Lisa HollenbeckEducational Assessment 510 Paper & Pencil Test12th Grade Theory Music Class

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Name:________________________________ Music Theory I Grade 12

Part I

1. How high or low a note sounds is determined by itsA. value.B. duration.C. rhythm.D. pitch. *

20081182. Tchaikovsky composed the music to Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.These are both examples of what musical genre?

A. ballet *B. fugueC. musicalD. opera

53. Which of these terms is used to describe tempo?

A. staccatoB. legatoC. portamentoD. allegro *

2008119 4. Which of the following best definesrhythm?

A. pattern of movement *B. musical shape

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C. melodic lineD. musical notation

5. How many quarter note beats fit into a      bar?A. 3B. 8C. 0D. 4

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6. Which of these identifies a traditional Mexican music ensemble playingtrumpets, violins, and guitars?

A. bongoB. marimbaC. mariachi *D. kabuki

2008127. Which of these terms calls for music to be playedin the fastest tempo?

A. adagioB. lentoC. prestoD. vivace *

8. Which of these terms is three or more different tones played or sung at the same time?A. homophoneB. chordC. rhythm.

D. pitch. *20081189. Which of these terms is played fast and cheerfully? A. allegro *

B. andanteC. maestosoD. opera

510. Which of these terms is used to describe musical tones that sound tense or very active when played together?

A. portamento

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B. legatoC. dissonanceD. allegro *

2008119 11. Which of the following best defines playing a section of music loud?

A. piano *B. crescendoC. pianissimoD. forte

2008120 Art Code 2008120.AR1, 2008120.AR2, 2008120.AR3, 2008120.AR4

12.Which of these is the term to describe when one person plays a section of music?A. slurB. soloC. soliD. divisi

13. Which of these terms describes what divides the staff into measures?A. clefB. bar lineC. double bar line *D. Da Capo

20081214. Which of these terms is what you use to extend the staff?

A. roundB. slurC. tieD. ledger lines*

15. Which of these terms is used to lower the pitch of a note a half-step?A. clef*B. motifC. flatD. meter

16) Complete the following statements:

a.      means there are ______ quarter note beats in each bar.

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b. In a bar of music written in 2/4  there are two beats, and the ________________  note is the note that gets the beat.

c. In a bar of music written in  _____  there are three beats, and the quarter note gets the beat.

d. How many beats are there in a bar of music written in  3/4 ?

Answer: __________

Part II

17. Underneath each bar of music, write in the counts. Then write the letter names above each note:

a.

b. 

c. 

18. Complete each of the following bars by drawing one rest above the bracket of the correct time value. Then write in the counts below each bar.

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19. Draw barlines in the following excerpts according to the given time signatures. Then write the counts underneath and the letter names above:

a.

 b.

c. 

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Part III

Label the key, then write down the chord progression and the type of cadence.

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Part IV

For each of the following bars of music, beam the eighth notes properly to show the beat units. Write the correct answer in the empty staff beneath each excerpt. Then draw in the beats above, and the subdivision (breakdown) beneath the answer.

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Here are some triads, with the key indicated. Circle True or False

a) (g minor)

 

  T or F

d) (d Diminished) 

 

 T or F

b)  (f minor)

   

 T or F

e) (b minor)

  

T or F

b) (A Major) 

 

  T or F

f) (F major) 

 

  T or F

Name the mode that is formed by writing a major scale in the following manner:

List of Possible Answers

i) starting on the first note: _______________. Lydian

ii) starting on the second note: ____________. Dorian

iii) starting on the third note: ______________. Aeolian

iv) starting on the fourth note: _____________. Mixolydian

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v) starting on the fifth note: _______________. Phrygian

vi) starting on the sixth note: ______________. Ionian

vii) starting on the seventh note: ___________. Locrian

Part V

Use the information below to complete the exercise that follows.Improvisation plays an important role in many types of music (e.g., figured bass, cadenzas, jazz).Using your knowledge of music theory, history, and performance, write an essay in which you:• choose one genre from any musical tradition in which improvisation is a key element; and• describe the nature of improvisation and its function within the genre you have selected.

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Teacher Answer Key – Answer is Highlighted Green Music Theory I

Grade: 12

1. How high or low a note sounds is determined by itsA value.B pitch C rhythm.D duration *2008118

2. Tchaikovsky composed the music to Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.These are both examples of what musical genre?A ballet *B fugueC musicalD opera53. Which of these terms is used to describe tempo?A staccatoB legatoC allegro D portamento*2008119

4. Which of the following best defines rhythm?A pattern of movement *B musical shapeC melodic lineD musical notation

5. How many quarter note beats fit into a      bar?A 3B 8C 0

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D 44

6. Which of these identifies a traditional Mexican music ensemble playingtrumpets, violins, and guitars?A bongoB marimbaC mariachi *D kabuki

7. Which of these terms calls for music to be played in the fastest tempo?A adagioB lentoC prestoD vivace *

8. Which of these terms is three or more different tones played or sung at the same time?A homophoneB chordC rhythm.D pitch. *20081189. Which of these terms is played fast and cheerfully?A allegro *B andanteC maestosoD opera510. Which of these terms is used to describe musical tones that sound tense or very active when played together?A portamentoB legatoC dissonanceD allegro *2008119 11. Which of the following best defines playing a section of music loud?A piano *B crescendoC pianissimo

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D forte2008120 Art Code 2008120.AR1, 2008120.AR2, 2008120.AR3, 2008120.AR4

12.Which of these is the term to describe when one person plays a section of music?A slurB soloC soliD divisi

13. Which of these terms describes what divides the staff into measures?A clefB bar lineC double bar line *D Da Capo20081214. Which of these terms is what you use to extend the staff?A roundB slurC tieD ledger lines*

15. Which of these terms is used to lower the pitch of a note a half-step?A clef*B motifC flatD meter

16. Complete the following statements:

a.   4/4 means there are 4 quarter note beats in each bar.

b. In a bar of music written in  2/4  there are two beats, and the  quarter  note is the note that gets the beat.

c. In a bar of music written in  ¾   there are three beats, and the quarter note gets the beat.

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d.  How many beats are there in a bar of music written in  3/4 ? Answer: 3

17.a.)

b.) 

c.) 

 

18.a.)

b.) 

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c.) 

 

19.

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Part III

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Part IV

(In these answers, the answer is written in the staff below the bar that was given):

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4. Here are some triads, with the key indicated. Circle True or False

c) (g minor)

 

  T or F

d) (d Diminished) 

 

 T or F

b)  (f minor)

   

 T or F

g) (b minor)

  

T or F

d) (A Major) 

 

  T or F

h) (F major) 

 

  T or F

1. Name the mode that is formed by writing a major scale in the following manner::

i) starting on the first note: ionian.

ii) starting on the second note: dorian.

iii) starting on the third note: phrygian.

iv) starting on the fourth note: lydian.

v) starting on the fifth note: mixolydian.

vi) starting on the sixth note: aeolian.

III. Use the information below to complete the exercise that follows.

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Improvisation plays an important role in many types of music (e.g., figured bass, cadenzas, jazz). Using your knowledge of music theory, history, and performance, write an essay in which you:• choose one genre from any musical tradition in which improvisation is a key element; and describe the nature of improvisation and its function within the genre you have selected.

One musical genre in which improvisation is a key element is the classical concerto. A classical concerto is an instrumental work with three movements for soloist and orchestra. The first movement of the concerto typically includes a cadenza near the end. Traditionally, the soloist improvised the cadenza. Later on, composers such as Mozart and Beethoven began to write out cadenzas for their students and other performers to play. During the cadenza, the soloist improvises while the orchestra is silent. Toward the end of the recapitulation section of the first movement of the concerto, the orchestra pauses on a dissonant chord; then the soloist begins to improvise the cadenza. The improvisation usually includes motives and thematic material used earlier in the movement, along with rapid scalar passages and arpeggios. Themes may be varied and played in different keys. The soloist determines the length and content of the improvisations. At the end of the cadenza, the soloist plays a long trill to signal the orchestra to begin playing again. The improvisation in a classical concerto serves two functions. The primary purpose is to give the soloist an opportunity to display virtuosic technique and skill. This purpose is similar to an aria for a vocalist in an opera. In addition, the cadenza interrupts the final cadence of the movement and therefore lengthens the overall structure of the piece.

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