Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Early Childhood Practice Exam

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The speed of the basic underlying beat of a musical composition is called what?

Scale
Key
Tempo
Dynamics

The correct answer is: Tempo

The term that refers to the speed of the basic underlying beat of a musical composition is known as tempo. Tempo indicates how fast or slow a piece of music is meant to be played and is typically measured in beats per minute (BPM). It serves as a fundamental element in music that affects the overall feel and emotion of the piece, guiding musicians in their performance. While scale refers to a sequence of notes in a specific order, and key signifies the tonal center of a piece (which notes are emphasized or used), dynamics pertain to the volume of the music and how it fluctuates over time. None of these terms relate to the pace or speed at which the composition is performed, which is the primary function of tempo in musical terminology.