The Elements The Elements of Musicof MusicTerms You Must Know
What Is Music?What Is Music? Scientific Definition:
“Sound organized in time.”
Actual Definition: add “For the expression of thoughts, ideas and emotions” to above
Music is special because it affects people without requiring participation
Why Music?Why Music? “The Mozart Effect”:
A 1993 study showed that student test scores improved after listening to Mozart
Retailers use music to put shoppers in a better mood so that they will spend more
Relieves stress, reduces pain, helps growth
The Elements of The Elements of MusicMusic
These are the basic parts of music that can be heard
They are used in all forms of music across all points in history and across all cultures
These are the most basic things to be heard
RhythmRhythm This is the way the beat
is broken down The center of rhythm is
the beat or pulse The way the pulse is
grouped is called the meter
When the pulse is subdivided, rhythm is created
MelodyMelody This is the main line
of music It is the part that is
sung in pop songs It moves up and down
by pitch It can move by steps,
skips or leaps This is the horizontal
placement of pitch
HarmonyHarmony This is how sounds are
blended together They can be consonant
(sound good-blend) They can be dissonant
(sound bad-clash) These are the chords The way music is put
together vertically
FormForm This is the structure of
a piece Traditional forms are
binary (AB) and ternary (ABA)
The verse, chorus form used in pop songs is binary
Other forms are round, theme & variation, sonata
DynamicsDynamics This is the volume of
music Terms are Italian Fortissimo-Very Loud Forte-Loud Mezzo Forte-Med. Loud Mezzo Piano-Med. Soft Piano-Soft Pianissimo-Very Soft
TempoTempo This is the speed of the
pulse Terms are Italian Presto-Fast Andante-Medium Largo-Slow Some music can give
different feels based on tempo
Timbre/Tone Timbre/Tone ColorColor
This is the unique sound that each instrument makes
Just like each of your friends’ voices sound different, so do instruments
Differences can be great or very detailed
StyleStyle The overall
characteristics of sound in a piece
Musical style is more diverse today than in any other time in history
Style is influences by time, culture and technology