Question 1

What is NCEA AS 91421 about?

Accepted Answer

This standard asks you to analyse and understand how chords and keys work together in music scores—recognising chord progressions, key changes, and harmonic features like modulations. You'll also need to write out (realise) your own bass lines and chord progressions in a style that matches the music you're studying.

Question 2

What do students need to do for AS 91421?

Accepted Answer

1. Identify chords in musical extracts—including inversions, 7th chords, and suspended chords—and explain how they function in the music 2. Recognise key changes (modulations) and provide specific evidence for them, such as pivot chords or perfect cadences 3. Explain the relationship between keys when a piece modulates, and spot harmonic features like non-harmonic notes 4. Write out bass lines and harmonic progressions that fit the style of the music, including cadences and passing notes 5. Analyse consecutive chords in context and demonstrate understanding of how harmony creates effects in the music

Question 3

What's the difference between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence for AS 91421?

Accepted Answer

Achieved: You identify individual chords correctly, spot basic tonal features, and notate some bass notes and chords in isolation, showing you understand the fundamentals of harmony. Merit: You analyse sequences of consecutive chords accurately, identify key changes with supporting evidence, describe harmonic features clearly, and create bass lines and cadences that fit the style—showing confident understanding of how harmony works. Excellence: You analyse extended harmonic passages with precision, identify pivot chords and complex features like suspensions, explain the effects of harmony with insight, understand harmonic rhythm, and create stylistically convincing realisations with passing notes.

Question 4

What mistakes do students typically make in AS 91421?

Accepted Answer

1. Not completing all parts of each question—examiners expect you to answer every section to show full understanding 2. Identifying isolated chords correctly but missing inversions, added notes, or how chords function together in sequences 3. Reading or writing notes incorrectly in the bass clef, or not finishing the bass part when you're asked to realise chord progressions

Harmonic and tonal conventions

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