singing quiz

Question 1

Sound??

Answer 1

Complex wave consisting of
many simple waves (components/low
partials) with different frequencies.

Question 2

Spectrum??

Answer 2

shows ‘how much’ each simple wave contributes to the sound

Question 3

Spectrogram

Answer 3

spectrum over time

Question 4

fundamental frequency f0

Answer 4

is the lowest frequency in a periodic wave

Question 5

The harmonics or overtones

Answer 5

are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency f0

Question 6

a sound source

Answer 6

vibrates in air to create a certain fundamental frequency (which is perceived as pitch) and its related harmonic frequencies (integral multiples of the basic frequency), which define the timbre ,or sound color;

Question 7

a resonator

Answer 7

reinforces or amplifies the fundamental frequency and its harmonics

Question 8

sound radiator

Answer 8

transfers the sound to free air space and on to a listener’s ear.a sound

Question 9

Changing pitch on a violin

Answer 9

1. Turn pegs: change tension
2. Press string: change length
3. Switch string: change tension

Question 10

On vocal folds…

Answer 10

On vocal folds…
1. Stretch folds: increase stress and
length
2. Shorten folds: decrease length, of
course, but possibly: increase stress

Question 11

Zacconi

Answer 11

voce di petto, voce di testa

Question 12

Roubeou

Answer 12

M0 (fry), M1 (chest), M2 (falsetto), M3 (whistle)*

Question 13

Consonants

Answer 13

Some (full or partial) restriction of air stream in the vocal tract

Question 14

Vowels

Answer 14

• No restriction in the air stream
• Tongue shape determines the vocal tract’s resonant frequencies (formants)
• distinguished by tongue height,

  tongue advancement, lip rounding, Tense-/Laxness

Question 15

Articulators

Answer 15

Anything actively or passively involved in articulation: tongue, lips, teeth, alveolar ridge, palate, velum, uvula

Question 16

Speech sounds

Answer 16

are the result of a transformation of the glottal source by the vocal tract

Question 17

Source —

Answer 17

phonation

Question 18

Filter —

Answer 18

articulation

Question 19

Source-filter theory: Independence assumption

Answer 19

Independence of source and filter:
The fundamental frequency (F0), produced by the source, 
 changes the harmonic spacing
While the shape of the spectrum (peaks at F1, F2, F3)
 produced by the filter, remains constant

Question 20

Formant clustering

Answer 20

Shifting F2 towards F1 results
in a spectral peak (duplex formant)

Question 21

How do opera singers get heard over an orchestra?

Answer 21

Clustering formants!

Question 22

Pitch

Answer 22

Music tends to use discrete pitches to form nonequidistant scales of < - 7 pitches per octave, often descending/arched contours composed of small intervals.

Question 23

Rythm

Answer 23

Music tends to use an isochronous beat
according to metrical hierarchies
based on multiples of 2 or 3 beats,
on which motivic patterns are
constructed using <5 durational values

Question 24

Explaining the arch

Answer 24

Because of how the vocal system works.
Rising contours are easier to produce
at the start of a phrase