Question 1: Describe the sound qualities of a typical acoustic guitar when played softly versus when strummed vigorously.

Answer: Soft playing produces a gentle, mellow tone with a warm, rounded sound. Vigorous strumming results in a louder, brighter, and more resonant tone with increased attack and possibly more sustain.

Question 2: Identify which instrument produces a sound characterized by a bright, metallic timbre and is often used in jazz and pop music for its sharp, resonant sound.

Answer: The trumpet.

Question 3: Listen to a section where a bowed string instrument plays sustained notes with a smooth, lyrical quality. Name the instrument and describe a typical playing technique used to achieve this sound.

Answer: The instrument is likely a violin or a cello. A common technique is using the bow with controlled pressure and speed to produce a smooth, sustained tone without abrupt attacks.

Question 4: Compare the sound of a flute to that of a clarinet. What are the main differences in their tone color and playing technique?

Answer: The flute produces a bright, airy, and piercing tone with a pure sound, achieved by blowing across a hole. The clarinet has a warmer, richer, and more woody sound, created by a single reed vibrating against the mouthpiece.

Question 5: Identify the instrument: It produces sound when a performer blows air across a mouthpiece with a single reed, creating a rich, woody tone. It is often used in jazz, classical, and folk music.

Answer: The clarinet.

Question 6: Sketch a diagram of a typical percussion instrument that is struck with a pair of mallets to produce a deep, resonant sound. Label the main parts of the instrument.

Answer: A correct sketch would show a large, hollow, resonant body (such as a timpani or bass drum), with two mallets positioned above or beside it. Labels should include 'body', 'mallets', and 'striking surface'.

Question 7: Identify the instrument described: It is a brass instrument with a slide mechanism used to change pitch, and it is commonly associated with jazz and big band music.

Answer: The trombone.

Question 8: Listen to a passage where a keyboard instrument produces a range of dynamics and textures, from soft and delicate to loud and powerful. Name the instrument and explain how its sound can be varied.

Answer: The instrument is the piano. Its sound varies through the use of the keyboard (dynamics), pedaling (sustain and tone color), and touch (attack and release).

Question 9: Draw a simple schematic of an electric guitar's basic components, including the body, neck, strings, pickups, and output jack. Leave space for labels.

Answer: A correct sketch would show a body with six strings running from the headstock to the bridge, pickups beneath the strings, a neck extending from the body, and an output jack. Labels should include 'body', 'neck', 'strings', 'pickups', and 'output jack'.

Question 10: Describe the difference between a woodwind instrument and a brass instrument in terms of how sound is produced.

Answer: A woodwind produces sound by splitting a column of air on a sharp edge or by vibrating a reed, while a brass instrument produces sound by buzzing the lips into a mouthpiece, causing the air column inside to vibrate.