This work was created and designed by M.

Andrews

Major, Minor and Tone Colour

Listen to the two different versions of ‘Twinkle Twinkle’. One of them is in a major key and
the other is in a minor key.
1) Version one was major or minor? __________________
2) Version two was major or minor? __________________

There are four definitions below. Match the correct definition to major and minor.
Music that has a generally dark or sad pitch quality
Major
Music that has a slow tempo and soft dynamic
Music that has a fast tempo and loud dynamic
Minor
Music that has a generally bright and happy pitch quality

You will now hear some major and minor chords/songs played on the piano or the guitar so
that you can get used to hearing the difference.
Name the chords you hear being played (on piano or guitar) as major or minor
__________ __________ __________ __________ __________

You are going to hear some music used in movies. Describe each as having a major or minor
key.
__________ __________ __________ __________ __________

The lesson we have learnt from this is that fast songs can be __________ and that slow
songs can be _________.

Major and minor are two common musical words that relate to the musical
concept of P __ __ __ __

Tone Colour

Tone colour is a ________________ of the sound that an _______________ is making.

To write about _________ colour you name all of the instruments that you hear and then
_______________the tone colour of their _______________ sound.
instrument describe combined description tone

Here is a list of words to help you describe Tone colour….

Bright, Romantic, Shimmering, Mysterious, Haunting, Breathy, Airy, Dramatic,
Harsh, Dark, Mellow, Wooden, Scratchy, Warm, Brilliant, Brassy, Noble & Comical

Listen to the following instruments and use the above words to describe the tone colour.
Trumpet ___________________________
Piccolo ____________________________
Bassoon ___________________________
Electric Guitar ______________________
 This work was created and designed by M. Andrews

Watch the following movie scenes and name the instruments (or families of instruments)
you hear and then describe the tone colour.

Scene 1 _____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Scene 2_____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Scene 3_____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Scene 4 _____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Up or Down?
 This part of a note is called a S __ __ __ . When it points upwards it is

 placed on the ____________ hand side of the note. When it points

downwards it is placed on the __________ hand side of the note.

Add stems to the following notes. The first 5 should point UPWARDS and the last 5
should point DOWNWARDS.

Once a note goes above the middle line  the stem must point DOWN.

A note that sits on the middle line (B line) may point up or down. 

Place a or a  below each note to indicate whether the stem is pointing in the right
direction. Write the letter name of the note above it.

Are these songs major or minor? Name the notes and play the song to figure out if it is
in a major or minor key. Draw a treble clef on each stave. Circle the notes whose stems
are pointing in the wrong direction.