Strategies for melodic and harmonic dictation, interval and chord quality recognition, and sight singing with solfege, as taught for the AP exam.
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- When hearing an interval in isolation, what is the best first step to identify it?
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Determine if it is perfect (unison, fourth, fifth, octave) or major/minor (second, third, sixth, seventh).- Why does a major third sound different from a minor third?
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A major third spans 4 semitones and sounds bright; a minor third spans 3 semitones and sounds darker.- In melodic dictation, what should you write down first?
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The rhythm and overall contour (shape) of the melody, then add pitches.- What sound does a major triad always have in root position?
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Stable, consonant, and bright or open.- How does a minor triad differ in sound from a major triad?
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The minor triad sounds darker, sadder, or more introspective due to its lowered third.- When you hear a diminished triad, what quality do you immediately recognize?
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A tense, unstable, hollow sound, often darker than minor.- What makes an augmented triad sound different from other triads?
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All three intervals are major thirds (4 semitones each), creating a symmetric, unsettling sound.- In the moveable do solfege system, what is do always?
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The tonal center or root of the key, regardless of which pitch it actually is.- What is the advantage of moveable do over fixed do in AP sight singing?
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Moveable do connects pitches to the key center, making harmonic function clearer.- In fixed do solfege, what is always mi?
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E, regardless of the key or context.- How do you quickly identify a major sixth interval by ear?
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It sounds open and consonant, like a major third inverted, spanning 9 semitones.- What is the fastest way to spot a tritone (augmented fourth or diminished fifth)?
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It has a distinctly harsh, dissonant sound, unlike any other interval.- In harmonic dictation, what should you listen for immediately after you hear a tonic chord?
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The next chord's quality and whether it moves to a cadence or another harmonic function.- How does a dominant seventh chord sound compared to a major triad on the same root?
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The added minor seventh creates tension and a 'pull' toward resolution to tonic.- What does an authentic cadence (V-I) sound like?
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A strong sense of arrival and resolution, with the dominant pulling decisively to tonic.
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