Student Day Theory Preparation: Level 4

FSMTA Student Day Theory Preparation Level 4

A Comprehensive Study and Practice Guide Written Theory Exam

Aligns with Level 4 of the Florida State Music Teachers Association Student Assessment
Written by: Mary Mincy

Table of Contents

Key Signatures................................................................ 3

Scales.............................................................................. 11

Chords............................................................................. 17

Inversions........................................................................ 30

Terms and Symbols........................................................37

Introduction

This book is part of a collection that is written for student's and teachers who participate in the Florida State Teachers Association Student Day Exams. Each book is designed as a supplement to a students piano lessons with their teacher.

Teachers desire to give their students a holistic, well-rounded musical education. But it can be a struggle to fit Technique, Scales, Repertoire Improvisation and theory all into a 30 minute lesson. (or even an hour!)

These interactive e-books are aligned with the various levels of the exam and contain basic information about each of the theory and aural exam categories in the guidelines. There are links that house many online practice activities and worksheets that can be printed out for home use. I would encourage the reader to make good use of the practice time exercises!

All images used are public domain obtained found on Pixabay. Practice exercises are from www.musictheory.net. This book was created using www.bookcreator.com.

Student Day Theory Preparation: Level 4 by Mary G. Mincy is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://www.fmta.org/fsmta-non-competitive-events.html.

FSMTA Level 4

Key Signatures
Writing and Identifying

In this chapter you will learn how write and identify by sight all of the sharp key signatures, along with one flat key signatures

When learning about key signatures, the Circle of Fifths give us a great diagram to help us remember how many sharps or flats are in a key.

Think of the Circle like a Clock. The key of C is 12 o'clock, G is 1 o'clock and so on.....

If you start with the First sharp at 1 o'clock; F# and go to the right around the circle, you will notice that we add a sharp at each new key. So, 1 o'clock has 1 sharp, F#. 2 o'clock has 2 sharps, F# and C#. Each "hour" adds a sharp.

F# C#

F# C# G#

So, if you memorize this order; F, C, G, D, A, E, B, you'll always know which # to add next.

F# C# G# D#

F# C# G# D# A#

F# C# G# D# A# B#

For now, we aren't going to worry about these flat key signatures

F# C# G# D# A# B# C#

Memorizing the order of Sharps can be helpful.
Some people use this saying to help them remember -
Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle.

When we write the key signatures, they are written the same way, in the same order every time.

In the Treble Clef, F# is always written on the top line.

In the Bass Clef, F# is always written on fourth line, or the F clef line

Think of the open square as your note head and place it carefully on the line or space