Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Theory Exam Levels Guide Updated 1/7/19 Note Identification - Write musical alphabet up & down in steps, starting on any letter - Write line & space notes on a staff Piano: Treble: C4 C5, Bass: C3 C4 Treble: E4 F5; Bass: G2 A3; Alto: F3 G4 Piano: Treble: C4 F5, Bass: G2 C4 Treble: C4 G5; Bass: F2 C4; Alto: D3 A4 IC AA AB Treble: B3 C6, Bass: C2 D4 Treble: B3 E6, Bass: A1 D4 Treble: A3 E6, Bass: A1 E4 Treble: F3 G6, Bass: F1 G4 AC All notes on Treble, Bass, Alto, and Tenor clef Rhythm & Meter (cumulative) q h d w n Q H j É E W J y T N m M s S o ¾ t Rewrite rhythm from or to ; to ; triple meter to duple meter (using triplets) Intervals - Identify steps and skips (using letters, not on staff) - Identify 2nds-5ths - Identify/write 2nds-6ths - Identify/write 2nd-8ths - Identify half & whole steps - Identify MA2, MA3, MA6, MA7 and P4, P5, P8 - Distinguish between MA2/mi2, MA3/mi3, MA6/mi6, MA7/mi7 IC - Identify all MA2, mi2, MA3, mi3 - Identify MA6, mi6, MA7, mi7 above C, G, D, F, Bb AA - Identify/write all major & minor intervals - Identify/write perfect intervals above C, G, D, A, E, F, Bb, Eb, Ab - Identify diminished & augmented 4ths & 5ths AB - Identify/write all major, minor, & perfect intervals AC - Identify/write all major, minor, perfect, diminished, & augmented intervals
NA Key Signatures - Identify C, F, G Major - Identify major keys through 4 sharps/flats - Write major key signatures of C, F, G - Identify all major keys - Write major key signatures through 2 sharps/flats - Identify all major and minor keys - Write major key signatures through 3 sharps/flats IC - Identify all major & minor keys - Write major key signatures through 4 sharps/flats - Write minor key signatures through 2 sharps/flats - Identify key of musical example AA - Identify all major & minor keys - Write all major key signatures - Write minor key signatures through 4 sharps/flats - Identify key of musical example AB - Identify/write all major & minor key signatures - Identify key of musical example AC - Identify/write all major, minor, & modal key signatures (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian) - Identify key/mode of musical example NA Chords (cumulative) - Identify major triads in root position - Distinguish between major/minor triads in root position - Identify root position major triads appearing as broken chords within a melody - Identify inverted major triads IC - Identify/write major & minor triads in root position - Identify/write complete V7 in root position - Identify by function/write root position triads in major keys up to 3 sharps/flats AA - Identify/write major & minor triads in all inversions - Identify by function/write triads & V7 in all inversions in major keys up to 5 sharps/flats AB - Identify/write augmented & diminished triads in root position - Identify by function/write triads & V7 in all inversions and all keys AC - Identify/write augmented & diminished triads in all inversions - Identify by function/write MA7, mi7, D7, 7, o7 in all keys - Identify by function/write secondary dominant chords in all inversions and all keys
Scales NA IC AA - Identify/write all major scales - Identify/write natural & harmonic minor through 4 sharps/flats - Identify chromatic scales AB - Identify/write all major & minor (natural, harmonic, melodic) scales - Identify/write chromatic scales - Identify whole tone scales AC - Identify/write all major, minor, chromatic, whole tone, and modal (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian) scales Transposition NA Rewrite a melody to/from C, F, G major (starting on tonic) IC AA AB Rewrite a melody to/from any major or minor key AC Rewrite a melody to/from any key or mode Rewrite a melody to/from major keys through 2 sharps/flats (starting on tonic) Rewrite a melody to/from major keys through 3 sharps/flats (starting on tonic) Rewrite a melody to/from major keys through 4 sharps/flats (starting on any key) AA; AB ABA; AA 1 ; AA 1 BA Sonata-Allegro Form (cumulative) IC AA AB Rondo AC Identify cadences (authentic, half, plagal, deceptive)
Style Periods & Composers (cumulative) NA IC Baroque: 1600 1750 Classical: 1750 1820 Romantic: 1820 1900 20 th Century: after 1900 AA Baroque: J.S. Bach, Handel, Telemann Classical: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven Romantic: Chopin, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Schubert 20 th Century: Bartok, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Bernstein, Stravinsky AB Baroque: Scarlatti, Purcell, Vivaldi Classical: Gluck Romantic: Brahms, Liszt, Puccini, Verdi Impressionistic: Fauré 20 th Century: Cage, Copland, Hindemith, Schoenberg AC Medieval (500 1400): Hildegard of Bingen Renaissance (1440 1600): Dufay, Josquin, Palestrina Baroque: Couperin, Rameau 20 th Century: Ives, Gershwin, Joplin, Beach Notation, Form, & Genre - Measure - Bar line - Double bar line - Repeat - Time Signature - Piano - Forte Notation, Form, & Genre - Grand staff - Treble clef - Bass clef - Composer - Interval - Sharp - Flat - Legato Terms & Symbols (cumulative)
- Staccato Notation, Form, & Genre - Phrase - Key signature - Natural - Tie - Tempo - Ritardando - Mezzo piano - Mezzo forte - Crescendo - Decrescendo - Diminuendo - Slur Notation, Form, & Genre - 8 va octave sign - Da Capo al Fine return to the beginning and play to the fine - Interval the distance between two notes - Enharmonic alternate name for the same pitch - Chord multiple notes sounding together - Triad 3-note chord built in 3rds - Dynamics indicators of loud and soft - Pianissimo very soft - Fortissimo very loud - Accent stress or special emphasis - Fermata hold for an extra length of time - Balance projecting the melody over the accompaniment Notation, Form, & Genre - Form the arrangement of phrases or sections in a composition - Opus a number used to classify the order of a composer s works - Bass-Tenor-Alto-Soprano (know order) - Tonic 1 st scale degree - Dominant 5 th scale degree - Meter the grouping of beats into measures - Duple meter measure divides by 2; feels like a march - Triple meter measure divides by 3; feels like a waltz - Syncopation rhythm that accents the weak beats - Metronome device used to keep a steady beat - Andante relaxed, walking tempo - Moderato medium tempo - Allegro fast, lively tempo - Rallentando gradually slowing down - a tempo return to the original speed - Non - not
Notation, Form, & Genre - Coda ending section of a composition - Dal Segno al Fine return to the sign and play to the fine - Symphony large orchestral work - Concerto composition for solo instrument and orchestra - Movement self-contained section of a larger work - Subdominant 4th scale degree - Relative keys keys that share the same key signature - Parallel keys keys that share the same tonic - Cadence chord progression that ends a phrase, section, or piece - Sequence repetition of a pattern at a different pitch - Adagio very slow tempo - Allegretto rather fast tempo between moderato and allegro - Accelerando gradually getting faster - Vivace very quick and lively tempo - Cantabile in a singing style - Dolce sweetly - Molto very; much - Poco a little - Sforzando play with sudden, strong emphasis IC Notation, Form, & Genre - Sonata-Allegro Form Exposition, Development, Recapitulation - Exposition 1st section of sonata-allegro form; states the theme(s) - Development 2nd section of sonata-allegro form; elaborates upon previously stated themes - Recapitulation final section of sonata-allegro form; restates the original themes - Piano Trio ensemble of a piano, violin, & cello, or a composition for such a group - Chamber Music composition for a small ensemble of musicians - Function role of a chord with respect to scale degrees - Leading Tone 7th scale degree - Dissonance two or more unstable pitches causing tension that desires resolution - Presto very fast tempo - Animato with spirit - Leggiero lightly - Sempre always - Simile continue in the same manner - Sostenuto sustained AA Notation, Form, & Genre - Cadenza improvised, virtuosic solo near the end of a movement - Program music music that depicts a scene, narrative, idea, or atmosphere - Scherzo composition with a light, playful character - Double sharp raises note by a whole step - Double flat lowers note by a whole step - Arpeggio broken chord - Atonal having no tonal center
- Largo very slow tempo - Rubato elastic, flexible tempo - Cantando in a singing style - Espressivo expressively - Meno less - Piu more - Subito - suddenly AB Notation, Form, & Genre - Tutti all; the entire chorus or orchestra - Fugue piece in which each voice imitates a theme in overlapping succession - Rondo form in which the first section alternates with one or more contrasting sections - Avant-garde new and experimental musical ideas, or composers using such ideas - Supertonic 2nd scale degree - Mediant 3rd scale degree - Submediant 6th scale degree - Polyphony two or more independent voices - Allargando gradually slower, louder, & broader - Agitato agitated; restless - Assai very - Con moto with motion - Grazioso gracefully; elegantly - Marcato with marked emphasis - Mosso motion - Senza without - Tenuto sustain to full value - Troppo too much AC Notation, Form, & Genre - a cappella unaccompanied singing - Plainchant modal, unmetered vocal music sung in unison - Motet polyphonic choral composition, usually unaccompanied - Opera a staged drama set entirely to music - Aria elaborate, accompanied song for solo voice, typically within an opera - Prelude short, improvisatory piece often serving as an introduction to a larger composition - Toccata keyboard work designed to exhibit the performer s touch and dexterity - Etude short solo composition designed to improve a particular technical skill - Intonation accuracy of pitch - Homophony all voices move rhythmically together - Polyrhythm combination of rhythms from contrasting meters - Appoggiatura ornament in which an embellishing note resolves down by step to the principle note - Glissando a glide from one pitch to another - Mordent 3-note ornament: written note note below written note - Tremolo rapid reiteration of a note to produce a wavering effect - Trill rapid alternation between two notes
- Turn ornament consisting of 4 notes: note above, written note, note below, written note - Vibrato slight, pulsating change of the pitch of a note to enhance tone quality Aural - Identify a series of 3-5 pitches as going up or down - Select rhythmic example from a written pair (quarter & half notes) - Identify example as high or low - Identify example as forte or piano - Identify a series of 3-5 pitches as going up or down - Identify a series of 3-5 pitches as stepping up or skipping up - Select rhythmic example from a written pair (quarter & half notes) - Identify example as forte or piano - Identify MA2 & MA3 - Played above the same tonic, near middle C - Each played melodically ascending, descending, & harmonically - Select rhythmic example from a written pair (including 8th notes) - Identify example as legato or staccato - Identify MA2, MA3, P5 - Played above the same tonic, near middle C - Each played melodically ascending, descending, & harmonically - Select melodic example from a written pair (range of a 5th) - Identify two examples as the same or different (2-measure phrases) - Identify MA2, MA3, P4, P5, MA7 - Played above the same tonic, near middle C - Each played melodically ascending, descending, & harmonically - Identify major & minor triads (played in root position, blocked & broken) - Select rhythmic example from a written pair (including dotted quarter-8th) - Identify example as duple or triple meter (starting on downbeat; clearly waltz or march-like) - Identify example as legato, staccato, or both - Identify MA2, MA3, P4, P5, MA6, MA7 - Played above the same tonic, near middle C - Each played melodically ascending, descending, & harmonically - Identify major & harmonic minor scales - Select rhythmic example from a written pair (including 16th notes) - Select melodic example from a written pair (octave range) - Identify example as syncopated or non-syncopated IC - Identify ascending MA2, MA3, P4, P5, MA6, MA7, P8 - Identify example as major or minor - Select rhythmic example from a written pair - Select melodic example from a written pair AA - Identify MA2, mi2, MA3, mi3 - Select rhythmic example from a written pair (includes dotted 8ths) - Identify example as Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, or 20th Century AB - Material from AA - Identify MA6, mi6, MA7, mi7 AC - Melodic dictation (2 measures; key signature & time signature given; beginning on tonic) - Identify MA7, mi7, D7, 7, o7 chords (root position, played blocked & broken) - Identify modal scales (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian)