​🎶 Final Exam Study Guide – High School Choir 2024 🎶
Total Points: 100
Format: Multiple Choice | 9 Sections (Units 1–8 + Demographics)
🧍 Section 1: Basic Info
Know your:
  • First & Last Name
  • Choir Class (1st–6th Hour options)
🎼 Section 2: Unit 1 – Rhythm & Beat
  • Beat: Steady recurring pulse
  • Rhythm: Organization of sound lengths
  • Quarter Note = 1/4 of a whole note
  • Half Note = 1/2 of a whole note
  • Whole Note = 4 beats (or 2 half notes)
  • Correct Singing Posture:
    ✘ Feet together (incorrect)
    ✓ Knees unlocked, back straight, ribcage lifted, shoulders relaxed
🎵 Section 3: Unit 2 – Staff & Clefs
  • Staff: 5 lines and 4 spaces where music is written
  • Grand Staff: Treble and bass clefs grouped
  • Treble Clef: Notes above middle C (lines: EGBDF; spaces: FACE)
  • Bass Clef: Notes below middle C (lines: GBDFA; spaces: ACEG)
  • Vowels: ee, eh, ah, oh, oo (✘ NOT “oi”)
  • Clef: Symbol that indicates pitch range
🎶 Section 4: Unit 3 – Notation & Dynamics
  • Meter: Form of rhythmic organization
  • Diaphragm: Muscle that helps with breathing
  • Barlines: Divide staff into measures
  • Time Signature: Tells the meter (e.g., 4/4)
  • Piano: Soft
  • Forte: Loud
  • Double Barline: End of a piece
📈 Section 5: Unit 4 – Dynamics
  • Crescendo: Gradually get louder
🎤 Section 6: Unit 5 – Pitch & Voices
  • Pitch: Highness or lowness of a note
  • Scale: Series of pitches (WWHWWWH = major scale)
  • Keynote/Tonic: “Home” pitch
  • Voices (High to Low):
    • Soprano (highest)
    • Alto
    • Tenor (higher male)
    • Bass (lowest male)
    • Baritone (between tenor and bass)
  • Melody: Succession of tones
  • Harmony: Tones sounding together
🎹 Section 7: Unit 6 – Intervals & History
  • Half Step: Smallest distance between notes
  • Whole Step: Two half steps
  • Ensemble: Group of performers
  • Slur: Curved line over notes sung on one syllable
  • Plainsong: Medieval vocal style
  • Melisma: Many notes on one syllable
  • Cantor: Solo voice
🎻 Section 8: Unit 7 – Musical Textures & Time Periods
  • Monophony: One melody (no harmony)
  • Polyphony: Two or more melodies with different rhythms
  • Homophony: Multiple voices with same rhythm
  • Romantic Period: Music of the 19th century
🗣️ Section 9: Unit 8 – Articulations & Symbols
  • Articulators: Teeth, lips, tongue
  • Fermata: Hold the note longer
  • Sharp (♯): Raises pitch a half step
  • Flat (♭): Lowers pitch a half step
  • Interval: Distance between two pitches
  • Ledger Lines: Notes above/below the staff
  • Mezzo Forte (mf): Medium loud
  • Mezzo Piano (mp): Medium soft
  • Legato: Smooth and connected
  • Staccato: Short and detached
  • Style Marking: Indicates how to perform a section
You've got this—good luck! 💪🎤