GCSE-readyListening and appraising like a musician
Appraising means listening carefully and describing, comparing and judging music, using musical vocabulary. It is a big part of GCSE Music.
A listening checklist
| Letter | Element | Ask yourself |
|---|---|---|
| M | Melody | Is it conjunct or disjunct? What is its range? |
| A | Articulation | Are the notes staccato (short, detached) or legato (smooth)? |
| D | Dynamics | Loud or quiet? Any crescendos? |
| T | Texture | Monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic? |
| S | Structure | Binary, ternary, rondo, verse and chorus? |
| H | Harmony and tonality | Major or minor? Consonant or dissonant? Any cadences? |
| I | Instrumentation | Which instruments or voices? What techniques? |
| R | Rhythm | Syncopation, dotted rhythms, ostinatos? Time signature? |
| T | Tempo | Fast or slow? Does it change? |
Articulation
Legato: smooth and joined. A curved slur over different notes means play them smoothly.
Accent: play the note with extra force, shown by a sign like >.
These change the character of a melody as much as the notes themselves.
Writing about music
Be specific: say where in the music something happens (the start, the second verse, the ending).
When comparing two pieces, give similarities and differences for each element.
When giving an opinion, back it up with musical reasons.
At GCSE, appraising is assessed alongside performing (30%) and composing (30%).
Describe the opening of a piece: a solo violin plays a smooth, slow tune quietly, in a minor key. Use musical vocabulary.
- Instrumentation and texture: a solo violin, so the texture is monophonic.
- Articulation and tempo: legato, at a slow tempo (adagio).
- Dynamics and tonality: piano (quiet), in a minor key, which gives a sad or thoughtful mood.
Answer: A monophonic, legato solo violin melody, adagio and piano, in a minor key, giving a sad mood.
Use MAD T SHIRT to listen: Melody, Articulation, Dynamics, Texture, Structure, Harmony, Instrumentation, Rhythm, Tempo. Staccato means short and detached; legato means smooth. Use exact musical words, say where things happen and back opinions with reasons.
- Dynamics
- How loud or quiet music is.
- Texture
- How many layers of sound there are and how they fit together.
- Structure
- How a piece of music is organised into sections.
- Tempo
- The speed of the music.
- Staccato
- Short and detached, shown by a dot above or below the note.
- Legato
- Smooth and joined.
- Not “Smooth and joined”. Smooth and joined is legato.
Try two quick questions
See if it has sunk in. Answers are marked straight away.
2 more questions
Try each one, then tap to check.
How is staccato shown in notation?
- A dot above or below the note
- A curved line over the notes
- A hairpin
- A pause sign
Show the answer
Answer: A dot above or below the note
Dots show staccato.
How is legato often shown in notation?
- Dots over the notes
- An accent sign
- A double bar line
- A curved slur over the notes
Show the answer
Answer: A curved slur over the notes
A slur shows smooth, joined notes.
Check you have got it
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Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.