Exam Review
CTMS Orchestra Fall 2018
Musical Alphabet
The musical alphabet is ABCDEFG. When you get to G you must start over again at A.
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
Accidentals adjust the notes from natural. A sharp raises a note a half step, a flat lowers a note a half step, a natural reverts back to "normal".
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.
Dynamics
Dynamics is how loud or soft one performs the music. They range from ppp (pianississimo) to fff (fortississimo).
Essay Prompt
Students should be prepared to write an essay over characteristic bow tone (quality of sound) and how to achieve it. Students should discuss the three factors of characteristic bow tone: bow placement, bow speed, and bow weight. Students should also discuss how these three factors work together to make a characteristic tone. Students should mention a good perpendicular bow is necessary for characteristic bow tone.