BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Musical Instruments 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which instrument family does the saxophone belong to?
- Brass
- Woodwind (Correct answer)
- Percussion
- String
Correct answer: Woodwind
Despite being made of brass, the saxophone is classified as a woodwind because it uses a reed to produce sound.
Question 2: What is the typical tuning pitch of a standard orchestral oboe?
- A440 (Correct answer)
- A415
- A432
- A466
Correct answer: A440
The modern orchestral standard is A440 Hz, and the oboe typically provides the tuning pitch for the orchestra.
Question 3: Which string instrument uses a bow with the most hair strands, requiring the widest bow width?
- Violin
- Viola
- Cello
- Double bass (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Double bass
The double bass bow uses the most hair to produce sufficient volume and tone on the instrument's thick, long strings.
Question 4: The 'Boehm system' is most associated with improvements to which instrument?
- Clarinet and flute (Correct answer)
- Oboe and bassoon
- Trumpet and trombone
- Harp and piano
Correct answer: Clarinet and flute
Theobald Boehm developed a key mechanism system that was adopted for both flute and clarinet, improving intonation and technique.
Question 5: What is the name of the small keyboard instrument that preceded the modern piano?
- Clavichord (Correct answer)
- Lute
- Psaltery
- Dulcimer
Correct answer: Clavichord
The clavichord, along with the harpsichord, was a forerunner of the modern piano, producing sound by striking strings with tangents.
Question 6: Which brass instrument is played with a slide rather than valves?
- French horn
- Trombone (Correct answer)
- Euphonium
- Baritone horn
Correct answer: Trombone
The trombone uses a slide mechanism to change pitch, allowing continuous glissandi that valved instruments cannot produce.
Question 7: In a standard symphony orchestra, how many double basses are typically used?
- 2–4
- 6–10 (Correct answer)
- 12–16
- 18–20
Correct answer: 6–10
A standard symphony orchestra typically employs 6 to 10 double basses to provide sufficient bass resonance.
BM or BMus Bachelor of Music Musical Instruments 2
Which instrument family does the saxophone belong to?