Exam Review
CTMS Orchestra Fall 2016
Musical Alphabet
The musical alphabet is ABCDEFG. When you get to G you must start over again at A.
Tempo
Tempo is how fast or slow you play a piece of music.
Time Signature
Your time signature is comprised of two numbers and tells you how many beats are in each measure for the song. The top number tells you how many beats in a measure. The bottom number tells you what gets the beat (4=quarter note, 2=half note, 8=eighth note). 4/4 would mean four quarter notes in each measure.
Note Values
You can fit 2 half notes in a whole note
You can fit 2 quarter notes in a half note, or 4 quarter notes in a whole note
You can fit 2 eighth notes in a quarter note, or 4 eighth notes in a half note, or 8 eighth notes in a whole note
You can fit 2 quarter notes in a half note, or 4 quarter notes in a whole note
You can fit 2 eighth notes in a quarter note, or 4 eighth notes in a half note, or 8 eighth notes in a whole note
Key Signature
Your key signature is the sharps or flats at the beginning of the song that last for the entire song. C Major has no sharps or flats, everything is natural. G Major has 1 sharp (F-sharp), everything else is natural. D Major has 2 sharps (F-sharp and C-sharp), everything else is natural.
Accidentals--A sharp raises a note a ½ step. A flat lowers a note a ½ step. A natural reverts the note back to “normal” or cancels a sharp or flat. Accidentals will last the entire measure, the barline will cancel the accidental.
Accidentals--A sharp raises a note a ½ step. A flat lowers a note a ½ step. A natural reverts the note back to “normal” or cancels a sharp or flat. Accidentals will last the entire measure, the barline will cancel the accidental.
Slurs, Ties, & Hooks
A slur is a curved line connecting multiple notes of different pitch with a smooth same direction bow. A tie is a curved line connecting multiple notes of the same pitch with a smooth same direction bow. A hooked bow is a curved line connecting staccato notes with a stopped same direction bow.
Essay Prompt
Beginner students should be prepared to write a paragraph over the following topic:
Proper left hand posture while performing on your instrument. Include your 6 steps (thumb placement, pizza wrist, chicken wing, boxed finger (tip), gopher hole, choking the baby) of perfect left hand posture and why they are necessary.
Concert/Philharmonic/Symphony students should be prepared to write a persuasive paragraph over their favorite concert piece they have played this year and why.