Notation & Staff
What clef is used for higher pitched instruments? Name two of those instruments.
Treble
Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Alto/Tenor/Bari Saxophone, Trumpet, French Horn, Mallet Percussion
What does the top number of a time signature tell you?
The top number denotes how many beats are in each measure.
What is the interval pattern (W/H) for a major scale?
Whole — Whole — Half — Whole — Whole — Whole — Half
(W-W-H-W-W-W-H)
Match the symbol to its meaning: staccato (•), tenuto (—), accent (>).
Staccato (•) = short, detached; Tenuto (—) = hold full value / slight emphasis; Accent (>) = stronger attack / stronger emphasis on the note.
Define "segno" and "coda" in one sentence each.
Segno: a symbol marking a place in the music to which you return when instructed.
Coda: a distinct concluding passage used to bring the piece to its ending.
Explain the visual difference between a single bar line and a double bar line and give one musical purpose of a double bar line.
Single bar line: a thin vertical line that separates measures. Double bar line / final bar line: two vertical lines (often the second thicker) indicating the end of a section or the piece; also used to show a key or meter change between sections
Define common time and cut time, then state their numeric equivalents.
Common time (C) = 4/4 (four quarter-note beats per measure). Cut time (C with vertical line) = 2/2 (two half-note beats per measure).
Write the key signature (number of sharps or flats) for the key of Db major
D♭ major has five flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭.
What is a fermata?
A fermata indicates the performer should hold the note or rest longer than its notated value until the conductor indicates the release.
What do D.C. al Fine and D.S. al Coda instruct a player to do?
D.C. al Fine — go back to the beginning (Da Capo) and play until you reach the word Fine, then stop.
D.S. al Coda — go back to the Segno sign, play until you see the instruction "To Coda", then jump to the Coda section and continue to the end.
On the treble clef, identify the note on the second line and the space immediately above it (give letter names).
Second Line = G
Second Space = A
In 6/8 time, which beat(s) are generally the strong beats?
In 6/8 the strong beats are typically beat 1 and beat 4 (two main pulses), so you feel two groups of three eighth notes: 1 (2 3) 4 (5 6).
Define the chromatic scale and explain how many unique pitch classes it contains within an octave.
The chromatic scale contains 12 unique pitch classes within an octave (each a half step apart)
Explain the difference between a tie and a slur.
Tie: connects two notes of the same pitch
Slur: connects notes of different pitches
What is a simile mark?
The simile mark indicates that the previous measure's articulation, accentuation, or rhythmic pattern should be repeated for the marked measure(s).
Define enharmonic pitches and provide three examples that are notated differently but sound the same.
Enharmonic pitches are notes that sound the same pitch but are written differently. Examples: C# = Db; D# = Eb; E# = F; F# = Gb; G# = Ab; A# = Bb; B# = C
Explain how an accidental inside a measure affects subsequent notes in the same measure and whether it carries across a bar line.
An accidental applies for the remainder of the measure to that staff line/pitch (all subsequent occurrences of that pitch class in the same octave and staff) unless cancelled by a natural or another accidental; it does not carry across a bar line.
Given the notes: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C — name the scale.
C Minor
Provide tempo ranges (BPM) for Andante, Allegro, and Vivace as listed on the review sheet.
Andante = 76–108 BPM; Allegro = 120–156 BPM; Vivace = 156–176 BPM.
Define Embouchure.
Embouchure is the formation and use of the mouth, lips, facial muscles, and jaw on a wind or brass instrument.
Notate (name) the pitches that form a C major triad in closed position starting middle C (name each pitch).
C — E — G.
You see a measure marked common with the tempo marking ♩ = 88. What is the implied tempo? (term).
Andante
Explain why E# is enharmonic to F.
They sound the same pitch.
There is not a "black key" between E and F on the keyboard or in western music.
Describe how phrasing, dynamics, and articulation together shape musical line in a wind ensemble passage.
Phrasing (shape of musical line), dynamics (volume changes), and articulation (attack/release) collectively create musical direction and expressive contour.
A piece shows: A Segno at measure 5, D.S. al Coda at measure 28, and a Coda sign at measure 32 with "To Coda" at measure 16. Describe the exact navigation order of measures a player will perform from start to finish.