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SingaporeMusicQuick questions
Performing
Quick questions on Playing accurately and in time explained: N(A)-Level Music
6short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is keeping a steady beat?Show answer
Keep time by counting the beats and, for tricky rhythms, subdividing the beat into smaller units (counting 1-and-2-and) so you can place quick notes exactly. A metronome clicks a steady pulse at a chosen speed; practising with it shows whether you are drifting and trains you to hold a constant tempo. Start slow and raise the speed only when accurate.
What are recovering from slips?Show answer
Everyone slips sometimes. If a small mistake happens in performance, the best thing is to keep going and stay in time, without stopping or going back. A brief wrong note matters far less than stopping or losing the beat, which disrupts the whole performance.
What is not counting?Show answer
Without counting and subdividing, tricky rhythms become guesswork. Count the beats and split them where needed.
What is q1?Show answer
Explain what accuracy and good timing mean in a performance. [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Explain how a metronome helps timing. [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Explain the best thing to do if you make a small slip during a performance, and why. [3 marks]
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