Study Guide for 1st 9-Weeks Exam
Vocabulary:
Staff
Treble clef
Bass clef


a symbol that indicates that the notes on a staff are for
the higher voices – for female voices and sometimes for
tenors

a symbol that indicates that the notes on a staff are for
the lower voices – for the men’s voices
Time signature


Bar line

Measure

Double bar line
the 5 lines and 4 spaces that music is written on
the two numbers that indicate how notes will be
grouped into measures; the top number indicates many
beats are in a measure; the bottom number indicates
what kind of note gets a beat
divides a staff into measures – DOES NOT mean to pause


Sectional double bar 
the area in between two bar lines where notes and rests
are located
a pair of bar lines (one thin and one thick) that indicates
the end of a song (or exercise)
a pair of bar lines (both thin) that indicates the end of a
main section of a song

Repeat sign
sing a section again; you will either go back the
beginning of the song or the “matching” repeat sign
1st ending
the end of the first verse (sing it ONLY with first verse)
2nd ending
the end of the second verse (sing it ONLY with
second verse)
Key signature
Pick-up
a collection of sharps () or flats ()that indicates
where “do” is located
key signature with sharps – the last sharp is “ti”
key signature with flats – the last flat is “fa”
the notes and words leading into a musical phrase,
section, or sometimes individual measure
Phrase
a musical thought or sentence; may be indicated
by a slur

Fermata
Slur
oo ___________________
a symbol that indicates to hold the note under it
longer than its value
a curved line joining two or more different
notes; in vocal music, it often indicates two or
more notes for the same syllable
Tie
a curved line joining two notes that are on the
same line or space and are next to each other;
combine the values (length) of both notes
Dynamics
volume - how loud or soft to play or sing
Piano
p
soft
Forte
f
loud
Mezzo
m
moderately or medium
Mezzo piano
mp
medium soft
Mezzo forte
mf
medium loud
Crescendo
cresc.
gradually get louder
Decrescendo decresc.
gradually get softer
Types of notes:
Click on “Introduction to Rhythm” for information about the parts of a note, the types of
notes and rests, and how many beats each gets.
International Phonetic Alphabet:
Click on IPA Study Guide – “To Those Who Serve” for the definition of diphthong and an
example, the rule for the correct pronunciation of “the,” information about the
International Phonetic Alphabet (and its symbols), and examples of IPA found in the
lyrics to “To Those Who Serve.” Note: There is a blank worksheet and an answer key.