©THESTAR EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Texes Music Certification Exam Study
Guide.
Relative Minor - answer✔shares the same key signature as the major scale
ex. F Major- d minor
often use shared chords to modulate to the relative major
Parallel Minor - answer✔shares the same tonic pitch
share the same dominant as the parallel major
Orchestral Clefs - answer✔Treble Clef- G clef
Alto Clef- C Clef
Tenor Clef- C Clef (Fourth line C)
Bass Clef- F Clef
Treble clef instruments - answer✔woodwinds, violin, high brasses,
Alto clef insturments - answer✔Viola
Tenor clef instruments - answer✔cello, bassoon, trombone
Bass clef instuments - answer✔double bass, cello, bassoon, trombone, low brasses
Concert band - answer✔focuses on popular band music and orchestral transcriptions
parts- 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 3 clarinets, 1 bass clarinet, 4 saxophones, 4 horns, 3
trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 baritone horn, 1 tuba, 3 or 4 percussion instruments
40 to 50 players
Symphonic band - answer✔comparable to a symphonic orchestra in range.
larger sections with a total of 90-120 performers
1|Page
, ©THESTAR EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
may include the string bass, piccolo, English horn, harp, bass trombone, contrabassoon, and or
a saxophone
Range of four part harmony - answer✔Soprano- middle C to A above the staff
Alto- F to D on the staff
Tenor- B to G
Bass- E to C
Classical orchestra instrument families - answer✔First violins became the dominant string
section while lower strings became background support. wind parts were simplified and
became supporting background harmonies. Brass was used in greater independent capacity
during the Classical Era
Durational rhythm - answer✔closely tied with meter, and consist of the aspect of rhythm
associated with patterns of duration, emphases, and groupings.
Tonal rhythm - answer✔independent of meter. rhythmic properties of the tonal system. EX.
sources of tonal rhythm include recurrence of a single tone, the octave relationship chordal and
linear associations, consonance, and dissonance.
Forzando (z) - answer✔strongly accent the notes over which the symbol lies
Rinforzando (rinf) - answer✔refers to the increasing volume of a group of notes throughout a
phrase and is played increasingly louder over a short period of time
Sforzando (sfz) - answer✔increase in loudness of the notes or notes over which the marking
occurs
Tenuto - answer✔to hold, hold the note for the full value. horizontal line over note head
Portato - answer✔to carry, smoothly detach the notes similarly to a legato but shorter in
length. Two dots and a slur over a note
Affretare - answer✔to hurry indicates a quickening of the tempo and also a character or mood
of agitation
Slentando - answer✔to slow down, the player should gradually decrease the tempo of the
section as the music slows down
Allargando - answer✔to widen, player should gradually decrease the tempo in a deliberate and
imposing character
2|Page
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Texes Music Certification Exam Study
Guide.
Relative Minor - answer✔shares the same key signature as the major scale
ex. F Major- d minor
often use shared chords to modulate to the relative major
Parallel Minor - answer✔shares the same tonic pitch
share the same dominant as the parallel major
Orchestral Clefs - answer✔Treble Clef- G clef
Alto Clef- C Clef
Tenor Clef- C Clef (Fourth line C)
Bass Clef- F Clef
Treble clef instruments - answer✔woodwinds, violin, high brasses,
Alto clef insturments - answer✔Viola
Tenor clef instruments - answer✔cello, bassoon, trombone
Bass clef instuments - answer✔double bass, cello, bassoon, trombone, low brasses
Concert band - answer✔focuses on popular band music and orchestral transcriptions
parts- 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 3 clarinets, 1 bass clarinet, 4 saxophones, 4 horns, 3
trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 baritone horn, 1 tuba, 3 or 4 percussion instruments
40 to 50 players
Symphonic band - answer✔comparable to a symphonic orchestra in range.
larger sections with a total of 90-120 performers
1|Page
, ©THESTAR EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
may include the string bass, piccolo, English horn, harp, bass trombone, contrabassoon, and or
a saxophone
Range of four part harmony - answer✔Soprano- middle C to A above the staff
Alto- F to D on the staff
Tenor- B to G
Bass- E to C
Classical orchestra instrument families - answer✔First violins became the dominant string
section while lower strings became background support. wind parts were simplified and
became supporting background harmonies. Brass was used in greater independent capacity
during the Classical Era
Durational rhythm - answer✔closely tied with meter, and consist of the aspect of rhythm
associated with patterns of duration, emphases, and groupings.
Tonal rhythm - answer✔independent of meter. rhythmic properties of the tonal system. EX.
sources of tonal rhythm include recurrence of a single tone, the octave relationship chordal and
linear associations, consonance, and dissonance.
Forzando (z) - answer✔strongly accent the notes over which the symbol lies
Rinforzando (rinf) - answer✔refers to the increasing volume of a group of notes throughout a
phrase and is played increasingly louder over a short period of time
Sforzando (sfz) - answer✔increase in loudness of the notes or notes over which the marking
occurs
Tenuto - answer✔to hold, hold the note for the full value. horizontal line over note head
Portato - answer✔to carry, smoothly detach the notes similarly to a legato but shorter in
length. Two dots and a slur over a note
Affretare - answer✔to hurry indicates a quickening of the tempo and also a character or mood
of agitation
Slentando - answer✔to slow down, the player should gradually decrease the tempo of the
section as the music slows down
Allargando - answer✔to widen, player should gradually decrease the tempo in a deliberate and
imposing character
2|Page
