KS2 Performing Music | How to Play Live to an Audience

Back to Music

Music Quiz - Performing Music (Questions)

This KS2 Music quiz takes a look at performing music. Performing music is playing live to an audience. Performance - the very word is enough to make some musicians break into a cold sweat. So many things can go wrong! And yet, making music with others and performing it for an audience is one of the most rewarding activities for musicians.

When you are practising playing an instrument, it's OK to stop when you make a mistake and start again. After all, you want to play the piece perfectly! However, when you are performing, the audience would rather not sit through numerous failed attempts so if you make a mistake when playing live, you simply carry on as if it never happened. The audience will forgive you.

What do you know about performing music? Take this quiz to find out.

In an orchestra or large band, who directs the musicians?

[ ]	The manager
[ ]	The conductor
[ ]	The principle musician
[ ]	The best musician

Which of the following describes playing a piece of music alone?

[ ]	Duet
[ ]	Quartet
[ ]	Symphony
[ ]	Solo

How many musicians are needed to play a duet?

[ ]	One
[ ]	Two
[ ]	Three
[ ]	Four

In music, what is an 'ensemble'?

[ ]	An instrument in the percussion family
[ ]	A piece of music that resembles another, more famous, piece of music
[ ]	A group of musicians playing together
[ ]	None of the above

Which one of the following would NOT be an example of a musical performance?

[ ]	A choir singing a song to an audience
[ ]	A busker playing his guitar on a street in a crowded shopping area
[ ]	A musician listening to a CD of a song she recorded
[ ]	A band playing in a school assembly

Which notation tells a performer to gradually slow the music?

[ ]	Rallentando and ritardando
[ ]	Crescendo and decrescendo
[ ]	Repeats and rests
[ ]	Forte and fortissimo

What is 'call and response'?

[ ]	When the teacher calls out a name and that person gives the answer
[ ]	When sections of music are repeated many times
[ ]	When one person teaches the music to everyone else
[ ]	When one person leads the melody and the other musicians respond

What does it mean to sing in a round?

[ ]	Singers move around while performing
[ ]	One or more singers start the music and other groups join in at different times
[ ]	All the singers stand in a circle
[ ]	Performing on stage

What is the term for a musical pattern that is continuously repeated during a piece of music?

[ ]	Staccato
[ ]	Piano
[ ]	Ostinato
[ ]	Quartet

10.

What skills are developed by performing music in a group?

[ ]	Showing respect for others' viewpoints
[ ]	Listening
[ ]	Collaboration
[ ]	All of the above

Music Quiz - Performing Music (Answers)

In an orchestra or large band, who directs the musicians?

[ ]	The manager
[x]	The conductor
[ ]	The principle musician
[ ]	The best musician

The conductor usually uses a baton

Which of the following describes playing a piece of music alone?

[ ]	Duet
[ ]	Quartet
[ ]	Symphony
[x]	Solo

A solo could be an entire piece of music played alone or a short section within a longer piece played with other musicians

How many musicians are needed to play a duet?

[ ]	One
[x]	Two
[ ]	Three
[ ]	Four

Three musicians make a trio, while four make a quartet

In music, what is an 'ensemble'?

[ ]	An instrument in the percussion family
[ ]	A piece of music that resembles another, more famous, piece of music
[x]	A group of musicians playing together
[ ]	None of the above

Ensemble means 'together'

Which one of the following would NOT be an example of a musical performance?

[ ]	A choir singing a song to an audience
[ ]	A busker playing his guitar on a street in a crowded shopping area
[x]	A musician listening to a CD of a song she recorded
[ ]	A band playing in a school assembly

How many other musical performances can you think of?

Which notation tells a performer to gradually slow the music?

[x]	Rallentando and ritardando
[ ]	Crescendo and decrescendo
[ ]	Repeats and rests
[ ]	Forte and fortissimo

Rallentando (or rall.) and ritardando (or rit.) both mean 'to slow down gradually'

What is 'call and response'?

[ ]	When the teacher calls out a name and that person gives the answer
[ ]	When sections of music are repeated many times
[ ]	When one person teaches the music to everyone else
[x]	When one person leads the melody and the other musicians respond

Call and response can be found in plenty of pop songs - listen out for it

What does it mean to sing in a round?

[ ]	Singers move around while performing
[x]	One or more singers start the music and other groups join in at different times
[ ]	All the singers stand in a circle
[ ]	Performing on stage

'Three Blind Mice' and 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat' are two examples of rounds

What is the term for a musical pattern that is continuously repeated during a piece of music?

[ ]	Staccato
[ ]	Piano
[x]	Ostinato
[ ]	Quartet

If you know Canon in D by Pachelbel, this is a great example of ostinato

10.

What skills are developed by performing music in a group?

[ ]	Showing respect for others' viewpoints
[ ]	Listening
[ ]	Collaboration
[x]	All of the above

There is more to it than simply playing music!