Strings
Woodwinds
Brass
Percussion
Terms
100

This Italian term means to pluck the strings with your fingers instead of using the bow.

Pizzicato

100

This is the main purpose of having transposing instruments in the woodwind family.

To allow players to use consistent fingerings across different instruments in the family?

100

Define the tone of the trumpet's upper register (above C6)

Bright, loud, and piercing

100

These two types of percussion instruments serve different purposes: one provides melody and harmony while the other provides rhythm and texture.

Definite and indefinite

100

When writing a double or triple stop, an arranger must keep this important physical limitation in mind.

Notes must be on adjacent strings and physically playable (within finger stretch)

200

This string instrument sounds one octave lower than written, giving us those deep bass lines.

Double Bass

200

The piccolo sounds this many octaves higher than written.

One octave
200

In an orchestra, these numbered horn parts play the upper parts while the others play lower parts.

I and III

200

A full-range marimba spans how many octaves?

5

200

Hard mallets made of wood or plastic produce this type of tone quality on mallet percussion instruments.

Cutting or articulate
300

This technique is produced by rocking the finger on the string and adds warmth and expression to the tone.

Vibrato

300

These tones on clarinet sound weak, unstable, and typically out of tune

Throat tones

300

You need this many horns to balance one trumpet or trombone at mezzo-forte or above.

Two

300

The xylophone sounds what in comparison to the written pitch?

Up one octave

300

This is one common mistake that arrangers make when writing for brass instruments.

Writing their entrance note too high

400

Describe a down bow and up bow. What is the musical purpose for each? How is each marked?

A down bow moves from the frog toward the tip and naturally produces a stronger, heavier sound, making it ideal for strong beats or emphasized notes. An up bow moves from the tip toward the frog and creates a lighter, more agile sound, often used for weak beats or pickups. Together, these strokes help string players shape phrasing, control dynamics, and create musical contrast.

400
If a baritone saxophone plays a written Bb4, what is the sounding pitch?

Db3

400

If the Bb trumpet plays a written Eb, what is the sounding pitch?

Db

400

This drum rudiment consists of one grace note followed by a main note.

Flam

400

What instrument is named "batasche" in German?

Viola
500

When writing for younger string ensembles, you should not go past this finger position.

Third!

500

If the bass clarinet sounds a G2, what is the written pitch?

A3

500

If an E trumpet sounds an A#4, what is the written pitch?

F#4

500

The glockenspiel sounds what in comparison to the written pitch

Two octaves up

500

The open strings of the viola, from lowest to highest, are these four notes

C, G, D, A

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