Elements of Music – Unit 1 Exam Review Notes

Definition of a scale
- Western music typically uses an 8–note (diatonic) scale.
- Example shown/played: C-major scale → C\,D\,E\,F\,G\,A\,B\,C
Construction of a major vs minor scale
- Major scale = basic diatonic pattern (unaltered).
- To create a natural minor from the same tonic, lower (♭) the 3rd scale-degree.
- Example: C-major → C-minor by changing E\;\to\;E\flat.
- Instructor notes that theory recognizes three minor scales (natural, harmonic, melodic) but only the core idea (lowered 3rd) is required for the class.
Emotional/affective shorthand
- Major: bright, cheerful, uplifting, “happy.”
- Minor: darker, sad, melancholy, sometimes gritty.
Listening examples used to illustrate the contrast
- “Happy Birthday” in F-major vs a creative minor-mode arrangement.
- Classical:
- Haydn – Piano Concerto in D-major (overall major, occasional minor chords for colour).
- Mendelssohn – Piano Concerto listed as A-minor (slide typo briefly labelled G-minor).
- Popular music:
- Major: early 1990s pop hit (unnamed), Michael Bublé example (bright & cheerful).
- Minor: Lady Gaga “Bad Romance” (A-minor), Led Zeppelin “Stairway to Heaven” (A-minor).
Exam expectation
- One listening prompt will ask: “Is this A) Major or B) Minor?” → train the ear for the overall emotional colour rather than isolated chords.

Texture = the layering of sound and the relationships between layers.
Purpose: composers vary texture to create interest, contrast, and maintain listener engagement in longer works (6-9 min or more).
Three core textures
1. Monophonic (Monophony)
- “Mono” = one.
- Single melody line, no harmony, regardless of how many voices/instruments double it in unison or octaves.
- Instructor demonstrations: keyboard fragments, trumpet solo examples, Gregorian chant.
1. Homophonic (Homophony)
- One primary melody supported by harmony (chords, accompaniment patterns, backup vocals, etc.).
- Most common in pop, hymnody, much Classical era music.
- Examples:
  - Guitar-accompanied “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
  - Halsey song (minor), Mozart orchestral excerpt (starts monophonic then homophonic), P!nk song (“So What”) that alternates monophonic verse & homophonic chorus.
1. Polyphonic (Polyphony)
- “Poly” = many.
- Two or more independent melodies of equal importance performed simultaneously.
- Hallmark of J. S. Bach’s contrapuntal writing (2–6 voices), imitative devices (e.g., fugue, canon, round).
- Modern illustration: Little Big Town “Boondocks” (homophonic overall; polyphonic breakdown at 3:11).
Ear-training application: expect listening questions asking to label texture.

Form = musical architecture / ordering of sections using repetition, contrast, variation.
Three common forms introduced
1. Ternary (Three-part / A-B-A)
- Statement (A) → Contrast (B) → Return (A).
- Piece can cycle multiple times but always ends on A.
- Examples:
  - Louis Armstrong “What a Wonderful World” (two A’s, B, final A).
  - “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” (textbook example).
1. Binary (Two-part / A-B)
- Verse (A) → Chorus (B).
- Song ends on B (often multiple B repeats).
- Examples:
  - Jimmy Buffett “Margaritaville.”
  - Children’s song “Yankee Doodle.”
1. Theme & Variations
- A theme (a.k.a. “head” in jazz) is stated, then presented in successive variations (changes in key, meter, tempo, ornamentation, improvisation, etc.).
- Occurs in jazz solos and classical sets.
- Demonstration: Mozart’s 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman” (melody of “Twinkle Twinkle”).
Exam listening prompt: choose between Ternary, Binary, Theme & Variations for a given excerpt.

(Below: teacher’s Jeopardy answers → you must state as questions; key term provided.)

Harmony described as stable & restful → Consonance.
Texture = one melody with chordal accompaniment → Homophonic.
Accent between beats → Syncopation.
Series of single notes forming a recognisable whole → Melody.
Musical statement + contrast + return → Ternary form (A-B-A).
Funnel-shaped trumpet device altering tone/dynamics → Mute.
Overall sad/melancholy quality → Minor mode.
Element dealing with chord construction → Harmony.
Distance between two notes → Interval.
Early keyboard whose strings are plucked → Harpsichord.
≥2 independent melodies simultaneously → Polyphonic texture / Polyphony.
Sharps/flats grouped at staff beginning → Key signature.
Harmony described as unstable & tense → Dissonance.
Unaccompanied choral music → A cappella.
Digital instrument/computer protocol → MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface).
Shift from one key to another → Modulation.
Only orchestral drums with definite pitch → Timpani (kettledrums).
Speed of the beat → Tempo.
Element concerning sound volume → Dynamics.
Ordered flow of long/short durations → Rhythm.
Indicator of beats per measure → Time signature (meter signature).
Texture of solo trombone melody alone → Monophonic.
Organ mechanism: knobs you pull to activate ranks → Stops.
Tone color/quality of sound → Timbre.

Historical reference pairs:
- Haydn approx. 1750 era.
- Mendelssohn \sim 1830{-}1840.
- Louis Armstrong video recorded 1967 (died 1970).
Holiday schedule: No lecture Monday July 5 (Independence Day observed); next lecture posts Tue July 6.
Exam #1 posting: accessible under Assignments; worth 40 points; due midnight tonight.

Print the PDF Study Guide; treat each listed term as the underlying concept of a test question.
Make flashcards (digital or paper) for terms & listening cues (major/minor moods, texture keywords, etc.).
Re-listen to lecture audio/video for auditory recognition practice; compare bright vs dark, thick vs single-line, etc.
Practice quickly naming:
- Orchestral instrument families & vibrating media.
- Dynamics symbols (pp, ff, crescendo, decrescendo).
- Standard tempo markings (Adagio, Allegro, etc.).
Budget \approx 1\,\text{min} per test question to avoid rushing the final listening prompts.

Good luck—aim for that “A”!

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