Praxis: Music Content Knowledge Flashcards
How do Sopranos maximize vocal tract resonance at high frequencies to achieve a vibrant sound?
a. By creating less space in the oral cavity and tightening the vocal tract
b. By creating more space in the oral cavity and relaxing the vocal tract
c. By creating less space in the oral cavity and tightening the vocal tract
d. By creating more space in the oral cavity and tightening the vocal tract
B. By creating more space in the oral cavity and relaxing the vocal tract
Describe and give examples of concussion idiophones
Concussion idiophones are instruments that are struck together. Instruments include: claves, castanets, etc
Define Fermata
To hold a note longer than written
Define Dorian Mode
Starts of the second scale degree. WHWWWHW. Half steps occur between scale degrees 2 & 3 and 6 & 7.
Which of the following musical terms come from the Italian term meaning “to hurry”?
a. Slentando
b. Allargando
c. Affretando
d. Calando
C. Affretando
Define Alberti Bass
A bass figuration that outlines the tones within a triad
Define Motet
The motet evolved from organum. It featured a tenor line with contrasting upper voices.
It is a sacred choral piece, usually unaccompanied, in several parts
Describe some characteristics of Classical Music
Featured restraint, light texture, objectivity, transparent melodic line
Define Rumba
Part of Cuban styles. Rhythmic pattern consists of 16th and quarter note beats in triple and duple pulses
The Wah-Wah Mute produces what kind of tone
A buzzed tone–another name for Wah-Wah Mute is the Harmon Mute
A strait mute produces what kind of tone?
A tinny, metallic sound
What is the pharynx
The membrane-lines cavity behind the nose and mouth, connecting them to the esophogus
What is the name of the range within a singer’s vocal abilities that resonate in the most aesthetically pleasing manner and is usually the most comfortable to sing?
a. Chest voice
b. Tessitura
c. Falsetto
d. Register
B. Tessitura
A beginning cello student plays with too much arm movement; what is most likely causing the problem?
a. The student’s back is slouched
b. The wrist is not bending properly on a bow stroke
c. The thumb is placed too close to the second and third fingers
d. The fingers are overly curved
B. The wrist is not bending properly on a bow stroke
What are membranophones?
Percussion instruments that produce sound through the vibration of a membrane around a resonating body; ie timpani, djembe
How does the hand move when conducting a 4/4 pattern?
Down, in, out, in
What is not an aspect to consider when selecting music for an ensemble>
a. Number of rehearsals before a performance
b. Strengths and weaknesses of the ensemble
c. Height of the players in the ensemble
d. Number of players and instruments in the ensemble
C. Height of the players in the ensemble
The Mass Ordinary includes six sections, list them in order
- Kyrie
- Gloria
- Credo
- Sanctus
- Benedictus
- Agnus Dei
List the Nationalistic composers who represented Norway and Finland
Edvard Grieg (Norway) Sibelius (Finland)
List painters of the Impressionist movement (5)
- Monet
- Manet
- Degas
- Cezanne
- Renior
Minimalist Movement
Began in the late 1960’s
An extension of experimental music
Emphasizes the process of composition
Bossa Nova Movement
- Originated in Rio de Janiero in the 1950’s
- Combined elements from Brazilian samba and American Jazz
- Popular in the US and internationally
- Laid-back singing style, complex harmonies, distinctive rhythmic pattern (bossa nova clave)
- Often features acoustic guitar
Famous tunes from the Bossa Nova Movement
- Chega de Saudade
- Girl from Ipanema
- Desafinado
- Corcovado
- Aguas de Marco
- Mas Que Nada
What two terms did Wagner prefer over Leitmotif?
Grundthema and Hauptmotiv
Characteristics of Merengue
- Swift duple meter
- Some African influences (double-headed tambora drum and metal guayo scraper)
Scale degrees
-An assigned number to each note of a scale (major or minor)
Metrical Accenting
- Refers to natural stresses on certain beats of a meter
- Can be defined by the meter itself (3/4) or by the style or origin of the musical rhythm (rumba)
Relative vs. Parallel Minor
Relative-shares the same key signature
Parallel-shares the same tonic pitch
(F major and D minor are Relative)
(F minor (four flats) and F major are parallel)
Describe Relative Minor
Shares the same key signature as the major key
Give the general voice range of the baritone voice
G to e’
Conducting pattern for 9/8
Down, in, in, out, out, out, up, in, in
Larghissimo
At an extremely broad and slow tempo
Andante
At a walking pace
Largo
At a very slow tempo
Larghetto
A diminutive of largo, not as slow as largo
Marcato
To play with extreme stress
Staccato
To play with a shortened sound duration
I prefer short and separated to this answer, but this is what the flashcards say…
Tenuto
To play slightly longer and rubato
I prefer “to play full value” but again, just one musician’s opinion
Half cadence
I-V
PAC (Perfect Authentic Cadence)
V-I (Root in bass and soprano
Plagal Cadence
IV-I (Amen cadence)
IAC (Imperfect Authentic Cadence)
V-I (Root in bass, but not in soprano)
Lydian
Sharp ^4
Passing Tone
A non-chord tone that occurs between two stable tones
Neighbor Tone
A neighbor tone moves in a step-wise motion, but returns to the original note
Suspension
Sounds on a downbeat, then moves downward by a step
Appogiatura
A leap, followed by a step (usually a leap up and a resolution downward)
Seven modes in order
- Ionian
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Aeolian
- Locrian
Ionian Mode (Major)
Major scale, WWHWWWH
Dorian
WHWWWHW
Phrygian
HWWWHWW
Mixolydian
WWHWWHW
Aeolian
Natural Minor, WHWWHWW
Locrian
HWWHWWW
Hemiola
Ratio 3:2, Three beats of equal value in the time normally occupied by two beats
Anacrusis
Pick up note, notes before a downbeat
Augmentation
Rhythmic lengthening or lengthening intervals
-A compositional device where a theme, motif, or melody in presented in longer note values than previously stated
Staccatissimo
Very short
-A style of playing notes in a detached, separated, distinct manner that shortens the notated duration in a more exaggerated way
Accent
Indicated the note should be played with stress, perhaps a louder dynamic and stronger attack
The waltz form places rhythmic emphasis on which beat?
a. 2nd beat
b. All beats equally
c. 3rd beat
d. 1st beat
D. First beat (triple meter has a strong downbeat)
Affrentando
To hurry
Slentando
To slow down
Allargando
To widen
Calando
To let down (like I did to my parents when I decided to be come a music major, lol, rip:’( )
Define 3-2 Clave
A rhythm of 3 followed by 2
Ostinato
A motif that repeats persistently (think obstinate, stubborn)
Bossa Nova
A specific rhythmic pattern that would be repeated in different harmonies
Which of the following typically describes rondo form?
a. AABBCC
b. ABABA
c. ABACABA
d. AABA
C. ABACABA (seven part rondo)
Define Rondo Form
A form in which the opening material returns throughout the piece, can be called a theme or refrain
Which of the following is NOT an example of compound musical form?
a. Sonata form
b. String Quartet
c. Minuetto and trio
d. Ternary form
D. Ternary form
-Compound musical form describes a tonal work that can be seen as a composite form that is made up of other, smaller simple forms, such as binary and ternary forms
The “ballade” refers to a musical form originally based on which literary form?
a. Play
b. Narrative
c. Soliloquy
d. Elegy
B. Narrative
-The original literary form of the ballade usually featured a narrative that was comic, romantic, tragic, or historical: words were set to 3 stanzas with 7 or 8 lines each
Which opera for of the Enlightenment featured three acts with alternating arias and recitatives with usually six or seven characters?
a. Opera Buffa
b. Opera Comique
c. Opera Seria
d. Opera Grego
C. Opera Seria
Opera Seria
- Serious Opera
- Focused on tragic and serious subjects
- Alternating arias and recitatives
- 6-7 characters with 2-4 main characters
Opera Buffa
- Italian opera (comic opera)
- Originated in Naples
- Developed from the intermezzi performed between acts of a serious opera
Opera Comique
- Originated in early 18th century
- Performed at theaters as humorous and satirical plays
- Songs with new words set to already existing music
Opera Greco
Operas based on Greco-Roman mythology
Which of the following musical elements is stylistic of the African musical tradition?
a. Dialogue
b. Modes
c. Discant
d. Coda
A. Dialogue
-Call and Response
Call and Response form has been widely influential in what genres of music?
- Blues
- Jazz
- Hip Hop
- Rock
- Gospel
Modes can be traced back to which musical tradition?
Ancient Greek
Descant is an element of what type of music?
Medieval music
Coda is a musical form within——-? (3 words)
Western Classical Music
Which of the following compositional tools describes a group of closely spaced notes played simultaneously, usually in intervals of adjacent seconds and groupings?
a. Extended harmony
b. Tone cluster
c. Diminished 7th
d. Retrograde inversion
B. Tone cluster
Tone Cluster
A group of closely spaced notes played simultaneously in intervals of seconds
-Think Eric Whitacre…
Extended Harmony
Any interval over an octave V9, V11, V9/V
Retrograde Inversion
Backwards and upside down
-Retrograde reverses the order of the motive and inversion flips it upside down
The Jazz improvisational style can be compared to which Classical music style?
a. Baroque
b. Minimalist
c. Symphonic
d. Impressionist
A. Baroque (figured bass was improvised based on figured bass)
Which of the following was an early form of polyphony during the Medieval period in which voiced were sung in parallel motion?
a. Motet
b. Gregorian Chant
c. Mass
d. Organum
D. Organum
Organum
An early form of polyphony during the Medieval period in which voices were sung in parallel motion.
-In its earliest stages, organum involved two musical voices: a melody and the melody transposed at a fourth or fifth
Gregorian Chant
- Had melodies with no meter
- Traditional music for Latin texts in the worship of the Roman Catholic Church
- Free-flowing rhythms that follow phrasing of the text
Masses
- Large scale works that feature polyphony and counterpoint
- Sacred choral music that are part of the liturgy
Which movement of the 19th century featured music that evoked a place through the use of folk melodies?
a. Impressionism
b. Nationalism
c. Romaticism
d. Realism
B. Nationalism
Nationalism
Romantic era movement where composers used folk melodies from their countries in their compsitions
Impressionism
Focused on hazily colored compositional writing (Debussy)
Romaticism
Focused on music that portrayed fantastic and mystical subjects; the sublime
Realism
Compositions based on objects or things
The twelve tone technique was created by
a. Anton Webern
b. Milton Babbitt
c. Arnold Schoenberg
d. Pierre Boulez
C. Arnold Schoenberg
Twelve Tone Technique
Associated with serialism, however, twelve tone music is based on the orderings of twelve pitches
Which of the following is an example of “absolute music,” as opposed to “program music”?
a. Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven
b. Don Quixote by Strauss
c. Danse Macabre by Saint-Seans
d. Symphony Fantastique by Berlioz
A. Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven
Absolute Music
Instrumental music that can be represented by non-musical images or ideas.
Which period of classical Western Music featured heavy ornamentation and improvised embellishment of a musical line?
a. Romantic
b. Baroque
c. 20th and 21st centuries
d. Classical
B. Baroque
Characteristics of Baroque music
- Heavy ornamentation
- Improvised embellishment of musical lines
Characteristics of Romantic music
-Expressive emotionalism
Characteristics of 20th and 21st century music
- Modernism
- Rejection of tonality
How did the orchestra shift the way it used certain instrument families from the Baroque to Classical era?
a. Violins became the dominant string section while lower strings became the supporting background
b. Strings and winds were doubled on every thematic line
c. Bassoons became part of the supporting bass texture
d. Woodwinds became the prominent rhythmic support section while strings played secondary rhythmic roles
A. Violins became the dominant string section while lower strings became the supporting background
Which of the following composers wrote music that featured brass with large orchestrations and increasingly powerful orchestral sounds?
a. Roger Sessions
b. Manuel de Falla
c. Bela Bartok
d. Igor Stravinsky
D. Igor Stravinsky
What is NOT a typical instrument of Appalachian folk music?
a. Dulcimer
b. Banjo
c. Tumbadora
d. Mandolin
C. Tumbadora
List instruments typically used in Appalachian music
- Banjo
- Mandolin
- Guitar
- Autoharp
- American Fiddle
- Fretted Dulcimer
- Dobros
- Dulcimer
Tumbadora is another name for what?
-Conga (a drum from Cuba)
Which American musical is considered by historians to be the first complete Broadway musical with a beginning to end plot?
a. Cats by Andre Lloyd Webber
b. Show Boat by Kern and Hammerstein
c. Ain’t Misbehavin’ by Horwitz and Maltby Jr.
d. Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin
B. Show Boat (1927)
What is one of the earliest forms of jazz music?
a. West coast jazz
b. Kansas city blues
c. Latin jazz
d. New Orleans jazz
D. New Orleans Jazz
When was New Orleans Jazz developed?
Start of the 20th century
When was West Coast Jazz developed
1950’s
When was Kansas City Jazz developed?
1940’s/50’s
The Sugarhill Gange helped to widely popularize which term in their 1979 song “Rapper’s Delight”?
a. Hip Hop
b. Disco Rap
c. Neo Soul
d. Trip Hop
A. Hip Hop
The black church heavily influenced which of the following musical genres through improvisation, storytelling, and call and response?
a. Metal
b. Latin
c. Grunge
d. Blues
D. Blued
Cajun music of Louisana traces its roots back to which European culture?
a. French
b. Dutch
c. Flemish
d. Portuguese
A. French
How does funk differ from R&B?
a. It is based on an unconventional progression over many chords
b. It is based on a melody line over whole tone chords
c. It is based on a rhythmic groove over a single chord
d. It is based on the harmonic voice leading of extended chords
C. It is based on a rhythmic groove over a single chord
Of the following Cuban styles, which is derived from the mambo with a characteristic rhythmic patter of two eighth notes followed by a quarter note?
a. Tresillo
b. Cha-cha-cha
c. Son montuno
d. Rumba
B. Cha-cha-cha (onomatopoeia)
Tresillo
Part of Cuban styles, comprised of triplets over a composite duple beat
Som Montuno
Part of Cuban styles, comprised of a 2-3 clave
Call and response singing, polyrhythms, and improvised rhythms are all common features of music from
a. Africa
b. Asia
c. Europe
d. North America
A. Africa
List common features of African Music
- Call and Response
- Polyrhythms
- Improvised rhythms
Which of the following is a traditional form of Japanese theater that stems from the 1600’s?
a. Kesho
b. Michiyuki
c. Shosagoto
d. Kabuki
D. Kabuki
Kabuki
Traditional form of Japanese theater that stems from the Edo periods of the 1600’s
Kesho
The name of the white and dramatic kabuki make up
Shosagoto
Kabuki dance pieces, one of three types of kabuki
Michiyuki
A section of the kabuki play that includes a journey scene where characters dance or talk while traveling
The Middle Eastern “maqam” system of melodic organization is most similar to which aspect of Western music theory?
a. Counterpoint
b. Binary form
c. Modes
d. Notation
C. Modes
Maqam system of melodic organization
Similar to Modes, but the Maqam system is distinctly combined to the lower tetra-chord. There are more than 30 different maqamat, and each defines the melodic contour, pitches, and hierarchal development of the scale
Ostinatos are found extensively in the world music of which of the following regions?
a. China
b. India
c. Mexico
d. Ethiopia
B. India
Reggae music originated in which Carribean nation in the 1960’s
a. Haiti
b. Cuba
c. Trinidad
d. Jamaica
D. Jamaica
Name four early Jamaican Reggae musicians
- Jackie Mittoo
- Winston Wright
- “Scratch” Perry
- The Pioneers
What role did freedom songs play during the period of apatheid in South Africa?
a. Divided the oppressed and exposed the freedom of the government
b. Calmed the oppressed and exposed the power of the government
c. United the oppressed and exposed the injustices of the government
d. Defended the oppressed and exposed the loyalty of the government
C. United the oppressed and exposed the injustices of the government
Which of the following is the purpose of a “leitmotif”?
a. It musically represents a person, place, or idea
b. It musically protests a political uprising
c. It musically records the historic events of a place
d. It musically inspires the audience to do a specific action
A. It musically represents a person, place, or idea
Composers typically use which of the musical modes to convey sadness?
a. Major mode
b. Mixolydian mode
c. Minor mode
d. Lydian mode
C. Minor mode
A loud, forceful, and fast sound tends to convey which of the following moods?
a. Sorrow
b. Elation
c. Hope
d. Passion
D. Passion
Which major pedagogue developed the system of music education through movement called eurythmics?
a. Kodaly
b. Dalcroze
c. Orff
d. Suzuki
B. Dalcroze
When encountering a difficult passage, how do musicians most effectively practice that passage?
a. Playing it as fast as possible
b. Studying it away from the instrument
c. Playing it slowly and thoughtfully
d. Playing the sections before and after
C. Playing it slowly and thoughtfully
Which of the following instrument groups would an orchestrator most likely choose to represent a lush canvas of passionate sound?
a. Percussion
b. Strings
c. Brass
d. Woodwinds
B. Strings
Which of the following articulations would best evoke a sense of raindrops?
a. Staccato
b. Legato
c. Tenuto
d. Fermata
A. Staccato
Musical phrasing, contour, and line can be most analogous to
a. The choice of subject and medium in a painting
b. The synchrony and interaction between dancers in a ballet
c. The melding of flavors and ingredients in culinary arts
d. The cadence and inflection of language in a narrated text
D. The cadence and inflection of language in a narrated text
The Fibonacci sequence in mathematics can be seen in all of the following aspects of music EXCEPT
a. The syncopation of dance forms with the divine equation
b. Compositional climaxes of musical works at the golden ratio
c. Diatonic scales and the foundational structure of the tonic triad
d. The design and construction of instruments such as the violin
A. The syncopation of dance forms with the divine equation
A performer’s decision to add dramatic intent within a certain musical piece is conceptually most similar to
a. A painter’s decision to use white instead of black paint
b. An actor’s personal interpretation of character lines
c. A writer’s alternate ending of a novel
d. A dancer’s warmup before a debut performance
B. An actor’s personal interpretation of character lines
The structure of sonata form in music can be seen most similarly to which literary narrative structure?
a. Setup-bridge-resolution
b. Setup-plot-conflict
c. Setup-conflict-resolution
d. Setup-resolution-plot
C. Setup-conflict-resolution
-Exposition–>Development–>Recapitulation
The overtone series can be best understood within the context of which scientific discipline?
a. Chemistry
b. Biology
c. Physics
d. Astronomy
C. Physics
-Acoustics
Which movement in music paralleled the movement in visual arts led by painters such as Monet, Cezanne, Degas, Manet, and Renior?
a. Impressionism
b. Rococo
c. Neoclassicism
d. Abstraction
A. Impressionism
The rhythms of music are most related to…
a. The size of canvas in a painting
b. The shape of a sculpture
c. The climax of the plot in a novel
d. The steps taken in dance
D. The steps taken in dance
A career in music business would include which of the following job titles?
a. Composer
b. Publicist
c. Accompanist
d. Vocalist
B. Publicist
Which of the following careers is concerned with overseeing and promoting the health of the performing artist?
a. Critical care medicine
b. Music therapy
c. Medical nutrition therapy
d. Performing arts medicine
D. Performing arts medicine
Which of the following coursework would be most important to an aspiring audio engineer?
a. Recording technology
b. Music theory
c. Physics
d. Music business
A. Recording technology
What is the minimum education requirement for those wishing to enter a career in music education?
a. Associates in music education, with the proper state teaching certification
b. Doctor of musical arts in music education, with the proper state teaching certification
c. Bachelor’s degree in music education, with the proper state teaching certification
d. Master’s degree in music education, with the proper state teaching certification
C. Bachelor’s degree in music education, with the proper state teaching certification
What are the main incentives for aspiring performers to compete in local, regional, and national competitions?
a. High school and college admissions
b. Performance opportunities and publicity
c. Financial and retirement stabilitiy
d. Music research and development
B. Performance opportunities and publicity
Of the following, which is the most secure job in music, providing extensive opportunities to tour, record, and perform at high-profile ceremonies as well as college repayment, health care, and other benefits?
a. Cruise ship musician
b. Orchestra musician
c. Military musician
d. Band musician
C. Military musician
Which of the following would best help a music producer with career advancement in an increasingly competitive environment?
a. Increasing his or her social media output
b. Obtaining a master’s degree in music
c. Buying the latest in audio technology
d. Diversifying his or her skill set
D. Diversifying his or her skill set
Which of the following forms is a mono-thematic composition in which a single subject is continually echoed throughout the piece through imitation and development?
a. Fugue form
b. Strophic form
c. Sectional variation
d. Rondo form
A. Fugue form
Which of the following should be done first before harmonizing a given melody?
a. Execution
b. Planning
c. Testing
d. Analysis
D. Analysis
What is the following tool for beginning improvisation?
a. Syncopation
b. Imitation
c. Modulation
d. Inversion
B. Imitation
What is the name if the motion of two musical lines where one line stays stationary while the other musical line moves in an upward or downward direction?
a. Contrary motion
b. Parallel motion
c. Similar motion
d. Oblique motion
D. Oblique motion
Oblique motion
The motion of two musical lines in which one line stays the same while the other musical line moves in an upward or downward motion
Contrary motion
Harmony moves in opposite directions
Parallel motion
Harmony moves in the same direction
Similar motion
Motion of two musical lines in similar directions
What is the name of the highly useful digital interface that allows communication between digital instruments and computers allowing ease of composing, arranging, performing, recording and editing?
a. RAM
b. DAW
c. MIDI
d. MP4
C. MIDI
How does bow handling on the cello and bass differ from bow handling on the violin and viola?
a. The pinky finger does not rest on top of the bow
b. The arm generally stays above the bow
c. The pinky fingers rests on top of the bow
d. The elbow generally stays above the bow
A. The pinky finger does not rest on top of the bow
Which trumpet mute, also known by the brand name Harmon mute, produces a buzzed tone, and is often associated with Miles Davis during his cool jass period?
a. Straight mute
b. Wah-wah mute
c. Cup mute
d. Bucket mute
B. Wah-wah mute
The cup mute results in what kind of tone?
A muffled, darker tone
The bucket mute results in what kind of tine
A softer tone, and reducing the piercing quality of loud or high notes that can be amplified by other mutes
What is the name of the playing technique for French horn which produces a slightly darker tone, more easily controls pitch, and aids in performing extended techniques such as stopped horn and echo horn?
a. Left-hand technique
b. Open-fist technique
c. Hand-horn technique
d. Closed-throat technique
C. Hand-horn technique
What is a common accompanying pattern in which chords are played note-by-note in succession instead of simultaneously?
a. Arpeggio
b. Scales
c. Blocked chords
d. Ostinato
A. Arpeggio
As a general rule, how often should a piano be tuned?
a. Once a year
b. Six times a year
c. Every other year
d. Two to four times a year
D. Two to four times a year
What is the name of the soft tissue at the top of the mouth cavity that singers raise to produce a relaxed and free sound while also easing register transitions and maintaining the health of the vocal mechanisms?
a. Epiglottis
b. Velum
c. Pharynx
d. Uvula
B. Velum
What physiological changes are happening to pubescent students when their voice “cracks”?
a. The pharynx expands and the uvula hardens
b. The alveolar ridge thickens and the oral cavity widens
c. The larynx enlarges and the vocal chords lengthen and thicken
d. The glottis strengthens and hard palate lowers
C. The larynx enlarges and the vocal chords lengthen and thicken
Epiglottis
A flap of cartilage at the root of the tongue, which is depressed during swallowing to cover the opening of the windpipe
Velum
The soft palate
Uvula
A fleshy extension at the back of the soft palate that hange above the throat
Larynx
The hollow muscular organ forming and air passage to the lungs and holding the vocal cords in humans and other mammals; the voice box
Alveolar ridge
One of the two jaw ridges either on the roof of the mouth between the upper teeth and the hard palate or on the bottom of the mouth behind the lower teeth
Glottis
The part of the larynx consisting of the vocal cords and the slit-like opening between them. It affects voice modulation through expansion or contraction
At what developmental stage does the larynx have the highest placement in the throat?
a. Puberty
b. Adult
c. Adolescence
d. Infancy
D. Infancy
Tessitura
The range within which most notes of a vocal part fall
Falsetto
Artificial voice, a male voice that is artificially high
What is the general range of the alto voice?
a. f to d”
b. B to g’
c. c’ to a”
d. E to c’
A. f to d”
What is the general range of the soprano voice?
Middle C to a”
What is the general range of the tenor voice?
B to g’
What is the general range of the bass voice?
E to c’
If a singer does not control the rate of exhalation, what common problem happens physically when the singer runs out of breath?
a. The diaphragm contracts
b. The abdominal tightens
c. The chest collapses
d. The pharynx dilates
C. The chest collapses
When the tongue rests forward in the mouth with the tip of the tongue resting against the bottom teeth for the most space in the mouth, what is the resultant sound?
a. Tinny
b. Dull
c. Bright
d. Resonant
D. Resonant
What is the system of notational reading that, when combined with hand motions, help to reinforce the special relationship between pitches for sight reading?
a. Roman numerals
b. C-clef
c. Solfege
d. Nashville system
C. Solfege
If a vocal student is told to practice yawning, he or she most likely has the common problem of
a. Singing with a tight throat
b. Singing out of tune
c. Singing with blurred words
d. Singing without rhythm
A. Singing with a tight throat
Taking a deep breath over many counts as possible, holding the breath, and then slowly letting out the air on an “s” sound for as long as possible, is an example of what type of vocal warm up?
a. Octave warm up
b. Falsetto warm up
c. Tessitura warm up
d. Breathing warm up
D. Breathing warm up
The pyramid model of balance and blend in a vocal ensemble refers to what theory?
a. Louder singers should sing at the same level as softer singers
b. Higher-pitched singers should sing softer than the lowest pitched singers
c. Taller singers should stand behind shorter singers
d. Melodic singers should sing louder than accompanying singers
B. Higher-pitched singers should sing softer than the lowest pitched singers
Vocal resonance is important for an effective vocal solo performance because
a. It increases breathing capacity
b. It stimulates harmonic overstones
c. It creates a well-projected sound
d. It clarifies vocal diction
C. It creates a well-projected sound
Of the following choral settings, which is better suited for homophonic pieces, but can create issues of the singers being able to listen to other parts?
a. Blocked formation
b. Matrix formation
c. Columnar formation
d. Mixed formation
A. Blocked formation
What are the benefits of having sectional rehearsals as opposed to having only full rehearsal?
a. The players have to clean, adjust, and tune their instruments together
b. The players are able to work out their counterpoint on original compositions
c. The players have the opportunity to work on their sight-reading skills
d. The players are able to fine-tune their parts together
D. The players are able to fine-tune their parts together
A conductor is conducting with heavier, slower movements, and with a grave expression on the fave, is requiring what sound and mood from the ensemble?
a. Dark and somber
b. Quick and energetic
c. Slow and passionate
d. Upbeat and hopeful
A. Dark and somber
What is NOT an aspect of the score the conductor needs to learn when preparing a score?
a. Form
b. Transpositions
c. Publisher
d. Dynamics
C. Publisher
How can conductors best promote cultural diversity in their music programs?
a. Take yearly trips to non-Western countries
b. Include non-Western musical repertoire into concerts
c. Have a non-Western music day camp
d. Assign non-Western textbooks to all students
B. Include non-Western musical repertoire into concerts
How should a conductor’s elbow be positioned?
a. Raised high above the podium
b. Close to the torso
c. Pointed to the front of the ensemble
d. Slightly raised away from the body
D. Slightly raised away from the body
What is the main role of the free hand when conducting an ensemble?
a. Keeping the beat
b. Musical reinforcement
c. Balance
d. Following the score
B. Musical Reinforcement
Which of the following described a sequence in which the second segment moved to a different tonal center than the first?
a. Real sequence
b. False sequence
c. Modulating sequence
d. Tonal sequence
C. Modulating sequence
Proper voice leading of harmonic progression typically features which of the following structures?
a. SATB
b. SAB
c. SSAA
d. TTBB
A. SATB
Which of the following improvisational tools is based on a dialogue structure?
a. Repetition
b. Question and answer
c. Syncopation
d. Heterophony
B. Question and answer
When arranging music, which group of instruments would best function as a crisp rhythmic flourish?
a. Strings
b. Woodwinds
c. Low brass
d. High brass
D. High brass
Which of the following notation software allows musicians to notate compositions electronically and then transfer the data to other MIDI instruments?
a. Mozarteum
b. Sibelius
c. MagicNote
d. Forte Score
B. Sibelius
What component of a stringed instrument generates the sound?
a. The strings
b. The soundboard
c. The bridge
d. The neck
A. The strings
When a bow moves faster across a stringed instrument with greater pressure, what sound is produced?
a. A softer dynamic
b. A sharper attack
c. A louder dynamic
d. A shorter duration
C. A louder dynamic
When beginning string players say their pegs do not hold, what is the most common cause?
a. They are not tuning the pegs in a clockwise motion
b. The length of the string is too long for the peg
c. The instrument has entered an environment that is too humid
d. They are not putting pressure on the end of the peg when turning is
D. They are not putting pressure on the end of the peg when turning it
Which of the following is NOT a double reed woodwind instrument?
a. Oboe
b. Bassoon
c. Clarinet
d. Sarrusophone
C. Clarinet
What is a helpful technique for woodwind students in developing good intoation?
a. Practicing long tones
b. Practicing in a group
c. Practicing in front of a mirror
d. Practicing rapid scales
A. Practicing long tones
On reed instruments, reeds that are chipped or cracked should be
a. Soaked
b. Discarded
c. Sanded
d. Trimmed
B. Discarded
A beginning student plays the flute with a small and weak tone; what is most likely causing the problem?
a. The student is overblowing
b. The wrists are bent the wrong way
c. The lip corners are pulled slightly back
d. The bottom lip is covering too much of the lip plate
D. The bottom lip is covering too much of the lip plate
Place the following instruments in order from brightest to darkest timbre: French horn, flugelhorn, trumpet, trombone
Trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, French horn
Which of the physical aspects of brass performance directly affects changes in dynamics?
a. Embouchure
b. Volume of air
c. Posture
d. Velocity of air
D. Velocity of air
For valved brass instruments, how often should valve oil be applied?
a. Only in particularly dry conditions
b. When storing the instrument long-term
c. Before every playing session
d. After an extended performance
C. Before every playing session
Which of the following is the most likely cause for a trumpet student’s pitch to fall flat only at the ends of musical phrases?
a. Lack of breath support
b. Mouth corners too relaxed
c. Neglecting to use the tuning slides
d. Tongue resting too high in the mouth
A. Lack of breath support
Which percussion instruments are played by striking two objects together?
a. Percussion idiophones
b. Membranophones
c. Concussion idiophones
d. Friction idiophones
C. Concussion idiophones
Percussion Idiophones
Percussion instruments struck by mallets
Friction idiophones
Percussion instruments played by rubbing and include the musical saw and the glass harmonica
Which of the following marimba mallet grips provide the most independence for mallet movement?
a. Traditional cross grip
b. Musser/Stevens grip
c. Two-mallet grip
d. Burton grip
B. Musser/Stevens grip
How should cymbals be stored?
a. Upright in a sturdy and stiff box
b. Stacked in a dark closet or room
c. Flat in a soundproof and clean locker
d. Divided into padded bags or cases
D. Divided into padded bags or cases
Which of the following is the most likely cause of a buzzing sound when a beginner snare drum student plays fast?
a. The student is hammering the drumstick onto the drum
b. The student is playing multiple strokes on the drum
c. The student is dropping the drumstick onto the drum
d. The student is playing single strokes on the drum
A. The student is hammering the drumstick onto the drum
Instrumental warm-ups should….
a. Begin with the most challenging techniques to expedite the process
b. Begin moderately then gradually increasing the speed, intensity, and range
c. Begin and maintain slow tempo, low intensity, and a narrow range
d. Begin with physical stretching and then proceed immediately to repertoire
B. Begin moderately then gradually increase the speed, intensity, and range
Which of the following is NOT an important element of an effective solo performance?
a. Dynamics
b. Correct intonation
c. Phrasing
d. Fingering
D. Fingering
How often should a conductor check for accurate intonation of the ensemble?
a. Only at the beginning of rehearsal
b. Every third rehearsal
c. Periodically during rehearsals
d. At the end of every rehearsal
C. Periodically during rehearsals
What plays a direct role in vowel formation and clear diction for singers?
a. The larynx
b. The tongue
c. The lungs
d. The vocal tract
B. The tongue
Of the following, what is the best technique for using recordings in score study?
a. Listen to a variety of interpretations
b. Use recordings at every rehearsal
c. Listen to famous recordings
d. Practicing conducting to the recording
A. Listen to a variety of interpretations
Which of the following instruments is typically notated on the treble clef and sound a minor third higher than written?
a. Bb Clarinet
b. A Clarinet
c. D Clarinet
d. Eb Clarinet
D. Eb Clarinet
Characteristics of Music in the Medieval Era
- Sacred and secular vocal music dominated the scene
- Sacred: Gregorian chant and Masses (non-imitative polyphony)
- Secular: Dance music from troubadours and trouveres
- Sacred music evolved with the development of organum
- Medieval polyphony=motet
- Secular music became the driving force of musical development
Gregorian Chant
- Free flowing melodies
- No distinct meter
- Melismatic
- Monophonic
- Unaccompanied voice/choir
Organum
Early polyphony where voices sing melodies in parallel motion (generally a fourth or a fifth)
Motet
- Spanned both sacred and secular music
- Most important form of Medieval polyphony
Musical importance of the Mass
- One of the most important services of the Roman Catholic church
- Driving force in musical development in Medieval and Renaissance eras
- Musical advancements applied to the Mass
The first mass by a known composer was
Machaut’s Mess de Notre Dame
As large scale form, the mass appeared in many composers oeuvre, including…
- Dufay
- Josquin
- Palestrina
- Haydn
- Mozart
- Beethoven
- Schubert
- Weber
- Berlioz
- Verdi
- Wagner
- Faure
Medieval Motet
- Featured tenor line derived from plainchant in French or Latin
- Tenor line has a short, repeated rhythmic pattern while upper voice had contrasting material
- Texts in the upper voice were sometimes independent and in a different language from the tenor line
Renaissance Motet
- More of a genre than a certain form or structure
- A polyphonic setting of any sacred Latin text, not restricted to the liturgy
- Composers introduced imitation, homophony, and four-part harmony to the motet
The motet was a major musical form of the Medieval and Renaissance periods that emerged from…
Medieval organum and clausulae
Polyphony
A texture of music in which all voices or parts hold similar musical prominence or interest. This can be thought of as several distinct melodic lines occurring at the same time. The rhythm of each line moves independently of each other
Homophony
Has several voices or parts, but melodic interest is reduced to a single voice or part. All other voices or parts support the main melody as accompaniment and move together in rhythmic likeness. Can be though of as any form of melody and accompaniment
Monophony
Centers of a single melodic line, however, unlike homophony, it does not have supplemental accompaniment parts. For example, in plainchant, in which a single line of melody embodies the entire work itself
Characteristics of Baroque music that Classsical composers rejected
-Ornamentation
-Tonality was established
-Counterpoint was invented
-Range, size, and complexity of orchestrations were expanded
-Innovations in the Baroque era became complex, Classical music was in response to the craziness
~Homophony replaced polyphony
~More simple
~Slower harmonic rhythm
~Stylistic contrasts within a piece
~Natural melody over textural accompaniment
Musical innovations/characteristics of the Baroque era
- Tonality established
- Counterpoint invented
- Size, range, and complexity of orchestrations expanded
- Polyphony
- Complexity
- Strong Passion
- Linear bass line
- Kept a musical piece in one affect
Nationalism
- Romatic era
- evoked the national or regional character of a place
- usage of folk music
Russian Nationalist composers
- Glinka
- Borodin
- Balakirev
- Mussorgsky
- Rimsky-Korsakov
Czechoslovakian Nationalist composers
- Smetana
- Dvorak
- Janacek
English Nationalist composers
- Holst
- Elgar
- Vaugh Williams
Spanish Nationalist composers
- Albeniz
- Granados
- de Falla
Hungarian Nationalist composers
- Bartok
- Kodaly
United States Nationalist composers
- Ives
- Harris
- Gershwin
- Copland
Debate over Program music and Absolute music
- Music philosophers debated the value of program v absolute music
- Programmatic music flourished in the Romantic era
- Absolute music (instrumental music that existed apart from extra-musical references, able to move audiences solely on the purity of music itself)
- Proponents of programmatic music argued that music alone could not express anything, and that music needed associations for audiences to fully grasp musical expression
Program Music
Music that represented non-musical images or ideas. It flourished in the Romantic era with program symphonies, symphonic poems, and character pieces with descriptive titles
List some examples of Romantic-period program music
- Don Quixote by Strauss
- Danse Macabre by Saint-Seans
- Symphonie Fantastique by Berioz
- The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Dukas
Absolute Music
Instrumental music that existed apart from extra-musical references, able to move audiences solely on the purity of the music itself
Impact of valved horns and trumpets
- Range of horns was limited to notes in the overtone series
- Keys=chromatic notes they had not been able to play
- Composers incorporated more brass into their orchestrations, thus making brass a vital part of an orchestra
Horns prior to the 19th century
-Range limited to the overtone series and hand stopping techniques to change pitches
What did stopping technique do?
Gave horn a wider ranger, though tone and volume were effected
List composers who are known for their tremendously large orchestrations and vast scope of sound
- Wagner
- Strauss
- Stravinsky
- Mahler
Impressionist movement
- Influenced by the visual arts
- Debussy developed musical equivalent where sound defied strict harmonic rules
- Focus on color rather than functionality
- Melodies tended to center around a single pitch without much climax
Impressionist composers
- Debussy
- Ravel
- Bartok
- Messiaen
- Ligeti
- Crumb
Arnold Schoenberg
- Austrian theorist and painter
- One of the most influential composers of his time
- Developed 12 tone technique
Describe 12 tone technique
- All 12 pitches are treated equally
- Conventions of tonality rejected
- 12 pitches are ordered that become a basic melody
- Can be in any range or duration, but must be introduced in that order