Beat-
the regular, recurrent pulsation that divides music into equal units of time.
Meter-
the organization of beats into regular groups.
Accent-
the stressing of a note, for example, by playing it somewhat louder than the surrounding notes.
Bar line-
In musical notation, a vertical line through the staffs to mark the measure.
Simple Meter-
A meter in which the main beats are not subdivided, or are subdivided into two e.g. 2/4, ?, 4/4.
Duple Meter-
A meter consisting of one accented beat alternating with one unaccented beat: one two one two.
Triple Meter-
A meter consisting of one accented beat alternating with two unaccented beats: one two three one two three
Compound Meter-
A meter in which the main beats are subdivided into three, e.g. 6/8—one two three four five six.
Nonmetrical-
No meter is heard.
Syncopation-
Accenting a weak beat.
Tempo-
the speed of the beat; the basic pace of the music.
Legato-
smooth, connected style of articulation.
Staccato-
a short, detached style of articulation.
Time Signature-
In musical notation, the numbers on the staff at the beginning of a piece that indicate the meter.
Staff (or stave)-
In musical notation, the group of five horizontal lines on which music is written.
Ledger lines-In musical notation, short lines above or below the staff to allow for pitches that go higher or lower.
Clef-
In musical notation, a sign at the beginning of the staff indicating the pitches of the lines and spaces.
The main clefs
are treble (or G) clef, and the bass (or F) clef.
Naturals-
In musical notation, a sign indicating that a sharp or flat previously attached to a note is to be removed.
Key Signatures-
Sharps or flats placed at the beginning of the staffs to indicate the key, and applied throughout an entire piece, in every measure and in every octave.
Scores-
The full musical notation for a piece involving several or many performers.
Melody-
The aspect of music having to do with the succession of pitches; also applied (“a melody”) to any particular succession of pitches.
Tune-
A simple, easily singable melody that is coherent and complete.
Phrases-a section of melody or a tune.
Phrases-
a section of melody or a tune.
Triad (Chord)-
A grouping of pitches played and heard simultaneously.
Arpeggio (broken chord)-
splits pitches apart
Climax-
The high point of a melody or of a section of music.
Sequence-
-(1) In a melody, a series of fragments identical except for their placement at successively higher or lower pitch levels. (2) In the Middle Ages, a type of plainchant in which successive phrases of text receive nearly identical melodic treatment.
Cadence-
The notes or chords (or the whole short passage) ending a section of music with a feeling of conclusiveness. The term “cadence” can be applied to phrases, sections of works, or complete works or movements.
Motive-
A short fragment of melody or rhythm used in constructing a long section of music.
Theme-
The basic subject matter of a piece of music. A theme can be a phrase, a short motive, a full tune, etc.
Harmony-
The progression of chords and how they follow each other.
Dissonance-
Intervals or chords that sound relatively tense and unstable; in opposition to “consonance.”
Resolved-
To proceed from dissonant harmony to consonant harmony.
Measure-
a unit or grouping of a fixed number of beats.
Consonance-
Intervals or chords that sound relatively stable and free of tension; as opposed to “dissonance.”