Trinity Grade 4 Music Theory

Welcome to the Trinity Grade 4 Music Theory start page!

Trinity Grade 4 Syllabus

Rhythm and Form

• Time signatures of 5/8, 7/8 and 5/4
• Rules for grouping note and rest values within 5/8, 7/8 and 5/4, (including grouping indications at the beginning of bars or scores, e.g. 2,3 or 3,2)
• Harmonic rhythm (how fast chords change and whether regular or irregular)
• Writing a rhythm to fit with words, writing words under a tune, and correcting mistakes in word setting (based on the rule that important words (or syllables) should be placed on the main beats of a bar)
• Saying how many sections there are in a piece (form)

Pitch

• Naming and using notes in alto clef
• Eb and A major keys (for all major keys for the grade: scales, key signatures, one-octave arpeggios, broken chords and tonic triads (root, first or second inversion)
• C and F# minor keys (for all minor keys for the grade: scales — natural (Aeolian mode) and harmonic and melodic, key signatures, one-octave arpeggios, broken chords and tonic triads (root, first or second inversion)
• Inversions of tonic triads. Labelled:
  — as a chord symbol above the music (e.g. C, C/E and C/G in the key of C major or Am, Am/C and Am/E in the key of A minor)
  — as a Roman numeral below the music (e.g. I, Ib and Ic in the key of C major or i, ib and ic in the key of A minor)
• Identifying the key of a piece in Eb or A major and C or F# minor
• 4th degree of the major/minor scale being known as the subdominant or fa (major keys only)
• Subdominant triads for all keys covered so far
• Major/minor subdominant and dominant triads labelled:
  — as a chord symbol above the music (e.g. for subdominant, F in the key of C major or Dm (or D where the 6th degree is raised) in the key of A minor)
  — as a Roman numeral below the music (e.g. for subdominant IV in the key of C major or iv (or IV where the 6th degree is raised) in the key of A minor
• Recognising a plagal cadence in the home key (major or minor)
• Enharmonic equivalents
• Recognising chromatic scales or passages from chromatic scales
• Intervals (augmented 4ths and diminished 5ths)
• Concept of compound intervals
• Understanding parallel 5ths and octaves
• Dominant seventh chords of all keys covered so far
• Dominant seventh chords labelled:
  — as a chord symbol above the music (e.g. G7 in the key of C major or E7 in the key of A minor)
  — as a Roman numeral below the music (e.g. V7 in the key of C major or V7 in the key of A minor)
• Writing subdominant or dominant chords in root position in any key for the grade as well-balanced
  4-part chords for SATB
• Transposing a tune up or down a perfect 4th or 5th (within the keys for the grade) or for a transposing instrument for the grade
• Recognising and writing unaccented passing notes
• Ranges (and transposing intervals where appropriate) of French horn, descant recorder, oboe, viola, double bass and guitar as defined in the workbook
• Knowing which families the above instruments come from (brass, woodwind, string)
  
• Musical terms and symbols

Download the complete Trinity Music Theory Syllabus here.