AEPA Music (NT504) cheat sheet

Major scale interval pattern: whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half; natural minor: whole-half-whole-whole-half-whole-whole.

Harmonic minor raises the seventh degree of natural minor; melodic minor raises the sixth and seventh ascending and usually lowers them descending.

Triad qualities by intervals: major = major third plus minor third; minor = minor third plus major third; diminished = two minor thirds; augmented = two major thirds.

Figured bass: 5/3 indicates root position, 6 indicates first inversion, and 6/4 indicates second inversion for triads.

Cadence types: authentic V–I, plagal IV–I, half cadence ending on V, and deceptive V–vi in major or V–VI in minor.

Sonata form typically consists of exposition, development, and recapitulation, with optional introduction and coda.

Common forms: binary AB, ternary ABA, rondo ABACA, and theme and variations A–A′–A″.

Transposing instruments: B-flat clarinet sounds a major second below written pitch; F horn sounds a perfect fifth below written pitch.

Medieval music: Gregorian chant is monophonic and modal; organum is early polyphony; Léonin and Pérotin are associated with Notre Dame polyphony.

Renaissance music: imitative polyphony, masses, motets, and madrigals; major figures include Josquin, Palestrina, and Byrd.

Baroque music: basso continuo, terraced dynamics, ritornello form, fugue, and dance suites; major figures include Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi.

Classical era: sonata form, symphony, and string quartet developed; Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven are central, with Beethoven bridging into Romanticism.

Romantic era: expanded harmony and orchestration, Lieder, program music, and music drama; figures include Schubert, Chopin, Berlioz, Wagner, and Brahms.

Twentieth century: Debussy’s impressionism, Stravinsky’s rhythmic innovation, Schoenberg’s twelve-tone method, Bartók’s folk influence, and Copland’s American style.

Jazz history: blues and ragtime precede New Orleans jazz; swing, bebop, and cool jazz follow; improvisation and ii–V–I progressions are common.

Non-Western traditions: gamelan uses interlocking metallophones and gongs; Indian classical music uses raga and tala; Arabic music uses maqam.

Vocal registers include chest voice, head voice, and falsetto; the passaggio is the transition zone between registers.

Vocal breath support involves coordinated diaphragmatic and intercostal action; excessive neck tension impairs tone and intonation.

String bowings include détaché, legato, staccato, spiccato, and col legno; sul ponticello and sul tasto alter timbre.

Brass sound production depends on lip buzz, embouchure, airflow, and tube length; valve combinations change tubing length and pitch.

Woodwind reed types: single reeds for clarinet and saxophone, double reeds for oboe and bassoon, and no reed for flute.

Percussion rudiments include single-stroke roll, double-stroke roll, flam, and paradiddle; timpani pitch changes use pedal or tension mechanisms.

Ensemble intonation is adjusted by tuning to a reference pitch and by matching beats; equal temperament and just intonation differ in interval size.

Effective practice variables include slow tempos, short chunks, repetition with variation, mental rehearsal, and recorded self-evaluation.

Learning theories: Piaget’s stages, Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development, Bruner’s spiral curriculum, and Gardner’s multiple intelligences.

National Core Arts Standards organize music learning around creating, performing or presenting, responding, and connecting.

Formative assessment occurs during instruction to guide learning; summative assessment occurs at the end to judge achievement.

Assessment tools include rubrics, portfolios, performance recordings, written tests, and adjudicated ensemble evaluations.

Classroom management relies on clear routines, sequenced instructions, proximity, positive reinforcement, and consistent consequences.

Rehearsal structure commonly includes warm-up, fundamentals, literature rehearsal, sight-reading, and closure.

Special education law includes IEP and 504 plans; least restrictive environment requires education with nondisabled peers to the maximum appropriate extent.

Professional responsibilities include confidentiality, copyright compliance, FERPA privacy, and mandated reporting of suspected abuse or neglect.