L3 Certificate in Music Performance

Listening guide
A listening diary is where you listen to a piece of music and write down
everything audible i.e., what instruments are playing, the time signature, the
style of music etc
When encountering any style of music for the first time you may be subject to a
range of preconceptions try not to let these get in the way of the job in hand
which isnt about your musical tastes but rather to understand the musical
characteristics of different styles and genres in order to widen your overall
musical knowledge.
Use the following list as a structure for taking notes whilst listening to any given
song. If you have never listened to music in the given style before then do a little
research first?
1)
2)
3)
4)

Just listen listen through once and just make some general observations
2nd listen listen to the bass and drums and make notes
3rd listen listen to the guitar and/or keyboards and make notes
4th listen listen to the vocals and make notes

5) 5th listen - other observations and make notes

L3 Certificate in Music Performance

Listening guide

This list is by no means exhaustive and alongside these elements you should
also listen for anything which might be genre or style specific or that imbues or
helps shape the way the music sounds.
After you have listened to and made notes on each song, please upload your
Listening focus
Name of the Song
What style of music is it?
What musical elements would you
expect to hear in a song in this style?
What is the time signature? Are there
any shifts in the time signature?
Is the piece in a Major or Minor Key?
Can you work out the structure (i.e.,
verse/chorus, AABA, AB)
What other features are there (solos,
breakdowns, acapella sections, vocal

notes
Three little Birds
Reggae
An emphasis on the offbeat creating a
reggae beat
4/4
major
The structure is chorus, verse, chorus,
verse
There are some female singers
harmonising in the background

harmonies etc)

What is the instrumentation?

There is a gospel organ playing the

main riff and melody over the top. The
guitar seems to be playing chords on
the offbeat. The drums are holding a
consistent beat throughout the song.

Are there any effects or other none

instrumental sounds?
What type of rhythm or feel does the
The beat is a reggae beat, where they
song have? (e.g shuffle, 8 beat, latin,
play the off beat
one drop etc)
What type of vocal style is being
He sings with a strong Jamaican
used? (Gospel inflections, vibrato,
ascent, giving it a very reggae, soul
melisma, screams, shouts, hiccoughs, feel to it. His voice is about mid range,
bluesy inflections, national, regional or not particular high or low.
colloquial inflections etc)
Does the music modulate or have any
elements that create interesting
textural effects?
notes and any other supporting material to your online listening diary.