Piano Piano 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'sight-reading' mean for a pianist?
- Memorizing a piece from repeated practice
- Performing a piece of music from written notation without prior rehearsal (Correct answer)
- Playing by ear without any sheet music
- Reading the composer's handwritten manuscript
Correct answer: Performing a piece of music from written notation without prior rehearsal
Sight-reading is the ability to perform a written piece of music on first reading, without prior practice of that specific piece.
Question 2: What is the name of the decorative note played quickly before the main note in piano music?
- Trill
- Mordent
- Acciaccatura (grace note) (Correct answer)
- Glissando
Correct answer: Acciaccatura (grace note)
An acciaccatura (grace note) is a very short ornamental note written in small notation, played rapidly just before the principal note.
Question 3: What is 'muscle memory' in the context of piano practice?
- The strength needed to depress piano keys
- The automatic execution of physical movements through repeated practice (Correct answer)
- A technique for memorizing sheet music visually
- The tension level in finger joints while playing
Correct answer: The automatic execution of physical movements through repeated practice
Muscle memory refers to the process by which repeated practice embeds motor patterns so deeply that the hands can execute passages automatically.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes a 'pentatonic scale'?
- A scale with 7 notes
- A scale with 5 notes per octave (Correct answer)
- A scale built entirely on half steps
- A scale used only in classical music
Correct answer: A scale with 5 notes per octave
A pentatonic scale contains five notes per octave and is found across many musical traditions worldwide.
Question 5: What is the term for the gradual increase in tempo during a piano passage?
- Ritardando
- Allargando
- Accelerando (Correct answer)
- Rallentando
Correct answer: Accelerando
Accelerando (often abbreviated accel.) instructs the performer to gradually increase the speed of the music.
Question 6: How many keys does a standard octave span on the piano keyboard?
- 7 white keys only
- 12 keys (7 white and 5 black) (Correct answer)
- 10 keys
- 14 keys
Correct answer: 12 keys (7 white and 5 black)
One octave on the piano contains 12 keys: 7 white and 5 black, covering all 12 chromatic pitches before repeating.
Question 7: What does the Italian term 'Da Capo' (D.C.) instruct a pianist to do?
- Skip to the coda section
- Repeat from the beginning of the piece (Correct answer)
- End the piece quietly
- Play the final section twice
Correct answer: Repeat from the beginning of the piece
'Da Capo' means 'from the head' in Italian, directing the performer to return to and repeat from the very beginning.
Piano Piano 5
What does 'sight-reading' mean for a pianist?