Music Appreciation Study Guide for Quiz #1 – Elements of Music

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering the key concepts in music appreciation related to elements of music, including dynamics, form, texture, instruments, and vocal techniques.

Dynamics

The volume of sound in music, ranging from soft to loud.

Piano (p)

Soft dynamic level in music.

Forte (f)

Loud dynamic level in music.

Consonance

Two or more notes played together that sound pleasant, stable, or relaxed.

Dissonance

Notes that clash or sound tense and unstable.

Form

The overall structure or plan of a musical work.

Strophic Form

The same music is repeated for each verse or stanza of text.

Binary Form

A two-part structure with two contrasting sections (A–B).

Ternary Form

A three-part structure in which the first section returns after a contrasting middle section (A–B–A).

Scale

A sequence of notes arranged in ascending or descending order.

Major scale

A scale characterized by a bright, happy sound.

Minor scale

A scale characterized by a dark, sad sound.

Brass instruments

Instruments like Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, and Tuba.

Woodwinds

Instruments like Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, and Bassoon.

Percussion

Instruments like Xylophone, Marimba, Timpani, and Cymbals.

Strings

Instruments like Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass.

Monophony

A single, unaccompanied melody.

Homophony

One main melody with accompaniment.

Polyphony

Two or more equally important melodies happening at the same time.

Rhythm

The organization of music in time using patterns of long and short sounds.

Meter

The regular pattern of beats in music.

Melody

A sequence of notes heard as a single musical idea.

Phrase

A musical 'sentence' within a melody.

Cadence

A resting point at the end of a phrase that gives a sense of resolution.

Conjunct Motion

Notes move by small, stepwise intervals.

Disjunct Motion

Notes move by larger leaps.

Timbre

The unique tone color or quality of a sound.

Tenor

The highest male vocal range.

Baritone

The middle male vocal range.

Bass

The lowest male vocal range.

Soprano

The highest female vocal range.

Mezzo-soprano

The middle female vocal range.

Alto

The lowest female vocal range.

Chord

Three or more notes played at the same moment.

Harmony

The movement and organization of chords in a piece of music.

Scatting

Vocal improvisation using nonsense syllables instead of words, common in jazz.

Vocalize

Singing a melody using vowel sounds instead of words.

Melismatic

Singing where a single syllable of text is stretched over multiple pitches.

Syllabic

Singing where each syllable of text is sung on a single note.