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Subjects · Leaving Cert Music

Leaving Cert Music: Instruments & playing techniques

How often Instruments & playing techniques comes up on the Music papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 8 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

OL Asked on 9 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Instruments & playing techniques, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Instruments & playing techniques.

(a)What does con sordino mean for a string player?
  1. Play without vibrato
  2. Play with a mute
  3. Pluck with the fingers
(b)How does a violinist play tremolo?
  1. Bowing with the wood of the bow on the string
  2. Plucking the string once with a finger, pizzicato
  3. Rapidly repeating a note with fast bow strokes
(c)After a pizzicato passage, which word tells string players to use the bow again?
  1. Arco
  2. Tremolo
  3. Legato
Show the answers

(a) Play with a mute

(b) Rapidly repeating a note with fast bow strokes

(c) Arco

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Instruments & playing techniques.

Higher Level

Asked on 8 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Q6
2023Q6
2022Q6
2021Q6
2019Q6
2018Q6
2017Q6
2016Q6

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Instruments & playing techniques questions

Instruments & playing techniques, 2 marks

What gives a soft, swishing sound on a drum kit?

  1. Timpani sticks
  2. A bow
  3. Brushes
Show the answer

Brushes

Wire brushes swept across the snare drum give a soft, sustained swish, common in jazz ballads and gentle pop songs.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 9 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q6
2024Q6
2023Q6
2022Q6
2021Q6
2019Q6
2018Q6
2017Q6
2016Q6

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Instruments & playing techniques questions

Instruments & playing techniques, 2 marks

What does pizzicato tell a string player to do?

  1. Use the bow
  2. Play with a mute
  3. Pluck the strings
Show the answer

Pluck the strings

Pizzicato (pizz.) means pluck the string with a finger. The word arco tells the player to go back to using the bow.

Instruments & playing techniques, 2 marks

What does arco tell a string player to do?

  1. Play very loudly
  2. Play with the bow
  3. Pluck the strings
Show the answer

Play with the bow

Arco means bow. It cancels an earlier pizzicato instruction, so the player bows again.

Instruments & playing techniques, 2 marks

What is tremolo on a string instrument?

  1. Very fast repeated bow strokes on one note
  2. A slow slide between two notes on one string
  3. Plucking the strings with the thumb, not the bow
Show the answer

Very fast repeated bow strokes on one note

Bowing rapidly back and forth on one note gives a shimmering, tense sound. Composers use it for suspense or excitement.

Other Music topics

All of Leaving Cert Music