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Music: Elementary School: Grades 3, 4 and 5 Quiz - Musical Terms (Questions)

This Music quiz is called 'Musical Terms' and it has been written by teachers to help you if you are studying the subject at elementary school. Playing educational quizzes is an enjoyable way to learn if you are in the 3rd, 4th or 5th grade - aged 8 to 11.

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There are thousands of words used to describe music. A great many are Italian words. This quiz looks at just a few examples of the basic musical vocabulary you should know. The more you progress in music, the more words you will need to learn so try to remember these basic ones off by heart. It will really help as you move up the grades.

1. These are the words which make up a song.
[ ] Melody
[ ] Harmony
[ ] Lyrics
[ ] Verse
2. This is the instruction that tells a musician which sharps and flats to play.
[ ] Key signature
[ ] Time signature
[ ] Chord
[ ] Dynamics
3. This is the family that is played by hitting or scraping the instruments.
[ ] Woodwinds
[ ] Percussion
[ ] Strings
[ ] Brass
4. The dynamic for 'grow gradually louder' is ____.
[ ] ritardando
[ ] andante
[ ] dolce
[ ] crescendo
5. This is the term for 'very quiet'.
[ ] Pianissimo
[ ] Allegro
[ ] Minim
[ ] Forte
6. This describes the speed at which music is played.
[ ] Ostinato
[ ] Beat
[ ] Rhythm
[ ] Tempo
7. The leading part in a musical composition is called the ____.
[ ] major key
[ ] harmony
[ ] melody
[ ] harmonics
8. Another word for this element of music is 'pulse'.
[ ] Rhythm
[ ] Beat
[ ] Staccato
[ ] Texture
9. This describes how long a note is held.
[ ] Scale
[ ] Tempo
[ ] Duration
[ ] Dynamics
10. This is another word for 'note'.
[ ] Tone
[ ] Volume
[ ] Flat
[ ] Key
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Music: Elementary School: Grades 3, 4 and 5 Quiz - Musical Terms (Answers)
1. These are the words which make up a song.
[ ] Melody
[ ] Harmony
[x] Lyrics
[ ] Verse
Some pieces of music have no lyrics - can you think of any?
2. This is the instruction that tells a musician which sharps and flats to play.
[x] Key signature
[ ] Time signature
[ ] Chord
[ ] Dynamics
The key signature tells a musician in which key the music is written - it saves time writing out all the flats or sharps
3. This is the family that is played by hitting or scraping the instruments.
[ ] Woodwinds
[x] Percussion
[ ] Strings
[ ] Brass
Tambourines, triangles and whistles are examples of percussion
4. The dynamic for 'grow gradually louder' is ____.
[ ] ritardando
[ ] andante
[ ] dolce
[x] crescendo
When a noise becomes quite loud, it is often described as 'rising to a crescendo'
5. This is the term for 'very quiet'.
[x] Pianissimo
[ ] Allegro
[ ] Minim
[ ] Forte
Forte means to play loud
6. This describes the speed at which music is played.
[ ] Ostinato
[ ] Beat
[ ] Rhythm
[x] Tempo
Tempo is the Italian word for time
7. The leading part in a musical composition is called the ____.
[ ] major key
[ ] harmony
[x] melody
[ ] harmonics
The melody is what you most probably hum or sing when listening to a song - harmony is its accompaniment
8. Another word for this element of music is 'pulse'.
[ ] Rhythm
[x] Beat
[ ] Staccato
[ ] Texture
Although it may slow down or speed up at times, the beat is steady and predictable, like your heartbeat
9. This describes how long a note is held.
[ ] Scale
[ ] Tempo
[x] Duration
[ ] Dynamics
This is an easy one to remember if you already know the meaning of duration
10. This is another word for 'note'.
[x] Tone
[ ] Volume
[ ] Flat
[ ] Key
This is an easy one because tone is an anagram of note!