Question 1: Define the term 'tempo' in music. What does it indicate to a performer?

Answer: Tempo refers to the speed at which a piece of music is played. It indicates how fast or slow the music should be performed.

Question 2: Identify the musical term used to describe a gradual increase in volume. Explain what this means for the performer.

Answer: Crescendo. It means the performer should gradually increase the loudness of the music.

Question 3: Listen carefully to a piece of music. If the music suddenly becomes softer, what term describes this change?

Answer: Decrescendo or diminuendo.

Question 4: Describe the difference between 'staccato' and 'legato' playing styles.

Answer: Staccato involves playing notes short and detached, while legato means playing notes smoothly and connectedly.

Question 5: Write a brief explanation of what a 'key signature' is and how it affects the music.

Answer: A key signature is a set of sharps or flats at the beginning of a staff that indicates the key of the piece. It determines which notes are sharp or flat throughout the music.

Question 6: Listen to a short musical extract. Identify whether the rhythm is simple or complex, and justify your answer.

Answer: The rhythm is [simple/complex] because it [has a steady beat with few subdivisions / contains syncopation and irregular patterns].

Question 7: Sketch a diagram to represent a musical phrase that starts softly, gradually gets louder, and then ends softly again. Label the dynamics on your sketch.

Answer: A graph with the y-axis representing volume, starting at a low level, rising gradually to a high point, then decreasing back to a low level. Labels: 'p' for soft (pianissimo) at the start, 'crescendo' at the peak, and 'p' again at the end.

Question 8: Explain what is meant by the term 'melody' and how it differs from 'harmony'.

Answer: A melody is a sequence of notes that form the main tune of a piece. Harmony involves the combination of different notes played or sung simultaneously to support the melody.

Question 9: Identify the musical term that describes a repeated pattern of notes or rhythms. How does repetition affect a piece of music?

Answer: The term is 'ostinato.' Repetition creates familiarity and can add emphasis or structure to a piece.

Question 10: Describe how a student might recognize a piece of music that is in a minor key versus a major key. Mention at least two differences.

Answer: Music in a minor key often sounds sad or serious, while major keys sound bright or happy. Minor scales have a lowered third note compared to major scales, affecting the overall mood.

Question 11: Listen to a passage of music. Identify which musical term best describes the overall mood: 'joyful,' 'melancholy,' or 'tense'. Justify your choice based on the dynamics, tempo, or harmony.

Answer: The mood is [joyful/melancholy/tense] because [description of the music's tempo, dynamics, or harmony that supports this mood].