Year 11 - Music
Developing pitch dictation skills
Listening: dictation
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Unit Summary
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Lesson Summary
You will learn to notate consecutive intervals to complete pitch dictation accurately.
Key Notes
- Notating a whole melody can be done by breaking it into a series of consecutive intervals.
- Identify the melodic shape, then identify the first interval by singing it back and compare it to reference melodies.
- Notate the first interval, then repeat for each consecutive interval.
- Check your answer by matching it to the melodic shape visually and singing it back.
- When given the rhythm, we should be careful to accurately copy it in the notated pitches.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Interval: the distance in pitch between two notes (e.g. a 5th)
- Semitone: the smallest interval in most Western music (e.g. C to C#)
- Tone: an interval of two semitones (e.g. C to D), also called a major second
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Working out the notes of a whole melody by ear is a very difficult musical skill.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Notating a whole melody can be done by breaking it into a series of consecutive intervals. Identify the melodic shape, then identify the first interval by singing it back and compare it to reference melodies.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'Interval'
the distance in pitch between two notes (e.g. a 5th).
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Working out the notes of a whole melody by ear is a very difficult musical skill. Correction: While it seems challenging, if you break it down into small steps - individual intervals - it is no more difficult than working out one interval. Take it one step at a time in small chunks and it is completely achievable.
More Lessons In This Unit
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