Music Theory Music Theory 101101

The BeginningThe Beginning A A staffstaff is made up of five horizontal lines and four spaces is made up of five horizontal lines and four spaces

A A clefclef is a musical symbol placed at the beginning of the staff that is a musical symbol placed at the beginning of the staff that determines the letter names of the lines and spaces.determines the letter names of the lines and spaces.

The two main clefs are the The two main clefs are the trebletreble and the and the bassbass::

Ledger LinesLedger LinesTreble Clef

“G” ClefBass Clef“F” Clef

Treble Clef(TOP)

Bass Clef(BOTTOM)

=

The BeginningThe Beginning The music is often SATB (4 parts: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass), SAB (3 part: The music is often SATB (4 parts: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass), SAB (3 part:

Soprano, Alto, Men) or Two-Part (Soprano/Tenor, Alto/Bass)Soprano, Alto, Men) or Two-Part (Soprano/Tenor, Alto/Bass) TYPICALLY, women’s music parts are written on the treble clef and men’s music TYPICALLY, women’s music parts are written on the treble clef and men’s music

parts are written on the bass clefparts are written on the bass clef SopranoSoprano typically refers to female singers and is a voice type with a vocal range from typically refers to female singers and is a voice type with a vocal range from

approximately middle C to "high A. The soprano takes the highest part, which usually approximately middle C to "high A. The soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody. The music part is often the top line of the treble clef.encompasses the melody. The music part is often the top line of the treble clef.

AltoAlto refers to the second highest part and is approximately from the G below middle C refers to the second highest part and is approximately from the G below middle C to the F in the second octave above middle C. The music part is often the bottom line of to the F in the second octave above middle C. The music part is often the bottom line of the treble clef.the treble clef.

TenorTenor is a type of singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. is a type of singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The tenor voice lies between the C one octave below middle C, and the A above middle The tenor voice lies between the C one octave below middle C, and the A above middle C. The music part is often the top line of the bass clef.C. The music part is often the top line of the bass clef.

BaritoneBaritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Music for this voice is typically written in the range is the most common male voice. Music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C in choral music, but can be from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C in choral music, but can be extended at either end.extended at either end.

BassBass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. A bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second types. A bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C. The music part is often the bottom line of the E below middle C to the E above middle C. The music part is often the bottom line of the bass clef.bass clef.

Occasionally, the treble clef will split into 3 parts – the sopranos split and the Occasionally, the treble clef will split into 3 parts – the sopranos split and the Second SopranosSecond Sopranos or or Mezzo-SopranosMezzo-Sopranos will sing that part will sing that part

The BeginningThe Beginning A single vertical line drawn to the left of multiple staffs creates a A single vertical line drawn to the left of multiple staffs creates a

grand staffgrand staff and a and a systemsystem, indicating that the music on all the , indicating that the music on all the staffs is to be played/sung at the same time.staffs is to be played/sung at the same time.

A A measuremeasure or or barbar line refers to the vertical lines drawn through line refers to the vertical lines drawn through the staff to mark off metrical units. the staff to mark off metrical units.

A A double bar-linedouble bar-line can consist of two single bar-lines drawn close can consist of two single bar-lines drawn close together, separating two sections within a piece, OR a bar-line together, separating two sections within a piece, OR a bar-line followed by a thicker bar-line, indicating the end of a piece. followed by a thicker bar-line, indicating the end of a piece.

A repeat sign looks like the music end, but it has two dots, one A repeat sign looks like the music end, but it has two dots, one above the other, indicating that the section of music that is before above the other, indicating that the section of music that is before is to be repeated. The beginning of the repeated passage can be is to be repeated. The beginning of the repeated passage can be marked by a begin-repeat sign; if this is absent the repeat is marked by a begin-repeat sign; if this is absent the repeat is understood to be from the beginning of the piece or movement. understood to be from the beginning of the piece or movement.

PitchesPitches PitchesPitches are named after the first seven letters of the alphabet are named after the first seven letters of the alphabet (A B C D (A B C D

E F G) E F G) and follow that same order for both treble and bass clefand follow that same order for both treble and bass clef

Some standard acronyms to help remember the notes on a staff are: Some standard acronyms to help remember the notes on a staff are:

The smallest interval used in Western music is the half step. A visual The smallest interval used in Western music is the half step. A visual representation of a half step would be the distance between a representation of a half step would be the distance between a consecutive white and black note on the piano. There are two consecutive white and black note on the piano. There are two exceptions to this rule, as two natural half steps occur between the exceptions to this rule, as two natural half steps occur between the notes E and F, and B and C. A whole step is made up of two half steps. notes E and F, and B and C. A whole step is made up of two half steps.

Letter names are modified by the Letter names are modified by the accidentalsaccidentals. A . A sharpsharp raises a note by raises a note by a half-step, and a a half-step, and a flatflat lowers it by the same amount. A lowers it by the same amount. A naturalnatural is an is an accidental which cancels previous accidentals and represents the accidental which cancels previous accidentals and represents the unaltered pitch of a noteunaltered pitch of a note

A flat, C sharp, A natural

ACROSTICS TO REMEMBER.

• For the Spaces of the Treble or “G” Clef• F A C E

• For the Lines of the Treble or “G” Clef• Every Good Boy Does Fine

• For the Spaces of the Bass or “F” Clef• All Cows Eat Grass

• For the Lines of the Bass or “F” Clef• Good Boy’s Do Fine Always

• Movement By 5th• Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle• Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles Father

Notes ValuesNotes Values Each type of Each type of notenote has a specific look and a specific duration: has a specific look and a specific duration:

A note value may be augmented by adding a A note value may be augmented by adding a dotdot after it. This dot after it. This dot adds the next lower note value, making it adds the next lower note value, making it one and a halfone and a half times times its original duration. its original duration.

1 beat + ½ beat = 1.5 beats2 beats + 2/2 beats = 3 beats

Time SignaturesTime Signatures Time signaturesTime signatures indicate the meter the song is in which indicate indicate the meter the song is in which indicate

how many beats are in each measure and which note value how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat. 4/4constitutes one beat. 4/4

In a musical score, the time signature appears at the beginning of In a musical score, the time signature appears at the beginning of the piece, usually as stacked numerals immediately following the the piece, usually as stacked numerals immediately following the key signature (or immediately following the clef if the key key signature (or immediately following the clef if the key signature is empty). signature is empty).

A mid-score time signature, usually immediately following a A mid-score time signature, usually immediately following a barline, indicates a change of meter.barline, indicates a change of meter.

There are various types of time signatures, depending on whether There are various types of time signatures, depending on whether the music follows simple rhythms or involves unusual shifting the music follows simple rhythms or involves unusual shifting tempos, including: simple and compoundtempos, including: simple and compound

Pulse – 2 Concepts to Pulse – 2 Concepts to ConsiderConsider

Concept #1Concept #1 – – “Feeling” the Pulse“Feeling” the Pulse Nature and pulse-lie concepts/activities Nature and pulse-lie concepts/activities

(heartbeat, clock, walking)(heartbeat, clock, walking) Concept #2Concept #2 – – Internalizing the PulseInternalizing the Pulse

Impact of playing & reading music on student Impact of playing & reading music on student ability to maintain pulse (Multiple Mental ability to maintain pulse (Multiple Mental Processes).Processes).

Exercises for Pulse Exercises for Pulse DevelopmentDevelopment

Feeling the PulseFeeling the Pulse Tapping/Clapping to Recorded MusicTapping/Clapping to Recorded Music

Vary tempo, meter, styles of musicVary tempo, meter, styles of music

Counting ExercisesCounting Exercises Aloud & silentlyAloud & silently Hand signals (palm up/down)Hand signals (palm up/down) Macro Pulse versus Sub-Divided PulseMacro Pulse versus Sub-Divided Pulse

Note ValuesNote Values

Dotted Values & Dotted Values & Compound MeterCompound Meter

Power of the DotPower of the Dot Counting tripletsCounting triplets Counting sextupletsCounting sextuplets Using 12/8 to teach compound meter Using 12/8 to teach compound meter

– no 6/8– no 6/8 Family of Notes & compound meter Family of Notes & compound meter

(12/8)(12/8)

Eastman Counting Eastman Counting SystemSystem

Time SignaturesTime Signatures Simple time signatures consist of two numerals, one stacked Simple time signatures consist of two numerals, one stacked

above the other:above the other: the lower numeral indicates the note value which represents one beat the lower numeral indicates the note value which represents one beat

(4 = quarter, 8 = eighth, 1 = whole, etc)(4 = quarter, 8 = eighth, 1 = whole, etc) the upper numeral indicates how many such beats there are in a barthe upper numeral indicates how many such beats there are in a bar

For instance, For instance, 2 / 4 means two quarter-note beats per measure2 / 4 means two quarter-note beats per measure6 / 8 means six eighth-note beats per measure, but is felt in “2” 6 / 8 means six eighth-note beats per measure, but is felt in “2” (1,2,3) + (1,2,3)(1,2,3) + (1,2,3)

A is sometimes used to refer to 4 / 4 timeA is sometimes used to refer to 4 / 4 time

Compound time signatures split the “feel” into 3 instead of 2.Compound time signatures split the “feel” into 3 instead of 2.

The most common time signatures that we will deal with areThe most common time signatures that we will deal with are