BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Aural Skills and Sight-Singing 5

Question 1

A student hears a major scale but notices that the seventh scale degree is lowered by a half step. Which scale has been heard?

Accepted Answer

Mixolydian mode

Answer

Mixolydian mode is identical to a major scale except that the seventh scale degree is lowered by a half step (♭7).

Question 2

During harmonic dictation, a student identifies the progression I–IV–V–I in a major key. If the key is G major, which chords did the student hear?

Accepted Answer

G–C–D–G

Answer

In G major, the I chord is G, IV is C, and V is D, making the progression G–C–D–G.

Question 3

A student is asked to identify an interval by singing it mentally before playing. They mentally sing up a major second and then up a minor third from a given pitch. What compound interval have they outlined?

Accepted Answer

Perfect fourth

Answer

A major second (2 half steps) plus a minor third (3 half steps) equals a perfect fourth (5 half steps).

Question 4

When sight-singing a syncopated rhythm, a student struggles to maintain the pulse. Which practice technique is most recommended?

Accepted Answer

Tap or conduct the beat while singing the syncopated rhythm

Answer

Tapping or conducting a steady beat while singing syncopated rhythms is the standard technique for maintaining the pulse against off-beat patterns.

Question 5

In an ear-training exam, a student hears an ascending leap followed by a stepwise descent in a minor key. The leap spans from scale degree 1 up to scale degree 6. In A minor, what pitches are heard?

Accepted Answer

A up to F

Answer

In A natural minor, scale degree 6 is F natural, so the leap from A (scale degree 1) up to scale degree 6 is A to F.

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 Sight-Singing 5