Texture test

All Students preparing for Grade exams are recommended to use the Hofnotes on-line training pages to practise for the aural tests.

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

"To identify certain features of a piece played by the examiner...confined to...general perception of texture, rhythm, form, style and period" - ABRSM syllabus

You will be told before hearing the extract which features you are going to be asked about, and different textures will be quite clearly defined:

arpeggios
melody with accompaniment
harmonic
contrapuntal or imitative

Link to the BBC's revision set for musical appreciation.

Grade VI

"To answer questions on the features of a piece played by the examiner, including the general perception of texture, form (including phrase structure), style and period" - ABRSM syllabus

This sounds very similar to the previous grade, so you will be expected to go into more detail, and the piece may be longer. So you will need to:

remember for longer
notice more variety or complexity in textures
relate texture to other facets such as period and style
relate texture to the instrument for which it was written

Link to the BBC's revision set for musical appreciation

Grade VII

"To answer questions on the features of a piece played by the examiner, including the general perception of texture, form (including phrase structure), style and period" - ABRSM syllabus

At this grade you will be expected to

compare and contrast textures within the piece
demonstrate a good range of listening experience
talk fluently about texture
relate texture to style, period and instrument

Link to the BBC's revision set for musical appreciation

Grade VIII

"To discuss matters relating to any of the musical features of a piece played by the examiner" - ABRSM syllabus

The word discussion is the clue here: one word answers won't do at this grade!

Link to the BBC's revision set for musical appreciation

Last updated on: 03/01/2012

Grade V

"To identify certain features of a piece played by the examiner...confined to...general perception of texture, rhythm, form, style and period" - ABRSM syllabus

You will be told before hearing the extract which features you are going to be asked about, and different textures will be quite clearly defined:

arpeggios

melody with accompaniment

harmonic

contrapuntal or imitative

Link to the BBC's revision set for musical appreciation.

Grade VI

"To answer questions on the features of a piece played by the examiner, including the general perception of texture, form (including phrase structure), style and period" - ABRSM syllabus

This sounds very similar to the previous grade, so you will be expected to go into more detail, and the piece may be longer. So you will need to:

remember for longer

notice more variety or complexity in textures

relate texture to other facets such as period and style

relate texture to the instrument for which it was written

Link to the BBC's revision set for musical appreciation

Grade VII

"To answer questions on the features of a piece played by the examiner, including the general perception of texture, form (including phrase structure), style and period" - ABRSM syllabus

At this grade you will be expected to

compare and contrast textures within the piece

demonstrate a good range of listening experience

talk fluently about texture

relate texture to style, period and instrument

Link to the BBC's revision set for musical appreciation

Grade VIII

"To discuss matters relating to any of the musical features of a piece played by the examiner" - ABRSM syllabus

The word discussion is the clue here: one word answers won't do at this grade!

Link to the BBC's revision set for musical appreciation