GCSE Music Theory Basics Assessment

In the GCSE paper you will be expected to know some general

music theory as well as the appraisal skills you have learnt
throughout the course so far relating to the areas of study.

So far in music theory, we have covered:

The musical elements

Treble clef notation (pitch and rhythm)
Instructions on a Score
Simple key signatures
Simple time signatures
Intervals
First Steps to Melodic dictation

This paper will help you to decide which areas you are confident
with and which areas we need to work on.

Answer every question.

You have one lesson to complete the paper.

Good luck!
 INSTRUMENTS

You need to be able to recognise the instruments of the orchestra

as well as ‘popular’ instruments.

There are four instrument families:

1 ……………………………………….
2 ……………………………………….
3 ……………………………………….
4 ………………………………………. (4)

List the common instruments in each family:

(12)
 TEMPO

Tempo is: ………………………………………………… (1)

What is one Italian musical term we use to describe a quick

tempo?
(1)
…………………………………

What is one Italian musical term we use to describe a walking

pace tempo?

…………………………………(1)

What is one Italian musical term we use to describe a slow

tempo?

…………………………………(1)
 DYNAMICS

Dynamics means:
……………………………………………………………………………(1)

Put the following dynamics in order:

1…………………………………
P
Mf 2.…………………………………
F 3…………………………………
pp
ff 4………………………………….
mp
5…………………………………..

6………………………………… (5)

What does a crescendo mean?

……………………………………………………………. (1)

What does a diminuendo mean?

……………………………………………………………. (1)

What is an accent in music? __________________________ (1)

 TIME SIGNATURES

A time signature is found at the start of every piece of music and

tells you:
……………………………………………………………………………(1)

The top number tells you:

……………………………………………………………………… (1)

The bottom number tells you:

………………………………………………………………………. (1)

Complete the time signatures below:

(1)

(1)

(1)
 RHYTHMIC DICTATION

Listen to the following audio examples and circle the rhythm you
hear each time:

1.

2.

(2)

Listen to the audio example and complete the rhythm below

(3)
 LISTENING

Describe the dynamics of the following piece of music:

________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________ (3)

Describe the tempo of the following piece of music:

________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________ (3)

What instruments are playing in the following piece of music?

________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________ (4)
 Self-assessment

The area that I am most confident is:

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

The area that I need to work on is:

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Teacher comments:

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Mark:

______________/50