For picture study through 3rd grade I asked, “Describe one of ___’s pictures we looked at this term. Beginning in 4th grade I asked “Describe two of ___’s pictures we looked at this term.”
For composer study I usually ask, “Tell about a composition by ___ you have heard.” Sometimes instead I will ask, “Describe the style of music composed by ___.”
We usually read biographies of our composers and so I also ask, “Tell something interesting about ___’s life.” Or I may word it, “Describe an interesting scene about ___ from our composer biography book.”
In 1st-2nd grade I have only asked one question that gave the child a choice, “Tell about a composition by ___ you have heard OR describe an interesting scene about ___ from our composer biography book.”