Music Transcription Notation Standards and Tools 4

Question 1

What is the function of a 'courtesy accidental' (also called a 'cautionary accidental') in notation?

Accepted Answer

To cancel an accidental from a previous measure as a reminder to the performer

Answer

A courtesy accidental reminds performers of the current pitch status of a note, especially after an accidental in a prior measure.

Question 2

In Finale and Sibelius, what does 'part extraction' refer to?

Accepted Answer

Generating individual performer parts from a full orchestral score

Answer

Part extraction automatically creates individual instrument parts from a full score, each showing only that instrument's music.

Question 3

Which time signature would be considered 'compound duple' meter?

Accepted Answer

6/8

Answer

6/8 is compound duple because it has two main beats, each subdivided into three eighth notes.

Question 4

What does 'col legno' instruct a string player to do?

Accepted Answer

Play with the wood of the bow rather than the hair

Answer

Col legno (Italian for 'with the wood') instructs the player to strike the strings with the wooden stick of the bow.

Question 5

In standard notation, a fermata (𝄐) placed over a note indicates what?

Accepted Answer

Hold the note for longer than its written value at the performer's or conductor's discretion

Answer

A fermata tells the performer to sustain the note beyond its notated value, with the exact duration left to musical judgment.

Music Transcription Practice Test