At higher grades you must be able to discuss with the examiner musical features such as texture, form, style, and period of a piece of music. My own web pages to help with these parts of the test at Grade 5+ and at GCSE are available here!
Grade V
At this Grade you will be asked only about:
- simple binary form
- simple ternary form
Link to the BBC's revision set for musical appreciation
Grade VI
At this Grade you will be expected to spot changes in tonality (at a general level; you would not be expected to identify specific keys).
You will need to be able to find ways to describe themes - talking about different elements - in order to state where changes happened or identify repeating patterns.
Link to the BBC's revision set for musical appreciation
Grade VII
An earlier section of the test asks about cadences and modulations, but you should notice and give reasons for a change of key at the end of the section of music that is played.
You will need a detailed knowledge of dance forms including the differences between the French and Italian forms, and be able to relate forms such as the Elizabethan Air and Variations to the instruments of the time.
Your language for discussing elements of themes should be articulate and specific.
Grade VIII
An earlier section of the test asks about cadences and modulations, but you should notice and give reasons for a change of key at the end of the section of music that is played.
You should be able to discuss different uses of similar forms (such as the minuet) at the level of specific composers.
You should be prepared to identify and discuss all the elements of form covered in these pages.