Middle School Band 2011

The correct answer is "play softly" because the letter "p" is commonly used in musical notation to indicate that a note or passage should be played with a soft and gentle touch. This is in contrast to other options such as "play louder," "play with more speed," or "play as loud as you can," which all suggest a different level of intensity or volume. Therefore, "play softly" is the most appropriate explanation for the given answer.

Common time is a term used in music to represent 4/4 time signature. It is the most common time signature used in Western music and is often represented by the symbol "C" on sheet music. Common time consists of four beats per measure, with each beat being a quarter note. It is called "common time" because it is widely used and familiar to musicians.

The top number in a time signature indicates how many beats are in each measure. It tells the musician how many counts or pulses there are in a single measure of music.

An accidental refers to a note that is altered or changed from its original pitch in a musical composition. These altered notes are not included in the key signature of the piece, meaning they deviate from the standard notes of the scale. Accidental notes are indicated by symbols such as sharps, flats, or naturals, and they are used to create tension, add color, or create harmonic movement in a musical piece.

Dynamics refers to the relative loudness and softness in music that is controlled by the musicians. It is the variation in volume that adds expression and emotion to the music. Musicians can use different dynamic markings such as pianissimo (very soft), piano (soft), mezzo piano (moderately soft), mezzo forte (moderately loud), forte (loud), and fortissimo (very loud) to indicate the desired volume level in different parts of a musical piece.

Mezzo forte (mf) is an Italian musical term that means to play moderately loud. It is a dynamic marking used in sheet music to indicate the volume at which a particular section or passage of music should be played. Mezzo forte falls in the middle range of dynamic markings, louder than piano (soft) but softer than forte (loud). Therefore, the correct answer for this question is mezzo forte.

The key signature refers to the specific set of notes used in a song. It indicates the key or tonality of the music and helps musicians determine the correct notes to play. The key signature is represented by sharps (#) or flats (b) placed at the beginning of a staff, indicating which notes are altered throughout the piece. This allows musicians to maintain consistency and harmony while playing the song. The time signature, on the other hand, indicates the rhythm and meter of the music, and the other options (mello signature, complete signature, none of these) do not exist in music theory.

The term "pp" is a musical notation that represents the dynamic marking "pianissimo," which means to play very softly. It is the quietest dynamic level in music. The other options listed, such as piano, forte, and mezzo piano, represent different levels of loudness. Therefore, "pianissimo" is the correct answer as it specifically refers to the softest dynamic level.

The correct answer is "the distance between two pitches." In music theory, an interval refers to the distance between two pitches, whether they are played simultaneously (harmonic interval) or in succession (melodic interval). It is a fundamental concept in understanding and analyzing melodies, chords, and harmonies in music. The term "interval" is used to describe the numerical measurement of the pitch difference between two notes, which can be measured in terms of semitones or whole steps.

2/2 time is a legitimate time signature in music notation, also known as "cut time" or "alla breve." It indicates that there are two beats per measure, with a half note receiving one beat. This time signature is commonly used in fast-paced music, where the half notes are felt as beats rather than the traditional quarter notes. It is not a made-up time signature and is different from 3/4 time, which has three beats per measure. Therefore, the correct answer is 2/2 time.

In music, time signatures indicate the number of beats in a measure and the type of note that receives one beat. In this case, 5/4 time means that there are 5 quarter notes per measure. This means that each measure will have a total of 5 beats, and each beat will be represented by a quarter note.

The correct answer is "legato." Legato is a musical term that means to play the notes smoothly and connected, without any breaks or separation between them. It is the opposite of staccato, which means to play the notes short and detached. Legato playing creates a flowing and seamless sound, allowing the music to flow smoothly from one note to the next.

The correct answer is "play strongly" because the letter "f" in music notation stands for "forte," which means to play loudly or strongly.

If you saw "//" in your music, it indicates a cut off and pause. The double slash symbol is commonly used in musical notation to signify a sudden stop or break in the music. This means that you should watch the director for cues on when to stop playing and pause before continuing.

The bottom number in a time signature represents the note value that gets the beat. This means that it indicates the duration or length of each beat in the measure. For example, if the bottom number is 4, it means that a quarter note gets the beat, while if the bottom number is 8, it means that an eighth note gets the beat.

The correct answer is "all of these" because staccato is a musical term that instructs the performer to play the notes in a short and detached manner, with each note having less than its full value. It also adds a sense of lightness to the music. Therefore, all the given options accurately describe the meaning of staccato.

Rallentando is a musical term that indicates a gradual slowing down of the tempo. It is often used to create a sense of fading or dying away in the music. Therefore, the correct answer for "to die away gradually" is rallentando.