Summary: Teachers and students may use this test to check general knowledge of music theory, history, and practice.
1. What is the difference between a major and a minor scale?
2. Which composer was deaf by the time he wrote his 9th symphony?
3. Name the four string sections of the orchestra.
4. To what section of the orchestra does the oboe belong?
5. What is a concertmaster, and what are his/her duties?
6. What is A440?
7. What does thorough-composed mean?
8. Give an example of duple meter. (A time signature).
9. Draw a 3/4 conducting pattern.
10. Draw a staff and put a half rest on it.
11. Draw a bass clef on a staff.
12. Draw an eighth note with the flag up and one with the flag down.
13. What is the definition of a measure?
14. Name the five major periods in music history. Do you enjoy the music of one period more than another?
15. What is the major difference between the violin and the viola?
16. Name a famous conductor.
17. What is a concerto?
18. What is an opera? Name one.
19. Give at least one reason for studying music. (Hint: the wrong answer is--because I have to for school).
20. What is chamber music?
21. Who wrote "The Messiah?"
22. In what work can you find "The Hallaluia Chorus?"
23. What relation was Leopold Mozart to Amadeus?
24. What is a reason that Amadeus Mozart died in poverty?
25. Where did classical ballet originate?
26. In what century did Stravinsky live? And where did he live toward the end of his life?
27. What does polyphony mean?
28. Contrast classical and romantic: do you think of yourself as more one or the other?
29. What composer is the main link between the classical and romantic periods?
30. What is art music?
31. Give an example of ethnic music.
32. Draw five accidentals. Tell what they do.
33. What are the two basic scales in western art music?
34. What are ledger lines. Draw examples above and below a staff.
35. Draw all the sharps in the proper order.
36. What is the typical arrangement of a score with respect to the instrument groups?
37. Name some characteristics of Romantic music.
38. Has it been proven that Pope Gregory wrote the Gregorian chants?
39. Name some duties of a conductor.
40. In what ways have 20th century composers experimented with music?
41. Name some electronic instruments.
42. Define melody, harmony, and rhythm.
43. What is Grove’s dictionary of music?
44. What does a musical anthology contain?
45. What is a metronome?
46. Name four percussion instruments.
47. Clarinets, oboes, bassoons, and English horns have what in common?
48. Name five brass instruments. Where do they sit in the orchestra and why?
49. How many players are in the following groups? Write the number above the name:
Duet Trio Quartet, Quintet, Sextet, Octet, Nonet
50. Name a composer famous for his piano compositions.
51. Name five careers in music.
52. Draw a staff and illustrate: perfect 5th, major 3rd, octave, minor second.
53. What does the term Forte-Piano mean? (With respect to the history of a certain musical instrument).
54. Name five characteristics of a professional musician.
55. Define: Allegro, Largo, Piano, Fortissimo, Decrescendo. (Turn page over).
56. What does projection mean?
57. What is a trill?
58. What is rubato?
59. Define perfect and relative pitch.
60. Define noise versus sound.
61. What is the science of sound?
62. What is serial music?
63. What is a tritone?
64. What are lieder?
65. What is a V-I cadence called?
66. What is the Mannheim Rocket?
67. What is vibrato?
68. What is ethnomusicology?
69. Name ten composers of art music.
70. In C Major, name the notes do, mi, sol, do.
71. Draw a quarter note, a duplet and a triplet.
72. What is the difference between a tie and a slur?
73. Name a jazz musician.