What Do You Know about What Do You Know about Musical Notes and Musical Notes and

Rhythms?Rhythms?

A Note in History

• Western music notation has Western music notation has developed over two and a half developed over two and a half thousand years of civilisationthousand years of civilisation

• The ancient The ancient GreeksGreeks, and later the , and later the RomansRomans, used , used letters of the letters of the alphabetalphabet to indicate different to indicate different pitches. pitches.

A Note in History, cont.

• BoethiusBoethius (A.D. 470 -525, an adviser to (A.D. 470 -525, an adviser to the court at the end of the the court at the end of the Roman Roman EmpireEmpire), wrote five text books ), wrote five text books describing the music theory of that describing the music theory of that ancient era. ancient era.

• From the 7th Century a From the 7th Century a system of system of NeumsNeums was introduced for the notation was introduced for the notation of plainsong.of plainsong.

A Note in History, cont.

• The sign of the The sign of the TrillTrill in our present in our present system is a relic of the old Neum system is a relic of the old Neum system. system.

• Our present notation system Our present notation system developed from this plainsong staff developed from this plainsong staff and the old letter name system and the old letter name system introduced by the Greeks. introduced by the Greeks.

Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques, across or within genres, styles, or historical periods. In a grand sense, music theory distills and analyzes the fundamental parameters or elements of music – rhythm, harmony (harmonic function), melody, structure, form, texture, etc. Broadly, music theory may include any statement, belief, or conception of or about music.[

MUSIC THEORY

Understanding MeterUnderstanding Meter

¾-three beats in a measure. Quarter note gets one beat

4/4-four beats in a measure. Quarter note gets one beat

6/8- six beats in a measure. Eighth note gets one beat

2/2-two beats in a measure. Half note gets one beat

Time Signatures

Rhythm at a glanceRhythm at a glance

Basically, all musical notes Basically, all musical notes are arranged notes that are arranged notes that

last for different amounts last for different amounts of time. of time.

NOTESNOTES

• Note ValuesNote Values

• Each note has a specific duration. Each note has a specific duration.

Note ValuesEach note has a specific duration.

                                             

Why is Rhythm importantWhy is Rhythm important

Rhythm adds a whole new dimension Rhythm adds a whole new dimension to music. Instead of just varying to music. Instead of just varying pitches, composers can also vary pitches, composers can also vary rhythms! This creates the rhythms! This creates the uniqueness of each piece and gives uniqueness of each piece and gives each piece it's own character. each piece it's own character.

Does Rhythm still have its beat Does Rhythm still have its beat in the 21in the 21stst century? century?

Rhythm does have its glitter in the 21Rhythm does have its glitter in the 21stst century. It has actually been century. It has actually been recreated.recreated.

That recreation is called That recreation is called TECHNOLOGY!TECHNOLOGY!

TECHNOLOGY

•Computer-generated rhythms are very popular in mainstream musical sessions.

– Bands of all kind use computers to create rhythms.

Schools of the 21st Century

Charter schools are being created based on rhythm and how learning is

being achieved though song and dance.

http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/about.aspx

The Social Role of MusicThe Social Role of Music

Music everywhere is used to accompany Music everywhere is used to accompany other activities. It is, for example, other activities. It is, for example, universally associated with dance. universally associated with dance.

Although words are not found in singing Although words are not found in singing everywhere, the association of music and everywhere, the association of music and poetry is so close that language and music poetry is so close that language and music are widely believed to have had a common are widely believed to have had a common

origin in early human history. origin in early human history.

ConclusionConclusion

Music and Rhythm may serve as a Music and Rhythm may serve as a symbol in not only our society, but in symbol in not only our society, but in all societies. Music and rhythm is on all societies. Music and rhythm is on

the rebound in schools, churches, the rebound in schools, churches, and other public gathering places. In and other public gathering places. In

my opinion, the 21my opinion, the 21stst century would century would be lost without music and rhythm. be lost without music and rhythm.