Unit 1: Music Fundamentals I: Pitch, Major Scales & Key Signatures, Rhythm, Meter
Music Theory · Unit 1 · Paper 3

Music Fundamentals I: Pitch, Major Scales & Key Signatures, Rhythm, Meter unit test

A test on this unit alone, marked as a percentage and a letter grade — for the test your class is actually sitting, rather than for May. Answer everything, then submit once: seeing the answer to question 3 before attempting question 4 makes the final percentage meaningless.

Paper 1Paper 2Paper 3
Each paper is built from this unit’s 18 terms and is the same for everyone, so a teacher can assign “Unit 1, Paper 3” and every student sits the identical test. Multiple choice is marked objectively; the written sections you mark yourself against the model answer and rubric.
Suggested time 34 min 31 points0/17 attempted
1

Subtonic vs leading tone

2

Half step vs whole step

3

Duple, triple and quadruple

4

Asymmetrical meter

5

Syncopation

6

Reading the time signature in compound meter

7

Finding a sharp key from its signature

8

Hemiola

9

Clefs: treble, bass, alto, tenor

10

Simple vs compound meter

11

The major scale as a formula

12

Enharmonic equivalents

Short answer 1. Define or explain: Circle of fifths

3 pts

Short answer 2. Define or explain: Anacrusis (pickup)

3 pts

Short answer 3. Define or explain: Scale degree names

3 pts

Short answer 4. Define or explain: Beaming rules

3 pts

Free response

7 pts

Answer each of the following.

A key signature contains four sharps. Name the major key and list the sharps in the order they appear in the signature.

Name the relative minor of that key and state its key signature.

Write the ascending scale of that major key using letter names with accidentals.

A passage is notated in 6/8. Classify the meter and state which note value receives the beat.

Identify the interval from E4 up to G-sharp 4 by size and quality, and name its inversion.

Identify the interval from B3 up to F4, and explain why it is not a perfect fifth.

A student notates a measure of 3/4 as four eighth notes beamed together as a single group, followed by a quarter note. Explain why the beaming is incorrect and describe the correct beaming.