Exam 2A & 2B Study Guide Notes

Exam 2A (Units 7 & 8)

Ear Training

Whole and half steps: Understand the aural difference between whole and half steps. Practice identifying them in melodic dictation and intervals.
Example: C to D is a whole step; E to F is a half step.
Major scales: Familiarize yourself with the sound of major scales. Practice singing and recognizing them.
Example: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C
Rhythm recognition: Improve your ability to identify rhythmic patterns. Practice with various exercises.
Example: Quarter note followed by two eighth notes.

Concepts

Major scale whole and half step patterns: The pattern is whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half (W-W-H-W-W-W-H).
Example: C major scale: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. The intervals between these notes follow the W-W-H-W-W-W-H pattern.
Degrees: Understand each degree's name (tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, leading tone).
Example: In C major: C is the tonic, D is the supertonic, E is the mediant, F is the subdominant, G is the dominant, A is the submediant, and B is the leading tone.
Interval distances: Learn to identify intervals by the number of scale degrees they span (e.g., a third spans three scale degrees).
Example: C to E is a third; C to G is a fifth.
Key signatures: Memorize key signatures for all major keys. Practice identifying keys from their key signatures and vice versa.
Example: Key of G major has one sharp (F $\sharp$ ); Key of F major has one flat (B $\flat$ ).
Order of flats: b-e-a-d-g-c-f (Beats Every Apple During Gym Class Frequently).
Example: If a key signature has two flats, they will be B $\flat$ and E $\flat$ .
Order of sharps: f-c-g-d-a-e-b (Fat Cats Go Down Alleys Eating Birds).
Example: If a key signature has three sharps, they will be F $\sharp$ , C $\sharp$ , and G $\sharp$ .
Accidentals: Sharps ( $\sharp$ ), flats ( $\flat$ ), and naturals ( $\natural$ ) alter the pitch of a note. Understand their function.
Example: A $\sharp$ raises the pitch of A by a half step; B $\flat$ lowers the pitch of B by a half step.
Harmonic intervals: Intervals played simultaneously.
Example: C and E played together.
Melodic intervals: Intervals played successively.
Example: C then E played one after the other.
Major key signature recognition:
- Be able to identify the names of keys by the sharps or flats in the key signature.
- Be able to identify the sharps or flats to be placed in the key signature from the key.
Example: A key signature with one sharp is G major (F $\sharp$ ).
Chromatic scale:
- Ascending: Raise every note by a half step using sharps, except where it disrupts the natural major scale pattern (e.g., usually G to G $\sharp$ , A to A $\sharp$ , etc.).
- Descending: Lower every note by a half step using flats, except where it disrupts the natural major scale pattern (e.g., usually B to B $\flat$ , A to A $\flat$ , etc.).
Example: Ascending C chromatic scale: C-C $\sharp$ -D-D $\sharp$ -E-F-F $\sharp$ -G-G $\sharp$ -A-A $\sharp$ -B-C.
Circle of fifths: Understand the circle of fifths and its relationship to key signatures.
Example: C-G-D-A-E-B-F $\sharp$ -C $\sharp$ -A $\flat$ -E $\flat$ -B $\flat$ -F-C.

Exam 2B (Units 10 & 11)

Ear Training

Rhythm recognition which may include dotted rhythms: Practice recognizing dotted rhythms in various time signatures.
Example: Dotted quarter note followed by an eighth note.

Concepts

Sixteenth notes and rests: Understand the duration of sixteenth notes and rests (a quarter of a beat in common time).
Example: Four sixteenth notes equal one quarter note.
Dotted eighth notes: A dotted eighth note equals an eighth note plus a sixteenth note.
Example: A dotted eighth note followed by a sixteenth note equals one beat in common time.
Common time: 4/4 time signature.
Example: Most popular music utilizes common time.
Cut time/alla breve: 2/2 time signature.
Example: Marches are often written in cut time.
Time signatures including:
- $\frac{2}{2}$
- $\frac{3}{8}$
- $\frac{8}{9}$
- Fast tempos for the previous time signatures
Example: $\frac{3}{8}$ has three eighth notes per measure.
Eighth note triplets: Three eighth notes played in the space of two.
Example: Commonly found in jazz and classical music.
Pick-up notes: A note or notes that precede the first downbeat in a measure.
Example: "Happy Birthday" starts with a pick-up note.