Vocal Classroom Music (Grades K–12) Subtest 1

Subarea 1. Aural Analysis

0001

Understand elements of music in a given recorded excerpt.

analyzing melodic characteristics presented in a recorded excerpt, including intervals, scales, tonality, and phrase structures
analyzing harmonic characteristics presented in a recorded excerpt, including chord structures, harmonic progressions, cadences, and nonchord tones
analyzing the elements of rhythm, meter, and tempo presented in a recorded excerpt
analyzing the elements of form and texture presented in a recorded excerpt

0002

Understand characteristics of Western music from the Middle Ages to 1750 in a given recorded excerpt.

identifying characteristics, forms, styles, performance contexts, and performance media of music from the Middle Ages to 1750
identifying major composers and compositions from the Middle Ages to 1750

0003

Understand characteristics of Western music from 1750 to the present in a given recorded excerpt.

identifying characteristics, forms, styles, performance contexts, and performance media of music from 1750 to the present
identifying major composers and compositions from 1750 to the present

0004

Understand characteristics of U.S. and world music in a given recorded excerpt.

identifying musical traditions, contexts, and characteristics of examples of music from the United States
identifying major composers and compositions from the United States
identifying musical traditions, contexts, and characteristics of examples of music from diverse and representative world cultures
identifying instrumentation, genres, and styles of examples of music from diverse and representative world cultures

0005

Understand elements of a musical performance in a given recorded excerpt.

recognizing voice types, various types of choral and small vocal ensembles, band and orchestral instruments, and various types of instrumental ensembles
analyzing expressive elements in a musical performance, including dynamics, articulation, and tempo changes
identifying performance errors, including errors related to pitch, rhythm, dynamics, articulation, phrasing, ensemble precision, intonation, and balance