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Music
Memory Work
35
Music
Not Applicable
03/27/2012

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Where does the word "Interval" come from?

Definition
The word "Interval" comes from the Latin word "Intervallum" which means "space between two walls".
Term
What is a musical Interval?
Definition
A musical Interval is the distance between two pitches.
Term
What is meant by the phrase, "the distance between to pitches"?
Definition
When we speak of the distances between to pitches, we are simply comparing how much higher or lower one pitch is to another.
Term
What do intervals look like on the piano keyboard?
Definition
On the piano keyboard, an interval is the distance from one key to some other key.
Term
What do intervals look like on the staff?
Definition
On, the staff, an interval is the distance from one line or space to some other line or space.
Term
What is a melodic interval?
Definition
A melodic interval is two pitches heard separately.
Term
What is a harmonic interval?
Definition
A harmonic interval is two pitches heard simultaneously.
Term
What is a ratio?
Definition
A ratio is a comparison of two quantities.
Term
Who was Pythagoras?
Definition
Pythagoras was a Greek philosopher and mathematician who lived from 570-495 BC.
Term
What is a monochord?
Definition
A monochord is an ancient instrument with one string used as a device to measure the ratios between pitches.
Term
What did Pythagoras discover?
Definition
Pythagoras discovered that musical pitches have certain mathematical ratios to one another.
Term
What ratio produces the interval of an octave?
Definition
The ratio of 2:1 produces the interval of an octave.
Term
What ratio produces the interval of a 5th?
Definition
The ratio 3:2 produces the interval of a 5th.
Term
What ratio produces the interval of a 4th.
Definition
The ratio 4:3 produces the interval of a 4th.
Term
What do we call it when pitches sound well together?
Definition
When pitches sound well together we call it consonance.
Term
What do we call it when pitches do not sound well together?
Definition
When pitches do not sound well together, we call it a dissonance.
Term
Can consonance and dissonance be measured?
Definition
Consonance and dissonance can be measured by the simplicity of the ratio.  The simpler the ratio, the stronger the consonance.
Term
What is a scale?
Definition
A scale is a series of 8 pitches specifically spaced from one another.
Term
What is a major scale?
Definition
A major scale is a series of 8 pitches in the following sequence: whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step.
Term
Who developed the modern scale?
Definition
The modern scale was developed over thousands of years by many different minds.
Term
What is the starting point and basis for the scale?
Definition
The starting point and basis for the scale is the octave (8th).
Term
Why is the octave the starting point and basis for the scale?
Definition
The octave is the starting point and basis for the scale because the octave encompasses all other pitches within it.
Term
What impact did Pythagoras' discovery regarding the mathematical relationships between intervals have on the development of the scale?
Definition
Pythagoras' discovery regarding the mathematical relationships between intervals resulted in the theoretical basis for the whole tone.
Term
What is a whole tone?
Definition
A whole tone is the difference between an interval of a 5th and an interval of a 4th.
Term
What is a tetrachord?
Definition
A tetrachord is a series four pitches within the space of a fourth, most commonly consisting of two whole tones and one semi-tone.
Term
What is a semi-tone?
Definition
A semi-tone is the difference between a fourth and two whole tones
Term
Why is the discovery of the whole and semi-tone important?
Definition
The discovery of the whole tone and the semi-tone is important because they are the basis for how many and which pitches are in the musical scale.
Term
What do two overlapping tetrachords result in?
Definition
Two overlapping tetrachords result in the seven notes of the Greek scale.
Term
What are two most common methods of reading music?
Definition
The two most common methods of reading music are reading by number and reading by letter.
Term
What is the most efficient way of reading must.
Definition
The most efficient way of reading music is reading by order.
Term
What is reading by order?
Definition
reading by order is the ability to see the mathematical structure and organized patterns inherent in the music.
Term
Why is reading by order important?
Definition
Reading by order is important because you will understand what you are playing; by making sense of the notes on the page. you will increase the speed at which you will read and learn music
Term
Where should your eyes be looking on the page?
Definition
Your eyes should always be a few beats ahead of what your hands are playing.
Term
What is the direction of the musical line?
Definition
The direction of the musical line is the shape the music takes on the page and conforms to how the music sounds.
Term
Why is recognizing the musical line important?
Definition
Recognizing the musical line is important because it will reduce the time it takes the fingers to find the next key to play and increase your sight reading ability.
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