Music Vocabulary 01212021

Music Vocabulary 01212021

As we begin our Unit on Composition, we need to understand key vocabulary to communicate efficiently.

Key Signature

The sharp, flat, or natural signs placed at the beginning of a staff indicating the tonality of the composition.

Clef

A symbol placed at the beginning of the staff to denote which notes are indicated by the lines and spaces. The most common clefs are treble and bass clefs.

Scale

A series of notes in ascending or descending order that presents the pitches of a key or mode, beginning and ending on the tonic of that key or mode.

Time Signature

A symbol placed at the left side of the staff indicating the meter of the composition. For example, a time signature of 3/4 would indicate that there are three quarter notes in each measure and the quarter notes receive the main pulse (or beat).

Measure

also known as a "bar ", signifying the smallest metrical divisions of a composition, containing a fixed number of beats, marked off by vertical lines on the staff.

Melody

A tune; a succession of tones comprised of mode, rhythm, and pitches

Phrase

A musical unit, often a component of a melody. The phrase may be regarded as a dependent division of music, such as a single line of poetry;

Multiple Choice

What are the sharp, flat, or natural signs placed at the beginning of a staff indicating the tonality of the composition called?

• key signature

• clef

• time signature

• measure

Multiple Choice

What is the symbol placed at the beginning of the staff to denote which notes are indicated by the lines and spaces?

• scale

• melody

• measure

• clef

Multiple Choice

What is another name of a tune? [a succession of tones comprised of mode, rhythm, and pitches]

• measure

• melody

• phrase

• scale

Multiple Choice

What is a musical unit, often a component of a melody called? [similar to a single line within a poem]

• measure

• melody

• phrase

• clef

Multiple Choice

What is the term also known as a "bar "that signifies the smallest metrical divisions of a composition? [contains a fixed number of beats, marked off by vertical lines on the staff]

• phrase

• key signature

• time signature

• measure