music exam

• Benefits of song analysis

  • Critical thinking
  • Creative thinking
  • Mental health benefits
  • Connecting with others
• Elements of every song

  • Writer
  • Message
  • Audience
• 8 Elements of music

  • Dynamics
  • Form
  • Harmony
  • Melody
  • Rhythm
  • Texture
  • Timbre
  • Tonality
• Song categories


  • Concept-driven
  • Relationship
  • Novelty/humorous
  • Current event/protest
  • Parody
  • Spiritual/inspirational
  • Children's
  • Story
• Bricks in House of Songwriting


  • Style/genre
  • Tempo
  • Tonality
  • Instrumentation
  • Hook
  • Tension & release
  • Production value
  • Dynamics
  • Theme & variation
• Metaphor


  Literary device used to compare two things
• Imagery


  Literary device used to paint a picture in listener's mind
• Song structure


  How a song is organized
• Most common song structure

  • ABABCB
• Intro


  Catches listener's attention and establishes rhythm, melody, tempo
• Verse


  Story develops
• Pre-chorus


  Optional, used to build towards climax (chorus)
• Chorus


  Summary of song, climax, contains hook
• Bridge


  Change of pace that stands out lyrically and musically
• Outro


  Slowing down because song is at end, reverse intro, fade-out