Musical TermsMusical Terms

Mrs. Keating Mrs. Keating

Fine Arts 9Fine Arts 9

RhythmRhythm BeatBeat is like your is like your

pulse! Your heart pulse! Your heart keeps the beat for keeps the beat for the rest for your the rest for your body!body!

RhythmRhythm is Patterns of is Patterns of Sound and Silence!Sound and Silence!

Rhythm divides time in Rhythm divides time in musical pieces, using musical pieces, using unaccented and unaccented and accented beats to accented beats to create a readable create a readable pattern. pattern.

NotationNotation

Notes are symbols Notes are symbols that show a person that show a person how long to play how long to play and when to playand when to play..

In music notation In music notation each note stands each note stands for a specific length for a specific length of time for a tone to of time for a tone to be held.be held.

1/21/2

MelodyMelody

Melody is Melody is the main the main ideaidea of the music. of the music.

Everyone has gotten Everyone has gotten a tune stuck in their a tune stuck in their head. If it is a head. If it is a memorable tune, memorable tune, with lots of with lots of repetition it can stay repetition it can stay there for months.there for months.

HarmonyHarmony Harmony is a Harmony is a

combination of combination of tones sounded tones sounded togethertogether..

The basic units of The basic units of harmony are harmony are the interval- the interval- two two

notes played notes played togethertogether

the chord- the chord- where where three or more three or more tones are played at tones are played at the same timethe same time. .

TimbreTimbre Timbre is the Timbre is the special special

sound of an sound of an instrument or voiceinstrument or voice..

The use of different The use of different tone color is what tone color is what makes a piece of makes a piece of music interesting and music interesting and gives the music its gives the music its character. Picture character. Picture RHCP on ukulele and RHCP on ukulele and you will know what I you will know what I mean.mean.

FormForm

Form is the Form is the structure or structure or shapeshape of a piece of of a piece of music.music.

Songs are often Songs are often ABA form:ABA form: A = ChorusA = Chorus B = VerseB = Verse A = ChorusA = Chorus

PitchPitch Pitch is the Pitch is the

highness or highness or lownesslowness of a tone. of a tone.

Usually the bigger Usually the bigger the instrument the the instrument the lower the pitches it lower the pitches it may be able to play.may be able to play.

There are seven There are seven pitches in music. pitches in music.

A B C D E F GA B C D E F G

TempoTempo

Tempo is how fast or slow Tempo is how fast or slow music is played.music is played.

Presto – Very fastPresto – Very fast Allegro – quick and livelyAllegro – quick and lively Moderato – moderate, Moderato – moderate,

mediummedium Andante – slow walking Andante – slow walking

speedspeed Largo – very slowLargo – very slow

DynamicsDynamics

Dynamics are how Dynamics are how loudly or softlyloudly or softly the the music is played.music is played.

Music may get louder Music may get louder or softer gradually: or softer gradually: crescendo or crescendo or diminuendodiminuendo

The conductor is the The conductor is the controller of the controller of the dynamics.dynamics.

DynamicsDynamics

Styles of MusicStyles of Music

There are many, many There are many, many different styles of music different styles of music …..some you may like and …..some you may like and others you do not! We others you do not! We identify styles by how they identify styles by how they combine the elements that combine the elements that we just discussed. Try to we just discussed. Try to guess as many types as guess as many types as you can in the listening you can in the listening assignment.assignment.