TExES Music EC - 12 Exam Study Guides

TExES Music EC - 12 Exam Flashcards

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177 TExES Music EC - 12 Exam Practice Questions

1. Aesthetic perception is:

A. Ability to appreciate religion
B. Understanding expressions of anger
C. Interpreted using sight and sound
D. All of the above

2. List a characteristic of creative expression.

A. Love
B. Motion
C. Scientific relevance
D. Interpretation of a primal desire

3. The themes used in all fine art are:

A. Universal
B. Objective
C. Seasonal
D. Borrowed

4. Why are themes in art important?

A. To present a coherent idea
B. To disconnect people
C. To bring out emotion
D. To discourage organization

5. Music is:

A. Disorganized sound
B. Subjective
C. Not a way of conveying emotion
D. All of the above

6. Music theory is a system used to:

A. Perform
B. Criticize
C. Investigate
D. Compose

7. List a music term:

A. Acoustics
B. Shade
C. Focal point
D. Fractions

8. Studying music history means learning about:

A. Composers
B. Drama
C. Theme songs
D. Scripts

9. During The Renaissance music:

A. Moved away from strict rules
B. Reflected individualism
C. Secular music became popular
D. All of the above

10. Music in the Romantic Era encouraged:

A. Romantic freedom
B. Experimentation
C. Following rules
D. Restraint

ANSWER KEY EXAM 177

1. Answer: C

Aesthetics is the area of philosophy that studies the nature and expression of beauty and people's instinctive reaction to the fine arts. In Kantian philosophy, aesthetics is the part of metaphysics that studies the laws of perception. Perception is the memory of an awareness and interpretation previously learned through the senses, especially sight and sound. Perception is knowledge gained through insight and intuition. Aesthetic perception is the ability to appreciate and understand the nature, beauty and validity of the fine arts including music, painting, sculpture, theater, drama, comedy and literature. A person who is especially sensitive to beauty and consistently exhibits good taste as defined by the prevailing concept of the fine arts is said to have aesthetic perception. The English philosopher Alfred North Whitehead observed, "Art is the imposing of a pattern on experience, and our aesthetic enjoyment is recognition of the pattern." Dialogues, June 10, 1943.

2. Answer: D

Being creative means the ability to produce or bring into existence a work of art (music, painting, sculpture, comedy, drama, literature) that is original and imaginative. To express something is to convey an idea, an emotion or an opinion; or to depict a direct or indirect representation of an idea, an emotion or an opinion. The idea, emotion or opinion can be shown in words, sounds, pictures, gestures, signs and symbols. A person with creative expression has the burning need to bring forth a unique manifestation of his or her understanding and interpretation of mankind's primal desires. A soaring music score by Beethoven, a memorable scene by Grandma Moses, a gentle poem by Emily Dickinson, a moving performance by Sir Laurence Olivier are all examples of individual creative expression by artists of uncompromising vision.

3. Answer: A

The creative ideas presented in any type of media (visual, oral, written) can be summarized in four basic themes. Through the ages, every tale ever told, written or sung has used a variation of one of these themes and expounded and expanded on the ideas contained within each one. The four themes are:

• Universal Themes encompass feelings, situations and characters that all people everywhere experience. It doesn't matter what country, culture or age; every human being understands and relates.
• Timely Themes are feelings, situations and characters that people have experienced throughout recorded history. Inhabitants of Medieval Times as well as Elizabethan England and the ancient Greek and Roman emperors would relate just the same as the current population does.
• Broad Themes are supported by specific examples of feelings, situations and characters that affect cultures, countries and governments.
• Shared Themes connect diverse elements into an intricate mosaic that touches people everywhere, in every culture and every age.

4. Answer: A

The four themes (universal, timely, broad, shared) are important in all forms of art. Themes help the artist, musician, writer, sculptor and architect organize ideas and concepts into a coherent whole. They present a perspective beyond the individual and his cultural experiences and help him connect with people in other parts of the globe who have a different worldview. It encourages recognition of and understanding for just how similar the circumstances the human family experiences. Themes connect current events to historic happenings and enable readers, viewers and listeners to relate to and learn from the past. Since art's function is to communicate, studying earlier works of art along with the history of the era in which it was created helps current society not only understand past civilizations but encourages a wise community to apply lessons learned long ago to contemporary issues.

5. Answer: B

The American Heritage College Dictionary defines music as "the art of arranging sounds in time so as to produce a continuous, unified and evocative composition." All musical compositions have a defined organization of sound and silence. The Father of Electronic Music, American composer, Edgard Varese, called music "organized sound." Music, like all fine art, is subjective and reflects the historical era and particular culture from which it emerges. There is a wide range of music genres from classical and jazz to country and rock to religious and patriotic, to name a few and each one's appeal is dependent upon the social context in which it is written and heard. Music is a unique language that communicates moods, emotions, thoughts and impressions. It can be philosophical, sexual, political or nonsensical, but it has a story to tell and a message to convey. Because music has the ability to communicate across cultural barriers and transcend ideology, it is sometimes called "the universal language."

6. Answer: D

Music theory studies the mechanics of making music and how the various elements work together to create the resulting "organized sound." It is a system for analyzing, classifying and composing; it defines the relationship of the written composition and the live performance of the piece. These definitions for the elements of music are from The American Heritage College Dictionary:

• Melody: A rhythmic sequence of related notes in a particular structure
• Pitch: The high or low frequency vibration of a tone in a series of sounds
• Rhythm: A regular, specific pattern of notes of different length and emphasis
• Harmony: The simultaneous structure, progression and relationship of chords
• Consonance: A combination of sounds whose tones complement each other
• Dissonance: A combination of tones that create a jarring interaction of sounds
• Dynamics: The variation in force or intensity (softness or loudness)
• Texture: The structure of a composition, i.e., the relationship between the parts of the piece

7. Answer: A

These definitions are from The New York Public Library Desk Reference:

• A Cappella: Choral music without instrumental accompaniment, translation "in the church style."
• Acoustics: The quality of sound (intensity, resonance, tone, etc.) produced in an enclosed space
• Beat: To count a unit of rhythm or time with respect to accent
• Cadence: Progression of chords moving to a rest point or a close
• Chord: Combination of three or more concordant tones played at the same time
• Clef: A symbol showing the pitch of a particular line on the staff in relation to other pitches
• Etude: An exercise in a particular point of technique
• Impresario: The producer, conductor or manager of an opera or concert company
• Interval: The difference in pitch between two notes
• Meter: A grouping of beats into a unit of measure or bars

8. Answer: A

Studying music means learning about the composition, performance, reception and criticism of music, how various cultures and historical events contributed to its diversity and how it has evolved. Music history considers composers' lives and the totality of their work, what musicians and instruments were available, how and why styles and genres developed, the place music has in society at a particular time and the way the piece was performed when it was created. A listener should have some knowledge of the composer, his culture, the socioeconomic and political situation and religious influences at the time the piece was composed, because all these factors impact the meaning of and reason for the composition. Music history considers the relationship of the lyrics and the music, how and why they work together, how the piece reflects the society from which it emerged and its relevance in the current environment. It is also interesting to note how the impact of a composition can vary depending upon the particular situation of the audience.

9. Answer: D

The Medieval Era, 800 to 1400 C.E., lasted almost a thousand years. During this time, the Church was the focus of life, learning and the fine arts. Pope Gregory (590 to 640 C.E.) was instrumental in the development of chants. Secular song was an important part of this era, although unlike Gregorian chant, little has been preserved. The Renaissance Period, 1400 to 1600 C.E., saw the rebirth of humanism and the revival of achievement for its own sake. Artists and musicians moved away from the strict rules of the Medieval Era and produced works that reflected freedom and individualism. Church music was still important, but secular music became more common and with the invention of new instruments, instrumental music grew in popularity. The Baroque Era, 1600 to 1750 C.E., produced highly intense, textured and ornate music with a rich counterpoint and melodic line. Unlike earlier works, this music expressed emotions and feelings and emphasized a wide range of vocal and instrumental harmonies. Opera was developed in Italy during this time.

10. Answer: B

The Classical Era, 1750 to 1820 C.E., produced a great change in music. There was emphasis placed on clarity, expression, balance, restraint and instrumentation. Opera, sacred and secular music were being written, but pieces composed for orchestras began to dominate. As classical music developed, changes in form and phrase structure occurred and cadence became more important. The Romantic Era, 1850 to 1920 C.E., brought enormous change and again encouraged artistic freedom, experimentation and creativity. Nationalism was an important influence; folk music expressed cultural identity. Use of dissonance became popular. Composers tried to coax new sounds from familiar instruments and found interesting ways to combine new instruments with the old.

The Modern Era, 1900 to the present, is difficult to define but one adjective that comes to mind is rebellious. Twentieth Century music is eclectic, expressive and incredibly creative. It has its own expression and orchestration; developed its own unique styles and improved earlier ones. Technology had a huge impact on music by allowing and encouraging multiple ways to manipulate sound.