CAI Activity #1 Exercises

Key Signatures, Scales & Triads

Complete this activity as described in the CAI Activity #1 Blackboard assignment for Thurs., June 20.

For all of the exercises below, be sure to:

Work slowly and methodically for 100% accuracy.

Take your time, and try to stay relaxed.

Be sure to spend equal time working in both the treble clef and bass clef.
(If you are looking for a challenge, work in the alto clef and/or tenor clef.)

Limit key signatures to 0-4 accidentals.
(If you are looking for a challenge, try 5-7 accidentals.)

You do not need to complete all of the exercises for a given drill, just work on exercises you find helpful.

Use these exercises as a way to identify areas of strength and weakness.

I can help you find exercises that will address any specific areas of weakness you discover.

You will have the opportunity to return to these exercises next week.

When you are finished with this activity, complete the CAI Activity #1 assignment and upload your self-reflection paper into Blackboard.

Key Signatures

Music Theory Trainer (Turek and McCarthy 2013)
- Ex. 1.1: Key Signature Flash Cards {Music Theory Trainer}
  
  Note:
  Here are the 15 key signatures you need to memorize: Key Signatures (pdf). They are presented as relative key pairs.
  Click here to see the same information presented as a circle-of-fifths diagram. (Wikipedia)
Teoría
- Ex. 1.2: Key Signature Spelling {Teoria}
  Notate major and minor key signatures
- Ex. 1.3: Key Signature Identification (ID) {Teoria}
  Identify major and minor key signatures
  
  Teoria apps are configurable. For example, try this configuration first:
  Limit key signatures to 4 accidentals; Flats (only); Bass clef.
MusicTheory.net
- Ex. 1.4 Key Signature ID {MusicTheory.net}
  Identify major and minor key signatures; treble & bass clefs
  
  MusicTheory.net apps are also configurable. To configure a given exercise, use the Customize menu (right).

Major & Minor Scale Spelling & ID

Teoría
- Ex. 2.1: Scale Spelling {Teoria}
  Notate major and minor (natural, harmonic, melodic) scales
- Ex. 2.2: Scale ID {Teoria}
  Identify major and minor (natural, harmonic, melodic) scales

Triad Spelling & ID

Teoría

Ex. 3.1: Triad Spelling {Teoria}
Given a root and chord type (M, m, A or d), spell the triad in root position
Practice root position first, then add inversions.
Ex. 3.2: Triad Type ID {Teoria}
Given a triad, identify the quality as: M, m, A, or d

Notes:

You can check your scale and chord spellings using the following two MusicTheory.net calculators:

Scale Calculator {MT.net}
Chord Calculator {MT.net}

If you find chord spelling and ID to be difficult, you will want to take a step back a step and practice Interval Spelling {Teoria} and/or Interval ID {Teoria}. For example, here are three good interval drills on MusicTheory.net:

Interval ID on the Staff {MT.net}
Interval Construction on the Staff {MT.net}
Interval ID on the Piano Keyboard {MT.net}

ADDITIONAL EXERCISES

Freely explore Teoria & MusicTheory.net to see what other types of exercises are available:

References

Adams, Ricci. 2024. MusicTheory.net. Available online at: <http://www.musictheory.net>.

Alvira, José Rodríguez. 2024. Teoría. Available online at: <http://www.teoria.com>.

Turek, Ralph and Daniel McCarthey. 2019. Theory for Today's Musician, 3rd ed. New York: Routledge. {Routledge}