Unit 2: Music Fundamentals II: Minor Scales & Key Signatures, Melody, Timbre & Texture
Music Theory · Unit 2 · Paper 3

Music Fundamentals II: Minor Scales & Key Signatures, Melody, Timbre & Texture 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.

Each paper is built from this unit’s 18 terms and is the same for everyone, so a teacher can assign “Unit 2, 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

Which minor scale to use when

2

Transposing instruments

3

The tritone and its resolution

4

Monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic

5

Imitative vs non-imitative polyphony

6

Vocal ranges in part-writing

7

Sequence

8

Melodic dictation strategy

9

The augmented second problem

10

Perfect, major, minor, diminished, augmented

11

Sight-singing strategy

12

Compound intervals

Short answer 1. Define or explain: Minor key signatures

3 pts

Short answer 2. Define or explain: Melodic contour vocabulary

3 pts

Short answer 3. Define or explain: Consonance and dissonance

3 pts

Short answer 4. Define or explain: Interval inversion

3 pts

Free response

7 pts

Answer each of the following.

A key signature contains three flats. Name the major key, name its relative minor, and list the flats in the order they appear.

Write the ascending C harmonic minor scale using letter names with accidentals, and state which degree is altered relative to natural minor.

Write the C melodic minor scale ascending and then descending, using letter names with accidentals.

Explain the difference between a relative minor and a parallel minor, naming the parallel minor of C major and the relative major of A minor.

Classify each of the following textures: a single unaccompanied vocal line; a folk song with block-chord guitar accompaniment; a fugue in which three voices each present the subject independently.

Define conjunct and disjunct melodic motion.

A clarinet and a violin play the same written pitch at the same dynamic level. Name the property that allows a listener to tell them apart and explain what physically produces it.