Question 1: Identify the key signature described as having three sharps. Name the key this signature most commonly represents.

Answer: The key signature with three sharps corresponds to A major or F# minor. The most common is A major.

Question 2: Write the rhythmic notation for a bar containing a dotted quarter note followed by an eighth note and two sixteenth notes. Use a time signature of 4/4.

Answer: A dotted quarter note (1.5 beats), an eighth note (0.5 beats), and two sixteenth notes (0.25 + 0.25 beats), filling the bar to 4 beats.

Question 3: Listen carefully to a piece of music and describe the interval between the first two notes. Is it a major or minor interval, and what is its name?

Answer: The interval is a [major/minor] [second/third/fourth/etc.], meaning it spans [number] steps and is characterized as either major or minor based on its size.

Question 4: Explain the difference between a sharp (#) and a flat (b) in musical notation.

Answer: A sharp raises the pitch of a note by a semitone, while a flat lowers the pitch of a note by a semitone.

Question 5: Describe the function of a tie in musical notation and give an example scenario where it would be used.

Answer: A tie connects two notes of the same pitch across a bar line, combining their durations into a single sustained note.

Question 6: Sketch a simple rhythmic pattern consisting of a quarter note, an eighth note, another quarter note, and a half note. Leave space for the student to draw.

Answer: A correct sketch would show four notes in sequence: quarter note (1 beat), eighth note (0.5 beats), quarter note (1 beat), half note (2 beats), totaling 4 beats in a 4/4 measure.

Question 7: Identify the time signature commonly used in waltzes and describe its beat pattern.

Answer: The time signature is 3/4, with a beat pattern of ONE-two-three, where each measure contains three quarter note beats.

Question 8: If a melody contains a series of notes moving up by a perfect fifth, what is the interval called and how many semitones does it encompass?

Answer: The interval is a perfect fifth, which spans 7 semitones.

Question 9: Describe what a crescendo marking indicates in musical notation and how a performer should interpret it.

Answer: A crescendo indicates that the music should gradually get louder over the specified passage.

Question 10: Listen to a passage of music. What is the overall mood conveyed by the use of minor keys and slow tempo? Explain briefly.

Answer: The mood is likely somber, melancholic, or reflective, often associated with minor keys and slow tempo.

Question 11: Write out the notes of a C major scale ascending, including all the natural notes only.

Answer: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C