Notation
-A way of writing down music
-Complex set of symbols for pitch, rhythm, dynamics, and expression
Note Values
-Express duration of notes
-Are relative and proportional
-Are indicated by note heads, stems, flags, beams, and dots.
Beams
-Make rhythm easier to read
-Groups together short notes
Rest
-Represent silences
-Correspond to note values (equal duration)
Dots
lengthen duration of note by 50%
Ties
Connects two notes of the same pitch in one long duration
Slur
Connects different pitches. Notes are played smoothly
Stoccato
Dots fall above or below notes
-Notes are played in very detached way
Triplets
Group notes and divide into 3 equal parts
Measures
-Basic time unit for a piece of music
-Seperated by bar lines
Time Signature
-Found on staff at beginning of piece
-Top number = Beats in each measure
-Bottom number = note value of beat
Staff
-Five lines with spaces between
-Placement of note specifies exact pitch
Ledger Lines
Extend the staff for higher or lower pitches
Clefs
-Identify a reference pitch
-Help musicions quickly identify pitches
Grand Staff
Brackets treble and bass clef together
Sharp
Raises a note one half step
Flat
Lowers note one half step
Key Signature
Shows which sharps and flats to use consistantly throughout a piece
Scores
-Show music for two or more instruments or voices
-Line up parts vertically (on top of each other)
Range of hearing
= 20 to 20,000 cycles per second
Short vibrating elements cause-
High pitches
Long vibrating elements cause-
Low pitches
Noise is caused by:
Unfocused vibrations
Pitch can be:
-Definite or Indefinite
-High or low
Dynamics can be:
-Loud or soft
-Involve gradual changes
pp
Pianissimo = Very soft
p
Pinao = soft
mp
mezzo piano = medium soft
mf
messo forte = medium loud
f
forte = loud
ff
fortissimo = very loud
Overtones
Not heard as distinct pitches
Crescendo
Gradually Louder
Decrescendo
Gradually Softer
Sudden Change
Subito forte (loud) or subito piano (soft)
Octave
-“Eight span”
– Higher note seems to duplicate lower note
Step
Usually the distance between adjacent notes of a scale
Half Step
-smallest interval
-the distance between adjacent notes on the chromatic scale
-Distance between notes on keys next to each other
Scales
Fixed collections of pitches used to construct music (Commonly Diatonic or Chromatic)
Diatonic Scales
-Contain 5 whole steps and 2 half steps
-Contain seven pitches
Chromatic Scale
-Contains 12 pitches
-Consists entirely of half steps
-Requires sharps or flats
Melody
-Primary bearer of musical meaning
-Most likely to move the listener
Tune
-A special kind of melody
-Simple, easy to sing
-Folk songs, dances, pop songs, patriotic songs, and Christmas carols
Characteristics of Tunes
-Division into phrases
-Balance between phrases
-Parallellism and contrast
-Climax and cadence