BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Aural Skills and Dictation 3

Question 1

During melodic dictation, you hear a melody that consistently uses the interval of a minor second above the leading tone resolving to tonic. This reinforces which tonal function?

Accepted Answer

Dominant to tonic

Answer

The leading tone (scale degree 7) lies a minor second below tonic and creates dominant-to-tonic (V–I) pull when it resolves upward.

Question 2

Which rhythmic device groups three notes in the space normally occupied by two of the same value?

Accepted Answer

Triplet

Answer

A triplet places three equal notes in the time of two, indicated by the numeral 3 above or below the beam.

Question 3

In harmonic dictation, you identify a chord as ii°6 in minor. Which bass note do you notate?

Accepted Answer

The third of the ii° chord (first inversion)

Answer

The '6' in figured bass denotes first inversion, meaning the third of the chord is in the bass.

Question 4

A cadence that ends on the dominant chord, creating a sense of incompleteness, is called:

Accepted Answer

Half cadence

Answer

A half cadence ends on V, leaving the phrase harmonically open and requiring continuation.

Question 5

When sight-singing a passage in E-flat major, scale degree 6 is:

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

In E-flat major (Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C-Db-Eb), the 6th scale degree is C.

BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Practice Test

BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Practice Test

BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Aural Skills and Dictation 3