Classroom instruments. Instruments typically used in the general music classroom, including, for example, recorder-type instruments, chorded zithers (e.g., Autoharps or ChromAharps), mallet instruments, simple percussion instruments, fretted instruments, keyboard instruments, and electronic instruments.

Elements of music. Pitch, rhythm, harmony, dynamics, timbre, texture, form.

Expression, expressive, expressively. With appropriate dynamics, phrasing, style, and interpretation and appropriate variations in dynamics and tempo.

Form. The overall structural organization of a music composition (e.g., AB, ABA, call and response, rondo, theme and variations, sonata-allegro) and the interrelationships of music events within the overall structure.

Genre. A type or category of music (e.g., sonata, opera, oratorio, art song, gospel, suite, jazz, madrigal, march, work song, lullaby, barbershop, Dixieland).

Level of difficulty. For purposes of these standards, music is classified into six levels of difficulty:

• Level 1--Very easy. Easy keys, meters, and rhythms; limited ranges.
• Level 2--Easy. May include changes of tempo, key, and meter; modest ranges.
• Level 3--Moderately easy. Contains moderate technical demands, expanded ranges, and varied interpretive requirements.
• Level 4--Moderately difficult. Requires well-developed *technical skills, attention to phrasing and interpretation, and ability to perform various meters and rhythms in a variety of keys.
• Level 5--Difficult. Requires advanced technical and interpretive skills; contains key signatures with numerous sharps or flats, unusual meters, complex rhythms, subtle dynamic requirements.
• Level 6--Very difficult. Suitable for musically mature students of exceptional competence. (Adapted with permission from NYSSMA Manual, Edition XXIII, published by the New York State School Music Association, 1991.)

MIDI. (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). Standard specifications that enable electronic instruments such as the synthesizer, sampler, sequencer, and drum machine from any manufacturer to communicate with one another and with computers.

Style. The distinctive or characteristic manner in which the elements of music are treated. In practice, the term may be applied to, for example, composers (the style of Copland), periods (Baroque style), media (keyboard style), nations (French style), form or type of composition (fugal style, contrapuntal style), or genre (operatic style, bluegrass style).

Technical accuracy, technical skills. The ability to perform with appropriate timbre, intonation, and diction and to play or sing the correct pitches and rhythms.