GCSE Music – Revision – Sonority (Instrument Recognition)

Sonority – Instrument Recognition Questions

The GCSE Music Specification includes many terms that students need to know, and be able to identify, but which aren’t covered by many of the styles of music studied.

Using only music from Popular Music, this revision resource brings together every instrument, voice and ensemble (apart from “basso continuo”, for obvious reasons!) from the sub-menu “Sonority”, ie instruments, voices, and ensembles.

In order to be accessible to students who really struggle with such things, there are 50 simple, 1-mark questions, which ask students to identify an instrument, voice type, or ensemble.

In addition, there is also a bonus question alongside every simple question, for students who find such things easier – so 100 questions in total!

So that the first group of students don’t feel like they’re underachieving, there are two different PDFs: one with just the 50 simple questions, and one with the bonus questions as well, so teachers can choose which to give their students.

The questions are in ten sections:

1. Strings
2. Woodwind
3. Brass
4. Percussion
5. Keyboards
6. Rock and Pop
7. Indian
8. Voices
9. Miscellaneous
10. Ensembles

The resource comes with a link to FREE audio, running for 1h15’, either as one file or ten separate files: perfect for a revision lesson, or as homework.

The extracts cover a wide range of Popular Music, and features music by the likes of Eva Cassidy, Led Zeppelin, Björk, Yes, Primus, Tanita Tikaram, The Meters, Minnie Riperton, Tom Waits, Genesis, Jamiroquai, Badly Drawn Boy, Freak Power, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and The Cure!

The bundle includes the full paper and mark scheme, plus two PDFs of questions (50, or 100), and mark scheme separately, in case you want to set it remotely.

Please have a look at my shop for a wide variety of resources to support the GCSE Music course.

www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/NPTJ