Exam technique

Pointers for the Anthology paper

The key thing to remember overall is the title of this unit - 'Analysing Music'.  In other words, the examiners are looking for 

• evidence that you know the music in the anthology in detail
• evidence that you can reference the scores accurately to support your point of view
• evidence that you understand what information is relevant to the questions asked

The best revision you can do is to listen to the pieces with the score until you feel you know them inside out, as well as going through your notes and other study materials

Section A

There will be a question on each of the special focus works - one from each area of study. 

• Each question is split into three parts - answer two of these only, not all three
• There are ten marks for each part of a question
• One mark is given for each 'substantial and relevant' point you make
• There are no extra marks for bar numbers in section A, but you must make it clear what you are referring to: for example 'The opening theme comes back near the end' probably wouldn't get a mark, but 'The opening theme comes back in bar 35 in the horn part' probably would (depending on what the question was).
• Note form or bullet point answers are fine, as long as you make your meaning clear.
• You tend not to get marks for things that can simply be copied off the score (e.g. 'there is an sf marking in bar 20') - this often applies to dynamics - unless there is some sort of interpretation required to link this in with the question.  For example, in a question about word setting, you might get a mark for 'the sf marking in the accompaniment coincides with the word "pain"'.
• You will not get credit for referring to other works

Section B

There will be two questions set on each area of study - you have to answer one only.

• You must write in continuous prose - note form is not acceptable in this section and you can be penalized (although not much) for poor writing style
• There are 20 marks for this section.
• One mark is given for each 'substantial and relevant point', plus an extra mark for giving the bar number of a suitable example: e.g. 'The flute part has demisemiquavers in bar 62' could get you two marks (assuming it was correct and relevant to the question)
• The question will almost certainly ask you to compare some aspect of instrumental and vocal technique in two or more of the anthology pieces.  You may be allowed to choose which pieces to write about - in this case, make it clear which pieces you are considering and stick to them (e.g. if the question says 'any two', then don't write about three, etc).  Alternatively, the question might specify which pieces it wants you to write about, in which case you will get no credit for any points you make about any other pieces.
• The question may assume a certain amount of background knowledge about 20th century music, but it will not require detailed comment on any pieces other than those in the anthology, and you won't get any marks for it. 

Links

John Cage revision notes

20th Century Art music - continuity and change in instrumental and vocal techniques (coming soon)

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