Year 8 Elements

Question 1

Name the 6 main dynamic terms and their symbols

Answer 1

Fortissimo ff, forte f, mezzo forte mf, mezzo piano mp, piano p, pianissimo pp

Question 2

Name the 2 dynamic terms for changing volume

Answer 2

Crescendo and diminuendo

Question 3

List 5 tempos and what they mean

Answer 3

E.g. Lento slowly, largo slow and stately, andante at a walking pace, allegro fast, vivace lively, presto very fast

Question 4

In 3/4 does the beat divide by two or three

Answer 4

Three

Question 5

In 6/8 does the beat divide by two or three

Answer 5

Two

Question 6

What do the two numbers in a time signature tell you?

Answer 6

The top number tells you the number of beats in a bar and the bottom number tells you what note holds the beat

Question 7

What does simple time mean? Give an example

Answer 7

Simple time means a beat can be divided into two to form 2 quavers e.g. 2/4 or 3/4

Question 8

What does compound time mean? Give an example

Answer 8

Compound time means you count in dotted crotchets and each beat can be divided in three to form 3 quavers e.g. 6/8 9/8

Question 9

What are the three rules about simple and compound time?

Answer 9

1. Simple time usually has a four on the bottom and compound time usually has an eight on the bottom
2. The top number in simple time is always the number of strong beats in the bar
3. The top number in compound time is always the number of strong beats in the bar multiplied by three

Question 10

List two ways to easily distinguish between simple and compound time

Answer 10

In simple time quavers are grouped in groups of twos or fours, in compound they are grouped in groups of threes
In simple time the number of crotchets in a bar is always a whole number, in compound time it is not

Question 11

What does conjunct mean?

Answer 11

Progressing melodically by intervals of a second

Question 12

What does disjunct mean?

Answer 12

Progressing melodically by intervals larger than a second

Question 13

What does tonic note mean?

Answer 13

The first note of a scale

Question 14

What is an octave?

Answer 14

The distance between two notes of the same name (8 notes/ 12 semitones)

Question 15

What does harmony mean?

Answer 15

A combination of simultaneous notes to create a pleasing effect

Question 16

What is the pattern of tones and semitones in a major scale?

Answer 16

T T S T T T S

Question 17

What are the notes in a B major scale?

Answer 17

B C# D# E F# G# A# B

Question 18

What is a semitone?

Answer 18

The smallest distance you can travel on a keyboard e.g. C and C# and E and F

Question 19

What is a tone?

Answer 19

Two semitones

Question 20

Why are mods different to scales?

Answer 20

They never use flats or sharps in their natural shape

Question 21

What are the three things that contribute to a good melody?

Answer 21

Starting and ending on the tonic note, using conjunct notes most of the time, staying in one octave

Question 22

What is a chord?

Answer 22

A group of three or more notes played at the same time

Question 23

What is a triad?

Answer 23

A chord of three notes: a root, a third and a fifth. It can be major or minor. There are 4 semitones between the root and the third in a major triad and 3 in a minor triad. There are 7 semitones between the root and the fifth

Question 24

What are the notes in a C# major triad?

Answer 24

C#, F, G#

Question 25

What are the notes in an Ab minor triad?

Answer 25

Ab, B, Eb

Question 26

What are chords I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi and vii in C major?

Answer 26

I - C major, ii - D minor, iii - E minor, IV - F major, V - G major, vi - A minor, vii - B minor

Question 27

What are the primary chords and why are they called primary chords?

Answer 27

I, IV, V, because we use them most often

Question 28

What are the secondary chords?

Answer 28

ii, iii, vi, vii