MTTC Music Education (099) flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Major scale pattern

Whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half. This interval sequence produces the major scale on any starting pitch and determines its key signature.

Harmonic minor scale

A natural minor scale with scale degree 7 raised by a half step, creating a leading tone and a major V chord for stronger cadences.

Circle of fifths

A diagram arranging keys by perfect fifths; moving clockwise adds sharps, moving counterclockwise adds flats, and adjacent keys differ by one accidental.

Deceptive cadence

A cadence that moves from V to vi (or V to VI in minor) instead of resolving to the tonic, creating an unexpected continuation.

Secondary dominant

A chromatic chord that functions as V of a diatonic chord other than the tonic, such as V/V resolving to V in the home key.

Neapolitan chord

A major triad built on lowered scale degree 2, typically used in first inversion (bII6) and resolving to the dominant.

Sonata form

A large-scale form with exposition, development, and recapitulation; the recapitulation restates themes in the tonic key to resolve tonal tension.

Twelve-bar blues

A repeating twelve-measure harmonic pattern using I, IV, and V chords, with the first four measures typically on the tonic.

Interval inversion

The interval formed when the lower note is moved up an octave; perfect stays perfect, major becomes minor, and numerical values sum to nine.

Movable-do solfege

A system in which do is assigned to the tonic of the current key, so the same syllables represent the same scale degrees in every key.

Melodic dictation

The process of notating a melody by ear; identify tonic and mode first, then rhythm, then pitch, and verify with the cadence.

Parallel fifths

Two voices moving in the same direction by perfect fifths; generally avoided in common-practice voice leading because it weakens voice independence.

Species counterpoint

A graded method of writing counterpoint: first species is note-against-note, second is two against one, and later species add suspensions and florid motion.

Chord quality intervals

Major triad equals major third plus minor third; minor triad equals minor third plus major third; diminished is two minor thirds; augmented is two major thirds.

Transposition

Shifting music to a different key by adding the same interval to every pitch and adjusting the key signature accordingly.

Gregorian chant

Monophonic, modal, Latin liturgical song of the medieval church, sung without accompaniment and often notated in neumes.

Basso continuo

A Baroque accompaniment consisting of a bass line with figured-bass symbols, realized by a keyboard or plucked instrument plus a bass instrument.

Ritornello form

A Baroque form in which a recurring orchestral passage alternates with contrasting solo episodes, common in Vivaldi concertos.

Program music

Instrumental music that depicts a story, scene, or idea, often through a written program, as in Berlioz and Liszt.

Twelve-tone technique

Schoenberg's method of composing with an ordered row containing all twelve pitch classes, used in original, inverted, retrograde, and transposed forms.

Gamelan

An Indonesian ensemble of tuned metallophones, gongs, and drums, characterized by interlocking parts and cyclical structures.

Raga and tala

In Indian classical music, raga is the melodic framework of pitches and ornaments, while tala is the rhythmic cycle.

Conducting ictus

The point in a conducting gesture where the beat occurs, typically marked by a clear downward or lateral motion.

Preparatory beat

The gesture immediately before the first sound that sets tempo, dynamic, and articulation for the ensemble's entrance.

Horn transposition

The F horn sounds a perfect fifth lower than written; written C sounds as F below, requiring transposition when reading concert pitch.

Spiccato bowing

A string technique in which the bow bounces off the string in a controlled manner, producing short, separated notes.

Passaggio

The transition zone between vocal registers, such as chest and head voice, requiring careful breath support and vowel modification.

Kodaly approach

A music education method using movable-do solfege, hand signs, rhythm syllables, folk songs, and a carefully sequenced curriculum.

Orff-Schulwerk

An approach combining speech, movement, singing, and barred instruments, emphasizing improvisation, ostinato, and child-centered exploration.

Dalcroze eurhythmics

A method using movement to develop rhythmic understanding, internal pulse, and expressive response to music.

Audiation

Gordon's term for hearing and comprehending music internally when the sound is not physically present, foundational to music learning.

National Core Arts Standards

Standards organized around creating, performing, responding, and connecting, describing what students should know and do in the arts.