Piano Piano 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What type of motion occurs when both hands of a pianist move toward each other?
- Parallel motion
- Contrary motion (Correct answer)
- Oblique motion
- Similar motion
Correct answer: Contrary motion
Contrary motion is when both hands move in opposite directions — one ascending while the other descends.
Question 2: What is an 'arpeggio' in piano playing?
- Playing all notes of a chord simultaneously
- Playing the notes of a chord in rapid succession rather than simultaneously (Correct answer)
- A fast ornament played on a single note
- A repeated bass pattern
Correct answer: Playing the notes of a chord in rapid succession rather than simultaneously
An arpeggio is a broken chord where the notes are played one after another in sequence rather than at the same time.
Question 3: Which clef is most commonly used for the left hand in piano music?
- Treble clef
- Alto clef
- Tenor clef
- Bass clef (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Bass clef
The bass clef (also called the F clef) is used for the left hand in standard piano notation, representing lower pitches.
Question 4: What does 'pp' (pianissimo) mean in piano music?
- Moderately soft
- Very soft (Correct answer)
- Very loud
- Medium volume
Correct answer: Very soft
Pianissimo (pp) is a dynamic marking meaning 'very soft,' quieter than piano (p).
Question 5: What is the interval between C and G called?
- Major third
- Minor sixth
- Perfect fifth (Correct answer)
- Augmented fourth
Correct answer: Perfect fifth
The interval from C to G spans five letter names (C-D-E-F-G) and is called a perfect fifth.
Question 6: In a major scale, which step numbers have half steps (semitones) between them?
- 1-2 and 5-6
- 3-4 and 7-8 (Correct answer)
- 2-3 and 6-7
- 4-5 and 7-8
Correct answer: 3-4 and 7-8
In a major scale, the half steps (semitones) occur between scale degrees 3-4 and 7-8 (the leading tone to tonic).
Question 7: What is the primary function of the sostenuto pedal (middle pedal) on a grand piano?
- Softens all notes played
- Sustains only the notes that were held down when the pedal was pressed (Correct answer)
- Shifts hammers to strike fewer strings
- Mutes the bass strings
Correct answer: Sustains only the notes that were held down when the pedal was pressed
The sostenuto pedal sustains only those notes whose keys were already depressed when the pedal was engaged, leaving other notes unaffected.
Piano Piano 4
What type of motion occurs when both hands of a pianist move toward each other?