Simple Concepts

Question 1

Ascending

Answer 1

Notes getting higher in pitch

Question 2

Descending

Answer 2

Notes getting lower in pitch

Question 3

Step

Answer 3

Moving up or down between notes which are next to each other

Question 4

Leap

Answer 4

Jumping between notes which are not next to each other

Question 5

Question

Answer 5

An opening phrase which is often followed by an answer

Question 6

Answer

Answer 6

A short musical phrase that follows on from a question

Question 7

Repetition

Answer 7

When a phrase is repeated exactly

Question 8

Sequence

Answer 8

When a pattern is immediately repeated at a higher or lower pitch

Question 9

Imitation

Answer 9

When a phrase is copied exactly by another instrument or voice

Question 10

Unison

Answer 10

Playing/singing the same note at the same time

Question 11

Harmony

Answer 11

Playing/singing different notes at the same time

Question 12

Counter-melody

Answer 12

Another melody player at the same time as the main melody

Question 13

Staccato

Answer 13

Notes played short and detached

Question 14

Legato

Answer 14

Notes played smoothly

Question 15

Accented

Answer 15

Notes which sound louder than others

Question 16

Accelerando

Answer 16

Gradually getting faster

Question 17

Rallentando

Answer 17

Gradually getting slower

Question 18

A tempo

Answer 18

The music returns to the main tempo after there has been a change

Question 19

Major

Answer 19

Music in a major key tends to sound bright

Question 20

Minor

Answer 20

Music in a minor key sounds fuller than that in a major key

Question 21

Accompanied

Answer 21

Instruments support the main melody

Question 22

Unaccompanied

Answer 22

There are no instruments supporting the melody

Question 23

A Capella

Answer 23

Unaccompanied vocal music

Question 24

Modulation

Answer 24

When music changes key

Question 25

Broken chord

Answer 25

When the notes of a chord are played one after the other

Question 26

Ostinato

Answer 26

A short melody or rhythm which constantly repeats

Question 27

Improvisation

Answer 27

When music is made up on the spot

Question 28

Syncopation

Answer 28

When the accents in music are off the beat

Question 29

Discord

Answer 29

When notes played together clash with each other

Question 30

Polyphonic

Answer 30

The parts enter and weave independently, but sound pleasant together

Question 31

Homophonic

Answer 31

All the parts move together in the same basic rhythm

Question 32

Theme and variation

Answer 32

When the main theme is played several times but in different ways

Question 33

Pentatonic scale

Answer 33

A 5 note scale often used in Scottish music, played on the black keys of a piano

Question 34

Chromatic scale

Answer 34

Moving in semitones, the smallest musical steps

Question 35

Whole time scale

Answer 35

A scale containing no semitones but built entirely on whole tones

Question 36

Acciaccatura (grace notes)

Answer 36

A crushed note played very quickly on the beat or just before it

Question 37

Trill

Answer 37

2 adjacent notes are played over and over very quickly

Question 38

Mordant

Answer 38

A 3 note ornament which sounds the main note, the note above, and then the main note again

Question 39

Atonal

Answer 39

Music which is neither in a major or minor key