In this collection there will be a bunch of questions about the elements of music to all music students and musician
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Unit 1: Elements of Music
Practice Test
Name ____________________________ Date _________________
Multiple Choice Listening Questions
_________1.
The dynamics of the excerpt may be described as
A.
pianissimo
B.
piano
C.
forte
D.
fortissimo
_________2.
The vibrating element in the excerpt is
A.
a column of air
B.
a stretched string
C.
the instrument itself
D.
a stretched skin or membrane
_________3.
The excerpt is being performed by a
A.
string quartet
B.
woodwind quintet
C.
brass quintet
D.
piano trio
_________4.
The solo woodwind instrument in the excerpt is a
A.
flute
B.
oboe
C.
clarinet
D.
bassoon
_________5.
The solo instrument in the excerpt is a
A.
trumpet
B.
trombone
C.
French horn
D.
tuba
_________6.
The excerpt is an example of
A.
crescendo
B.
decrescendo
C.
accelerando
D.
ritardando
_________7.
The excerpt is in ___________ meter
A.
duple
B.
triple
C.
quadruple
D.
quintuple
_________8.
The harmony of the excerpt is basically
A.
major
B.
minor
C.
atonal
D.
modulation
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_________9.
The texture of the excerpt is
A.
monophonic
B.
polyphonic
C.
homophonic
D.
tonic
Multiple Choice
_________10.
Music can be defined as
A.
sounds produced by musical instruments
B.
sounds that are pleasing, as opposed to noise
C.
an art based on the organization of sounds in time
D.
a system of symbols that performers learn to read
_________11.
The four main properties of musical sounds are pitch, dynamics, tone color, and
A.
duration
B.
tempo
C.
melody
D.
medium
_________12.
Pitch is defined as
A.
degrees of loudness or softness in music
B.
the quality that distinguishes musical sounds
C.
the relative highness or lowness that we hear in a sound
D.
leaning on a musical note
_________13.
In general, the smaller the vibrating element, the __________ its pitch
A.
higher
B.
softer
C.
lower
D.
louder
_________14.
Melody may be defined as
A.
an emotional focal point in a tune
B.
a resting place at the end of a phrase
C.
a series of single notes which add up to a recognizable whole
D.
the organization of beats into regular groupings
_________15.
The musical element that refers to the way chords are constructed and how they follow
each other is
A.
harmony
B.
tempo
C.
melody
D.
meter
_________16.
Dynamics in music refers to
A.
the quality that distinguishes musical sounds
B.
the relative highness or lowness we hear in a sound
C.
an exemplary performance
D.
degrees of loudness and softness
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_________17.
A gradual increase in loudness is known as a
A.
decrescendo
B.
crescendo
C.
fortissimo
D.
diminuendo
_________18.
Timbre
is synonymous with
A.
sound
B.
vibrations
C.
tone color
D.
dynamic accent
_________19.
Which of the following is
not
a normal classification of male voice ranges?
A.
contralto
B.
baritone
C.
tenor
D.
bass
_________20.
The difference between an orchestra and a concert band is
A.
the orchestra does not have brass instruments
B.
the concert band does not have percussion instruments
C.
the orchestra does not have woodwind instruments
D.
the concert band does not have string instruments
_________21.
Which of the following is an example of a chamber ensemble?
A.
Concert Band
B.
Flute Trio
C.
Chorus
D.
String Orchestra
_________22.
Which of the following is
not
a brass instrument?
A.
cornet
B.
French horn
C.
euphonium
D.
clarinet
_________23.
The ___________ are the only orchestral drums of definite pitch.
A.
snare drums
B.
bass drums
C.
timpani
D.
tambourines
_________24.
The ________ is a regular, recurrent pulsation that divides music into equal units of time
A.
beat
B.
syncopation
C.
tempo
D.
rhythm
_________25.
The organization of beats into regular groups is called
A.
meter
B.
syncopation
C.
tempo
D.
dynamics
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_________26.
When an accent occurs on an unexpected beat, the effect is known as
A.
an error
B.
syncopation
C.
expiation
D.
pizzicato
_________27.
The term ___________ refers to the rate of speed of the beat of the music
A.
meter
B.
syncopation
C.
tempo
D.
dynamics
_________28.
Key
refers to
A.
the major scale
B.
a central tone, scale, and chord
C.
any twelve random pitches
D.
a musical symbol placed at the beginning of the staff
_________29.
Tonality
is another term for
A.
key
B.
scale
C.
chromaticism
D.
modulation
_________30.
When there is a change in tonality it is called a
A.
minor
B.
atonal
C.
major
D.
modulation
_________31.
If a flute player were to play a solo without any other accompaniment, the texture would
be
A.
contrapuntal
B.
homophonic
C.
monophonic
D.
polyphonic
_________32.
When there is one main melody accompanied by chords, the texture is
A.
polyphonic
B.
homophonic
C.
monophonic
D.
imitative
_________33.
When there are 2 or more equally important melodies sounding at the same time, the
texture is
A.
polyphonic
B.
homophonic
C.
monophonic
D.
imitative
_________34.
The organization of musical ideas in time is called
A.
form
B.
repetition
C.
ternary
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D.
variation
_________35.
Two part form is also known as
A.
Binary
B.
Ternary
C.
Rondo
D.
Theme & Variations
_________36.
Three part form is also known as
A.
Binary
B.
Ternary
C.
Rondo
D.
Theme & Variations
_________37.
ABACADA is an example of
A.
Binary form
B.
Ternary form
C.
Rondo form
D.
Theme & Variations form
_________38.
A A
1
A
2
A
3
is an example of
A.
Binary form
B.
Ternary form
C.
Rondo form
D.
Theme & Variations form
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Answer Key
1.
Answers will vary
2.
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3.
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4.
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5.
Answers will vary
6.
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7.
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8.
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9.
Answers will vary
10.
C
11.
A
12.
C
13.
A
14.
C
15.
A
16.
D
17.
B
18.
C
19.
A
20.
D
21.
B
22.
D
23.
C
24.
A
25.
A
26.
B
27.
C
28.
B
29.
A
30.
D
31.
C
32.
B
33.
A
34.
A
35.
A
36.
B
37.
C
38.
D