The first exam covers Chapters 1 and 2 of A First Course in Math and Music, homework assignments 1--4, CDs 1--2, and all the material covered in class up to and including Oct. 20. This does not include Unbowed, The Vintage Book of Amnesia or the two classes on change ringing. It is highly recommended that you review homework problems and your class notes. Many of the problems and questions we discussed in class are excellent examples of test questions.

A set of practice problems is available here. The exam will be designed to take 45 minutes although you will have a full hour to take the exam.

Exam Review: We will review for the exam during Wednesday's class on Oct. 29. Please come prepared with specific questions.

Note: No calculators will be allowed for this exam. All questions asked will involve only calculations requiring elementary arithmetic. Also, a portion of a blank piano keyboard containing at least one octave will be provided on the exam for your use.

The following concepts are important material for the exam:

1. General Music Theory: notation, writing and reading music in different clefs (treble, bass, alto and tenor), rhythm, time signature (examples; CD #1), dotted notes and rests (duration), tied notes, polyrhythmic music (examples; CD #1), the piano keyboard, accidentals (sharps, flats, naturals, etc.; correct placement of on staff)


2. Scales, Intervals and Other Important Items from Music Theory: half steps, whole steps, chromatic scale, whole tone scales, major scales, natural and harmonic minor scales, diatonic scale spelling, major and minor chords, dominant-tonic chord progression, 12-bar blues, circle of fifths, key signatures, octave, intervals (m2, M2, m3, M3, P4, tritone, etc.), polyphony and tonality (CD #2), relative major and minor keys


3. Mathematical Concepts: geometric sequence and series, infinite geometric series, least common multiple, greatest common divisor, relatively prime numbers