1 · Musical analysis and context
texture · timbre
U1-Q1 · 2 marks
What changes most directly when a sustained part is added?
Answer and reasoning
The texture and harmonic context of the phrase.
U1-Q2 · 4 marks
Explain the mechanism or reasoning in this original case: The same melody played by a solo instrument and a layered ensemble can feel different. Texture and timbre change the musical experience without changing every pitch.
Answer and reasoning
Create a short original four-note phrase. Play it alone, then add a sustained note underneath. Compare texture, tension and balance, and connect what you learn to a researched musical example with appropriate attribution.
- Accurate relevant concept (1)
- Specific evidence from the case (1)
- Connected reasoning (2)
Do not generalize a musical culture from one recording or claim a score proves how every performance sounds. / The exploration portfolio needs diverse actual musical material, practical exercises and sources.
2 · Controlled creative experimentation
accent · experimentation
U2-Q1 · 2 marks
Why keep pitches fixed in the first experiment?
Answer and reasoning
To make the effect of the rhythmic change easier to identify.
U2-Q2 · 4 marks
Explain the mechanism or reasoning in this original case: A creator changes rhythm, instrumentation and tempo at once and cannot tell which change matters most. A focused experiment makes the learning clearer.
Answer and reasoning
Keep the pitches and instrument fixed while changing the rhythm of an original phrase. Record both versions and explain how accent changes its character. Then choose a new experiment informed by that result and connect it to a local or global context.
- Accurate relevant concept (1)
- Specific evidence from the case (1)
- Connected reasoning (2)
The experimentation report supports actual musical evidence in creating and performing, not a hypothetical plan alone. / School confirms current submission details, contexts and areas of inquiry against the guide.
3 · Resolved work and programme notes
programme notes · improvisation
U3-Q1 · 2 marks
What belongs in programme notes?
Answer and reasoning
Relevant context and intentions that help interpret the actual musical work.
U3-Q2 · 4 marks
Explain the mechanism or reasoning in this original case: A polished performance still needs clear evidence of what was created and what was performed. Programme notes help an audience understand the selected work without replacing it.
Answer and reasoning
Choose a manageable original composition or improvisation and a performance with contrasting material. Record a rehearsal, identify one weak transition and refine it. Programme notes explain a specific musical choice and its context; the recording demonstrates the result.
- Accurate relevant concept (1)
- Specific evidence from the case (1)
- Connected reasoning (2)
The course requires engagement with all four areas of inquiry. / Do not create a written mock exam for presenting; teacher supervises real practical submissions and checks attribution and recording rights.