Note
single musical sound or the written symbol representing the sound
Pitch
the frequency of vibrations (high to low)
Timbre (tone color)
the unique quality of sound of an instrument or voice determined iu the overtones present in that instrument (bright to dark)
Duration
relative length of a note (long and short)
Attack
the way a note is articulated (legato or staccato)
legato
the note is attached to its neighbors
staccato
the note is detatched from its neighbors
Rhythm
the temporal aspects of music
beat
a signal or pulse that marks the passing of time in more or less regular segments of equal duration
Tempo
the speed of the beats , often measured in the number of  beats per minute
meter
the grouping of beats, most oftern in twos and threes in which the first beat of the group has a greater stress placed on it than ton the subsequent beats
syncopation
the occurrence of a strong accent on a part of the measure where an accent does not usually occur, this accent replacing the normally expected one
Groupings
this occurs when notes are perceived as belonging to larger units. This involves understanding the realtionshops that obtain among the notes within the group
group
a series of events that are perceived as a unit. from small local events to large global ones. smaller may compund into bigger
Measure (bar)
the metrical grouping of beats. first beat is accented or stressed. regular, predictable.
Phrase
a group of measures, often 4 or 8 that end in a cadence
Cadence
consists of two notes or chords that defines a point of harmonic arrival
half- sounds open
full- sounds closed
Interval
a combination of two notes related in terms of their pitch, melodic or harmonic
chord
a combination of three or more notes related in terms of their pitch either sounding simultaneously or perceived as a group unit
consonance
any simultaneity characteristic within a a given context; relatively stable unit within a given historical/stylistic context
dissonance
any simultaneity not characteristic within a specific context; creates instability and evokes tension within a given historical or stylistic context
tonic
pitch that functions as the most stable one in a work. center of gravity around which the other pitches move and to which they relate
theme
stable musical statement, presented in regular phases and ends in a cadence
motive
the smallest group that obtains significance through its variation and development. drawn from themes. may be strictly rhythmic patterns or patterns of pitch contour or combinations of both
transposition
a type of variation in which an entire melodic-rhythmic pattern is moved to a higher or lower pitch level
inversion
a type of variation in which an entire melodic-rhythmic pattern is “turned upside down” so that each ascending or descending motion is reversed
sequence
a series of three or more transpositions in a regular ascending or regular descending pattern
scale
a series of adjacent notes successively ascending or descending.
conjunct (stepwise) motion
movement between adjacent notes
disjunct (leaping) motion
melodic movement that skips over notes of the scale pattern
monophony
one unaccompanied melody without additional parts or accompaniment
homophony
one melody supported by an accompaniment that is most often chordal or simple by nature; melody seems more important
polyphony
two or melodies played simultaneously
imitative polyphony
there is one theme with multiple overlapping statements
non-imitative
two or more themes stated simultaneously
texture
density of event in the music
density of sound- transparent or dense
monophony
one unaccompanied melody without additional parts or accompaniment
homophony
one melody supported by an accompaniment that is most often chordal or simple by nature; melody seems more important
polyphony
two or melodies played simultaneously
imitative polyphony
there is one theme with multiple overlapping statements
non-imitative
two or more themes stated simultaneously
texture
density of event in the music
density of sound- transparent or dense