Study Guide for the Fundamentals of Music
Basic Terms:*
Sound
Pitch
Tone
Interval
Octave
Pitch range (range)
Dynamics
Pianissimo
Piano
Mezzo Piano
Mezzo Forte
Forte
Fortissimo
Decrescendo
(diminuendo)
Crescendo
Accent
Tone color (Timbre)
Voices:
Soprano
Mezzo-Soprano
Alto (Contralto)
Tenor
Bass
Musical Instruments:
(types)
String
Woodwind
Brass
Percussion
Keyboard
String Instruments:
Violin
Viola
Cello
Double bass
Bow
Pizzicato
Stop
Vibrato
Mute
Tremolo
Harmonics
Harp
Guitar
Woodwind
Instruments:
Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
English horn
Clarinet
Bass clarinet
Bassoon
Contrabassoon
Recorder
Reed
Single reed
woodwinds
Saxophone
Double-reed
instruments
Brass Instruments:
Trumpet
French horn
Trombone
Tuba
Cornet
Baritone horn
Euphonium
Mute
Percussion
Instruments:
Timpani (Kettle
drums)
Glockenspiel
Xylophone
Celesta
Chimes
Snare drum
Bass drum
Tambourine
Triangle
Cymbals
Gong (tam-tam)
Electronic
Instruments:
Tape studio
Synthesizer
Computer
Computer music
Theme
Variations
Rhythm
Beat
Meter
Duple meter
Triple meter
Quadruple meter
Quintuple meter
Sextuple meter
Septuple meter
Measure
Downbeat
Upbeat
Accent
Syncopation
Tempo
Tempo Indications:
Largo
Grave
Adagio
Andante
Moderato
Allegretto
Allegro
Vivace
Presto
Presto
Prestissimo
Accelerando
Ritardando
Metronome
Notation
Note
Staff
Ledger lines
Sharp sign
Flat Sign
Natural Sign
Clef
Grand Staff
Middle C
Stem
Flag
Beam
Dotted note
Dotted rhythm
Tie
Triplet
Rest
Time signature
Score
Melody
Step
Leap
Legato
Staccato
Phrase
Cadence
Incomplete cadence
Complete cadence
Complex cadence
Climax
Sequence
Theme
Harmony
Chord
Progression
Consonance
Dissonance
Resolution
Triad
Tonic chord
Dominant chord
Cadence
Broken chord
(Arpeggio)
Musical texture
Monophonic texture
Unison
Polyphonic texture
Counterpoint
Imitation
Homophonic texture
Form
Repetition
Contrast
Variation
Three-part form ABA
Two part form (AB)
Performer
Improvisation
Embellishments
Virtuoso
Conductor
Baton
Concertmaster
Dubbing
*All terms can be
found in your book;
by using online
sources such as
Wikipedia; or
reference sections in
the library
Study Guide for the Fundamentals of Music
Listening Resources:
Sound, Pitch, Dynamics & Tone Color
Richard Wagner - Lohengrin, Prelude to Act III (1848)
Frederic Chopin - Prelude in C Minor for Piano, Op. 28, No. 20 (1839)
Igor Stravinsky – The Firebird, Scene 2 (1910)
Duke Ellington & his Famous Orchestra - C-Jam Blues (1942)
Performing Media: Voices & Instruments
Benjamin Britten - The Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34 (1946)
John Philip Sousa – Stars and Stripes Forever (1897)
Rhythm
George Gershwin – “I’ve Got Ryhthm” (1930)
Dave Bruebeck – Unsquare Dance (1961)
Melody
Harold Arlen – “Over the Rainbow” (1938)
Harmony
Frederic Chopin – Prelude in e minor for piano, Op. 28, No. 4 (1839)
Musical Texture
George Bizet - Farandole from “L’Arlesiene, Suite No. 2 (1879)
Musical Form
Peter Illych Tchaikovsky – “Dance of the Reed Pipes,” from Nutcracker Suite (1892)
Ludwig van Beethoven - Contradance No. 7 in E-flat Major from Twelve Contradances for
Orchestra (1801)