How to read music | TED-Ed

What is the primary function of a piece of written music?

• To tell a performer what to play and when to play it

• To describe the instruments used in the music

• To indicate the emotional content of the music

• To provide the history of the music piece

Which axis on the staff indicates the pitch of a note?

• Circular

• Diagonal

• Vertical

• Horizontal

How are pitches named in the Western music tradition?

• After famous composers

• Using numbers

• With unique symbols for each pitch

• Using the first seven letters of the alphabet

Which letters are used to name pitches in music?

• J to Q

• I to P

• H to N

• A to G

What is indicated by the vertical position of a note on the staff?

• Its duration

• Its volume

• Its pitch

• Its rhythm

What does a clef on the staff do?

• Indicates the tempo of the music

• Acts as a reference point for pitches

• Shows the end of the music piece

• Separates different sections of the music

What is the purpose of ledger lines?

• To mark the beginning of a piece

• To change the tempo of the music

• To indicate silence in the music

• To extend the range of the staff

What does a clef tell the musician?

• How loudly to play the music

• Which line or space corresponds to a specific note

• Which instrument to use

• How fast to play the notes

What is the most basic unit of rhythm called?

• Whole note

• Quarter note

• Eighth note

• Half note

What role does the beat play in music?

• It dictates the harmony

• It sets the rhythm

• It indicates the pitch

• It divides music into equal time fragments