ILLINOIS MUSIC CONTENT AREA TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
Pentatonic Scale - (ANSWER)A musical scale that uses only five notes out of an octave (ID aurally)
Ionian Scale - (ANSWER)Starts on "do". Is the modern major scale. Interval sequence: W-W-h-W-W-W-h
(ID aurally)
Dorian Scale - (ANSWER)Starts on "re". Interval sequence: W-h-W-W-W-h-W (ID aurally)
Phrygian Scale - (ANSWER)Starts on "mi". Interval sequence: h-W-W-W-h-W-W (ID aurally)
Lydian Scale - (ANSWER)Starts on "fa". Interval sequence: W-W-W-h-W-W-h (ID aurally)
Myxolydian Scale - (ANSWER)Starts on "sol". Interval sequence: W-W-h-W-W-h-W (ID aurally)
Aeolian Scale - (ANSWER)Starts on "la". Is the modern natural minor scale. Interval sequence: W-h-W-W-
h-W-W (ID aurally)
Locrian Scale - (ANSWER)Starts on "ti". Interval sequence: h-W-W-h-W-W-W (ID aurally)
Whole-Tone Scale - (ANSWER)A scale in which each note is separated from its neighbors by the interval
of a whole step. (ID aurally)
Intervals - (ANSWER)The difference between two pitches. (ID aurally)
Melodic Minor Scale - (ANSWER)Scale that raises both the sixth and seventh notes one semitone when
ascending, and descends like the natural minor scale. (ID aurally)
Harmonic Minor Scale - (ANSWER)Scale that raises the seventh note one semitone both ascending and
descending. (ID aurally)
, ILLINOIS MUSIC CONTENT AREA TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
Sequence - (ANSWER)The restatement of a motif or longer melodic (or harmonic) passage at a higher or
lower pitch in the same voice. (ID aurally)
Repetition - (ANSWER)Where sounds or sequences are often repeated. (ID aurally)
Polyphonic - (ANSWER)In two or more parts, each having a melody of its own; contrapuntal. (ID aurally)
Homophonic - (ANSWER)Characterized by the movement of accompanying parts in the same rhythm as
the melody. (ID aurally)
Monophonic - (ANSWER)Consisting of a single musical line, without accompaniment. (ID aurally)
Tonal Harmony - (ANSWER)Harmonic structure that gives priority to a single tone or tonic. (ID aurally)
Atonal Harmony - (ANSWER)Harmonic structure that lacks a tonal center. (ID aurally)
Modal Harmony - (ANSWER)Harmonic structure that uses chords built from only the tones available in
one of the modes. (ID aurally)
Chord Progression - (ANSWER)A series of chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" (ID aurally)
Cadence (plagal, authentic, half, deceptive) - (ANSWER)A progression of (at least) two chords that
concludes a phrase, section, or piece of music. (ID aurally)
Renaissance (1400-1600) - (ANSWER)Characteristics: Equality of vocal parts; mostly a cappella;
appearance of triadic harmonic structure; three and four-part polyphony, later five to eight parts;
primarily used sacred texts; stronger cadences at end of piece; 4th treated as dissonance. (ID aurally)
Forms: Mass, motet, canon, madrigal, chanson, anthem, canzona
Pentatonic Scale - (ANSWER)A musical scale that uses only five notes out of an octave (ID aurally)
Ionian Scale - (ANSWER)Starts on "do". Is the modern major scale. Interval sequence: W-W-h-W-W-W-h
(ID aurally)
Dorian Scale - (ANSWER)Starts on "re". Interval sequence: W-h-W-W-W-h-W (ID aurally)
Phrygian Scale - (ANSWER)Starts on "mi". Interval sequence: h-W-W-W-h-W-W (ID aurally)
Lydian Scale - (ANSWER)Starts on "fa". Interval sequence: W-W-W-h-W-W-h (ID aurally)
Myxolydian Scale - (ANSWER)Starts on "sol". Interval sequence: W-W-h-W-W-h-W (ID aurally)
Aeolian Scale - (ANSWER)Starts on "la". Is the modern natural minor scale. Interval sequence: W-h-W-W-
h-W-W (ID aurally)
Locrian Scale - (ANSWER)Starts on "ti". Interval sequence: h-W-W-h-W-W-W (ID aurally)
Whole-Tone Scale - (ANSWER)A scale in which each note is separated from its neighbors by the interval
of a whole step. (ID aurally)
Intervals - (ANSWER)The difference between two pitches. (ID aurally)
Melodic Minor Scale - (ANSWER)Scale that raises both the sixth and seventh notes one semitone when
ascending, and descends like the natural minor scale. (ID aurally)
Harmonic Minor Scale - (ANSWER)Scale that raises the seventh note one semitone both ascending and
descending. (ID aurally)
, ILLINOIS MUSIC CONTENT AREA TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
Sequence - (ANSWER)The restatement of a motif or longer melodic (or harmonic) passage at a higher or
lower pitch in the same voice. (ID aurally)
Repetition - (ANSWER)Where sounds or sequences are often repeated. (ID aurally)
Polyphonic - (ANSWER)In two or more parts, each having a melody of its own; contrapuntal. (ID aurally)
Homophonic - (ANSWER)Characterized by the movement of accompanying parts in the same rhythm as
the melody. (ID aurally)
Monophonic - (ANSWER)Consisting of a single musical line, without accompaniment. (ID aurally)
Tonal Harmony - (ANSWER)Harmonic structure that gives priority to a single tone or tonic. (ID aurally)
Atonal Harmony - (ANSWER)Harmonic structure that lacks a tonal center. (ID aurally)
Modal Harmony - (ANSWER)Harmonic structure that uses chords built from only the tones available in
one of the modes. (ID aurally)
Chord Progression - (ANSWER)A series of chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" (ID aurally)
Cadence (plagal, authentic, half, deceptive) - (ANSWER)A progression of (at least) two chords that
concludes a phrase, section, or piece of music. (ID aurally)
Renaissance (1400-1600) - (ANSWER)Characteristics: Equality of vocal parts; mostly a cappella;
appearance of triadic harmonic structure; three and four-part polyphony, later five to eight parts;
primarily used sacred texts; stronger cadences at end of piece; 4th treated as dissonance. (ID aurally)
Forms: Mass, motet, canon, madrigal, chanson, anthem, canzona
