics

volume levels and changes such as crescendo and decrescendo
common terminology (may be Italian, German, French or English)
terraced dynamics
accents.

Expressive techniques

articulation patterns such as staccato, legato, tenuto

various accents, e.g. sfz

instrumental techniques such as glissando, sul ponticello, spiccato, con sordino (mute), distortion, guitar pedal effects etc.

stylistic indications such as dolce, cantabile, con forza, tranquillo, rubato, various tempo changes.