NCEA Music 2016 — page 1 of 2
Music aural skills and transcription
This document has been developed to clarify the requirements for the externally assessed standards 91093, 91275, 91420. For assessment a selection is
made from the following.
Level 1
Level 2 (cumulative)
Level 3 (cumulative)
Rhythm/Metre
Notation of 8-bar rhythmic phrases, limited
to:
 metre – 3/4, 4/4 (including C), 6/8
 durations – (dotted) semibreves,
minims, crotchets, quavers,
semiquavers
Notation of rhythmic and melodic phrases
(i.e. integrated), limited to:
 metre – simple and compound
time signatures
 durations: triplets
 syncopation
Notation of treble and or bass clef melodic
lines or fragments
 regular and irregular time
signatures
 durations: duplets, quintuplets
Tonality
All exercises limited to:
 major keys up to two sharps and
two flats
All exercises limited to:
 major and minor keys, of up to four
sharps and four flats
All exercises limited to:
 all major and minor keys
Melody
Notation of 8-bar melodic phrases, limited
to:
 clefs – treble, bass
 stepwise movement plus thirds.
fifths, octaves
Notation of rhythmic and melodic phrases
(i.e. integrated), limited to
 clefs – treble, bass
 fourths, sixths, sevenths,
harmonic/melodic accidentals
Notation of rhythmic and melodic phrases,
any key
 chromatic
Identification of chords (jazz rock and/or
Roman numerals) limited to:
 chords – I, IV, V, vi in root position
 cadences
Identification of chords (jazz rock and/or
Roman numerals) and progressions,
limited to:
 chords – I, II, IV, V, VI ; V7; Isus4,
Vsus4 in root position
 simple harmonic patterns
Identification and transcription of chords
and progressions – jazz / rock and/or
Roman numerals:
 VII and inversions
Harmony
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Terms & Signs
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“simple” articulation
markings/indications (including
staccato, accent)
“common” dynamic markings
(words and symbols) p, mp, mf, f,
crescendo,
diminuendo/decrescendo
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articulation markings (including
slurs, phrase marks, tenuto)
dynamic markings including Italian
terms: sf, fz, pp, ff
largo, lento, andantino, vivace,
allegretto, allargando, presto
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All common articulation markings
all common dynamics
all common metronome and tempo
markings
NCEA Music 2016 — page 2 of 2
Instrumentation
Stylistic/
compositional
features
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“common” metronome and tempo
markings: eg adagio, moderato,
allegro, Rallentando/ritardando,
accelerando, a tempo, pause.
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simple instrumental and vocal
identification
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Texture
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instrumental and vocal timbre
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instrumental and vocal timbres and
combinations
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e.g. major, minor, modal,
microtonal
genre characteristics
motifs/riffs and their development
phrases - regular and irregular
canon / fugato
variation and thematic
development
melodic range
no constraints on types of forms
e.g rondo, theme and variations,
strophic
A–B / binary
A–B–A / ternary
verse–chorus, bridge, outro / coda
12-bar blues
accompaniment styles, pedal
notes
ostinato, imitation, sequence,
repetition
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monophonic
homophonic
polyphonic
melody and accompaniment,
layering (eg background,
foreground)
countermelody
imitation, fugue
textural density
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heterophonic
antiphonal
textural density