Music K–12
For Testing until 9/30/2023

Test Format and Sample Questions

The Music K– to 12 subject area test consists of approximately 80 multiple-choice questions. You will have two and one-half hours to complete the test.

Each of the questions will contain four response options. You will choose the best response out of the available options, and indicate A, B, C, or D.

Some of the test items are based on recorded passages. These listening items, which comprise approximately one-fifth of the exam, are related to Competencies 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. For some of these questions, you will have to identify basic elements of music, including rhythm, melody, harmonic structure, form, tone color, style, and expressive characteristics. Other questions may require you to compare a recorded performance and its notation in order to identify a problem with balance, phrasing, tempo, or intonation.

The questions and response options for these items are presented in the test, and an audio recording of the listening passages will be played. The recording will be played all the way through only once, without stopping. However, some of the passages will be repeated and there will be time after each question to select your answer. The listening items are grouped at the beginning of the test.

The table below presents types of questions on the exam and directs you to examples of these formats among the sample items that follow.

Table of Question Formats

Type of Question	Sample Question
Identification Listen to a recorded musical passage and identify a musical feature by selecting the best response option.	Question 1
Sequence—listening Listen to a recorded musical passage and then select the response option that contains the correct sequence.	Question 2
Sentence Completion Select the response option that best completes the sentence.	Question 6
Direct question Choose the response option that best answers the question.	Question 7
Command Select the best response option.	Question 8
Analysis Determine a performance problem by choosing the best option.	Question 16
Sequence Review a list of elements represented, then select the response option that contains the correct sequence.	Question 30

Sample Questions

The following questions represent both the form and content of questions on the examination. These questions will acquaint you with the general format of the examination; however, these sample questions do not cover all of the competencies and skills that are tested and will only approximate the degree of examination difficulty.

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Competency 1—Knowledge of music theory, history, and literature

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

 start italics (This question would be accompanied by a listening passage on the actual test.) end italics 

Identify the musical form of this recorded excerpt.

Choose an answer

1. mass
2. madrigal
3. oratorio
4. lied

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 1—Knowledge of music theory, history, and literature

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

 start italics (This question would be accompanied by a listening passage on the actual test.) end italics 

Which harmonic progression is demonstrated in this recorded excerpt? (The excerpt will be played twice.)

Choose an answer

1. I - IV - V - I - IV - ii - V Roman numeral one dash roman numeral four dash roman numeral five dash roman numeral one dash roman numeral four dash lowercase I I dash roman numeral five 
2. I - V - I - IV - ii - V⁷ - I Roman numeral one dash roman numeral five dash roman numeral one dash roman numeral four dash lowercase I I dash roman numeral five superscript seven dash roman numeral one 
3. I - ii - V - I - ii - vii^o - V Roman numeral one dash lowercase I I dash roman numeral five dash roman numeral one dash lowercase I I dash lowercase V I I superscript zero dash roman numeral five 
4. I - vii^o - I - vi - ii - V⁷ - I Roman numeral one dash lowercase V I I superscript zero dash roman numeral one dash lowercase V I dash lowercase I I dash roman numeral five superscript seven dash roman numeral one 

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 5—Knowledge of instructional emphasis: choral

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

 start italics (This question would be accompanied by a listening passage on the actual test.) end italics 

Identify the voice type in this recorded excerpt.

Choose an answer

1. alto
2. countertenor
3. cambiata
4. soprano

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 1—Knowledge of music theory, history, and literature

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A single staff is shown with a treble clef. The key signature is two sharps. A scale of eight notes is shown in the following order: The first is a ledger line below the staff with a note in the space below it. The second is a ledger line below the staff with a note on it. The third is a note in the space below the staff. The fourth is a note on the lowest line of the staff. The fifth is a note in the lowest space on the staff. The sixth is a note on the second line of the staff from the bottom. The seventh is a note with a sharp in the second space of the staff from the bottom. The eighth is a note on the middle line of the staff.

This scale is a representation of

Choose an answer

1. B major.
2. b melodic minor.
3. b harmonic minor.
4. d minor.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 1—Knowledge of music theory, history, and literature

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A pattern that repeats over and over is a(an) a or an 

Choose an answer

1. motive.
2. descant.
3. ostinato.
4. melody.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 1—Knowledge of music theory, history, and literature

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Generally, music that is highly chromatic, heavily textured, and highly expressive is from the

Choose an answer

1. Baroque period.
2. classical period.
3. romantic period.
4. Renaissance period.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 2—Knowledge of curricula and instructional planning

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which aspect of curriculum development is supported by research indicating improved academic achievement in students who participate in music education?

Choose an answer

1. modified instruction
2. accommodated instruction
3. differentiated instruction
4. integrated instruction

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 2—Knowledge of curricula and instructional planning

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A new choral music teacher has just accepted a position in a high school. Identify the first step the teacher should take in working with the school's mixed chorus.

Choose an answer

1. meeting with soloists from previous school years
2. assigning specific seating for rehearsals
3. evaluating the group's overall ability level
4. setting up an after-school rehearsal schedule

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 2—Knowledge of curricula and instructional planning

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A music teacher is planning a lesson about the relationships between various note values. This lesson is most likely to reinforce students' understanding of which mathematical concept?

Choose an answer

1. basic multiplication
2. percentages
3. decimals
4. simple fractions

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 2—Knowledge of curricula and instructional planning

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

According to the Sunshine State Standards, a 1^st-grade first grade  music class should include which instrumental skill?

Choose an answer

1. playing chord progressions
2. playing two-part harmony
3. playing melodic patterns
4. playing with expression

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 2—Knowledge of curricula and instructional planning

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

With funds earned at a fall festival, kindergarten parents purchased 20 Orff instruments. The principal has directed the music teacher to prepare a performance using the instruments for next week's parent organization meeting. The best plan for the performance would be to

Choose an answer

1. have the kindergarten students learn to play a new song on the instruments for the occasion.
2. display the Orff instruments prior to the meeting and create a hands-on opportunity for the parents to inspect and play them.
3. have kindergarten students who take music lessons learn short pieces on the Orff instruments at home and play them as solos during the meeting.
4. remove the instruments' F and B bars and have the kindergarten students recite a familiar poem while playing the rhythm of the words.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 3—Knowledge of instructional and assessment procedures

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which concept is best taught through the objectives listed below?

1. Students keep time to music by using body movement.
2. Students demonstrate the ability to hear the difference between strong and weak beats.
3. Students keep time to music by playing instruments and singing.
4. Students discriminate and respond to music that suggests different body movements.

Choose an answer

1. melody
2. expression
3. form
4. steady beat

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 3—Knowledge of instructional and assessment procedures

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which element of a musical piece does a conductor indicate to an ensemble through the size of the preparatory and downbeat gestures?

Choose an answer

1. style
2. tempo
3. precise start
4. dynamic level

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 3—Knowledge of instructional and assessment procedures

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

When preparing a show choir for a performance, the best method for evaluating the choir is to critique

Choose an answer

1. a videotape of full rehearsals.
2. individual performances during rehearsals.
3. sectional rehearsals.
4. an audiotape of full rehearsals.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 3—Knowledge of instructional and assessment procedures

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A high school choral music teacher is planning a choral performance for a school assembly in 6 weeks. Which step should the teacher take first to help the students be successful?

Choose an answer

1. selecting songs that are familiar and liked by the students
2. teaching the students using the whole-song method
3. increasing the amount of rehearsal time prior to the performance
4. developing instructional objectives based on the skills needed

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 3—Knowledge of instructional and assessment procedures

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Valved brass instruments, such as cornets, trumpets, and baritones, have the tendency to sound flat when playing fourth line D. The best procedure for correcting this problem is to

Choose an answer

1. relax the embouchure and lower the tongue as if to sound "oh." open quotes O H period close quotes 
2. keep the embouchure firm and raise the tongue as if to sound "ee."  open quotes E E period close quotes 
3. close the throat to pinch the sound.
4. change to a smaller mouthpiece.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 4—Knowledge of professional and instructional resources

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

What is the primary consideration in selecting appropriate media for music instruction?

Choose an answer

1. to appeal to student interests
2. to make learning pleasant
3. to evaluate music learning
4. to help attain instructional objectives

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 4—Knowledge of professional and instructional resources

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

In an elementary music class, the best instrument to use to demonstrate the differences of high and low sounds would be

Choose an answer

1. tone drums.
2. hand bells.
3. finger cymbals.
4. rhythm sticks.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 4—Knowledge of professional and instructional resources

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Software packages that incorporate experiences in high and low pitches through the use of sound and pictures are most appropriate for which level?

Choose an answer

1. primary
2. intermediate
3. middle school
4. high school

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 4—Knowledge of professional and instructional resources

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A music teacher is planning a school performance for both choral and instrumental students. Which resource provides permission to use copyrighted materials for public performances?

Choose an answer

1. Florida School Music Association
2. ASCAP as cap 
3. The National Association for Music Education
4. FMEA F M E A 

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 4—Knowledge of professional and instructional resources

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

To recruit students from feeder elementary schools, a middle school band director should

Choose an answer

1. record a videotape of a middle school band performance to be shown to 5^th-grade fifth grade  students by the elementary music teachers.
2. prepare a flyer that provides information about the middle school band program to be distributed to 5^th-grade fifth grade  students by the elementary music teachers.
3. plan a performance for the early spring that concludes with a final selection performed jointly by the middle school band and 5^th-grade fifth grade  students.
4. spend a day at each of the elementary schools talking with teachers to identify talented students.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 5—Knowledge of instructional emphasis: choral

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following correctly describes the proper pronunciation of the Latin word domine D O M I N E ?

Choose an answer

1. doh meh neh D O H space M E H space N E H 
2. dau mih neh D A U space M I H space N E H 
3. doh mee neh D O H space M E E space N E H 
4. doh mah neh D O H space M A H space N E H 

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 5—Knowledge of instructional emphasis: choral

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

In which section should a teacher place a female singer who has a heavy, deep voice quality, especially in the lower range?

Choose an answer

1. soprano I roman numeral 1 
2. soprano II roman numeral 2 
3. alto I roman numeral 1 
4. alto II roman numeral 2 

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 5—Knowledge of instructional emphasis: choral

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which piece would be most appropriate for a high school choral director to use for the first rehearsal of a new show choir?

Choose an answer

1. "Ol' Man River" by Jerome Kern
2. "The Music of the Night" by Andrew Lloyd Webber
3. "Somewhere" by Leonard Bernstein
4. "I Got Rhythm" by George Gershwin

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 6—Knowledge of instructional emphasis: instrumental

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Four quarter notes are shown. Each note has a dot below the notehead. There is a curved line starting below the first notehead that extends to the last notehead.

For wind players, the marking shown suggests

Choose an answer

1. slurring.
2. legato tonguing.
3. marcato tonguing.
4. staccato tonguing.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 6—Knowledge of instructional emphasis: instrumental

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

What instrument is most commonly read from the clef shown?

A staff is shown with a C clef centered around the middle line of the staff.

Choose an answer

1. bass clarinet
2. viola
3. trombone
4. cello

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 6—Knowledge of instructional emphasis: instrumental

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which syllable would best be used when teaching the legato slur to a trombone student?

Choose an answer

1. du D U 
2. ti T I 
3. goo G O O 
4. tah T A H 

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 6—Knowledge of instructional emphasis: instrumental

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

An integral practice for maintaining a flute in good playing condition is to

Choose an answer

1. lubricate the instrument's pads weekly.
2. polish the instrument after each use.
3. dry the instrument completely after each use.
4. wash the instrument weekly.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 7—Knowledge of instructional emphasis: general music

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

At what ages should children first be introduced to free rhythmic movements and fundamental movements?

Choose an answer

1. ages 4 and 5
2. ages 6 and 7
3. ages 8 through 10
4. ages 11 through 13

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 7—Knowledge of instructional emphasis: general music

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which sequence of key signatures is most appropriate to teach in a beginning keyboard class?

Choose an answer

1. F C G B
2. E C G D
3. G D A E
4. C G D A

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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