What are the four elements essential to the existence of
sound? (20)
The four essential elements to sound are: a vibrating object, a power source to make the object vibrate, a medium through which the vibrations are transmitted and an apparatus to recieve the vibrations.
How fast does sound travel? (20)
Sound travel through the air at 1,100 feet per second or 750 miles per hour. This varies with the density of air.
Explain elasticity (as applied to air molecules). (20)
If air molecules are forced apart the they fly together, if they are forced together they will fly apart.
Explain compression/rarefaction waves. (20)
When the molecules in the air near a vibration fly apart, they compress another section of molecules, which in turn fly apart and set off another group of molecules. It is a chain reaction that last until the sound is all used up. With each wave, the sound dies out more and more.
Does the air actually move at 750 mph? (20)
No it is the molecular action that is moving the sound waves along not the air. McKinney says that air that fast would be hurricane winds.
Describe the two basic categories into which sounds are
divided.
Noises: does not have a recognizable pattern
Musical tones: the sound wave repeats itself regularly
List and describe the five characteristic properties or
essential elements of musical tone. (21-25)
Duration: how long a musical tone lasts. Can be measured by a metronome.
Intensity: the amount of energy in the sound that is measured in decibels. Synonymous with amplitude.
Pitch: the frequency of vibration of a musical tone, expressed in the number of vibrations per second
Sonance: relates the the timbre but also applies to changes in timbre.
Timbre: the primary factor which enables you to distinguish between two instruments or voices performing the same pitch at the same intensity
What are the three essential parts of a musical instrument?
What is the function of each?(25)
actuator: creates the energy needed to move the vibrator
vibrator: generates the sound waves
resonator: influences the timbre and intensity of the sound waves
What are the four physical processes required for producing
vocal sound? (27)
1. Breath is taken
2. sound is initiated in the larynx
3. the resonators receive the sound and influence it
4. the articulators shape the sound into recognizable units
Define vowel. (29)
A vowel is:
-An unrestricted speech sound
-it is capable of being sustained
-it normally is voiced (it can be whispered)
-it is basic building material of vocal tone
-it has a definite shape or form and is molded by the articulators
Define consonant. (30)
A consonant is:
-more or less restricted speech sounds
-contains more or less conspicuous noise elements due to the degree of restriction present
-they are subordinate to vowels in sonority
-they do not form the nucleus of syllables but define their borders
-they function as sound interrupters or sound stoppers and thus separate the vocal tone into recognizable
What are the three main reasons that describing vocal sound
is problematic?
1. The main guide for a singer is sensations and it is hard to communicate to someone how things should feel in their body.
2. Vocal vocabulary mostly drawn from other mediums so it is hard for teachers to agree on what terms really mean.
3. Finding a balance between the mechanistic side of singing and the psychological.
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