NOTES L2: 1 2 3 4 5 | L3: 1 | L4 | Other
Aural Test Requirements
GRADE 2
A To clap the pulse of a piece played by the examiner, and to identify whether it is in two
time or three time. The examiner will start playing the passage, and the candidate should
join in as soon as possible, clapping in time and giving a louder clap on the strong beats.
The examiner will then ask whether the music is in two time or three time. The candidate
is not required to state the time signature.
B To sing as ‘echoes’ three phrases played by the examiner. The phrases will be two bars
long, in a major key, and within the range of tonic–dominant. First the examiner will play the
key-chord and the starting note (the tonic) and then count in two bars. After the examiner
has played each phrase, the candidate should sing back the echo without a pause, keeping
in time.
C To identify a change in either pitch or rhythm during a phrase played by the examiner.
The phrase will be two bars long, in a major key. First the examiner will play the key-chord
and the tonic and then count in two bars. The examiner will play the phrase twice, making
the change in the second playing, after which the candidate should identify the change by
describing it, or singing/clapping. If necessary, the examiner will play both versions of the
phrase again (although this may affect the assessment).
D To answer questions about two features of a piece played by the examiner. Before
playing, the examiner will tell the candidate which two features the questions will be about.
The first will be one of the following: dynamics (loud/quiet, or sudden/gradual changes),
articulation (smooth/detached); the second will be tempo (becoming slower/faster, or
staying the same).