I'm doing a vive voce for one of my four electives - it's on harmony on pop music! What are your best tips/advice? And could you give some examples of typical questions markers may ask??
Hey there! That's an awesome Viva topic!
So the Viva Voce for Music is interesting, because they can literally ask
anything. For example:
I was chatting about the use of guitar in one of the pieces I had chosen, and explained the use of "power chords" as a typical aspect of rock music. I played a progression randomly on my guitar, and they stopped me and said: "What was that?" And I said, oh, it was just a I-IV-V progression in the key of A, and they were like "Major or minor," and then I explained how it was neither, linked to the atonality of power chords, etc etc. Like over a minute of discussion, completely off track from what I was discussing.
You need to be ready for anything!In terms of advice, a few pointers:
- Know any pieces you play as example inside and out, in terms of every concept of music, they can and will press you
- For the summary sheet you present to them, make it easy to follow.
They will use it to direct your discussion! Make it clear how YOU want the conversation to go and they will abide by your wishes (and then take you off track on occasion if they want to)
- Know your concepts of music and your jargon
- Make the links to your Viva topic obvious throughout your discussion
- Give practical examples whenever appropriate. I used my guitar to show progressions, play melodies, I sang a few things, I even drummed a beat on the bloody table. Practical examples are your friend!
I'm actually going to be writing some articles for Music in the next couple of weeks. I'm writing one on responding to an Aural Exam properly (that will be out next week), and another on Viva Voce's! I'll be sure to link it here when I'm done, it will contain these things plus a few more
I hope this helps!