Elements of Music

HAVPA

Rhythm

• Music cannot happen without rhythm or the movement of musical sounds through time.

• The placement of sound in time is the rhythm of a piece of music.

• Can also be called “beat” or “pulse”

Rhythm Cont.

• Rhythm can be…• a single pattern or beat• several complicated beats put together• basic • repetitive

• “Feel the rhythm”

Rhythm Cont.

• The meter of a piece of music is its basic rhythm.

• It is the pattern of rhythms in a repeated manner of strong and weak beats.

Rhythm Cont.

• Time Signatures

Duple = multiples of 2

Triple = multiples of 3

Rhythm Cont.

• Syncopation any rhythm that puts an emphasis on a beat or a part of the beat that is not usually emphasized

“off the beat” or “off-beat”

Tempo

• The speed of music – Metronome markings• Beats per minute

– Verbal Descriptions• Can be relative and subjective

Tempo Cont.

• May Vary within a piece of music

– Accelerando • To gradually speed up

– Ritardando • To gradually slow down

Tempo Cont.

• Largo – slow & broad• Adagio – slow • Andante – literally “walking” (medium slow)• Moderato – moderate or medium • Allegro – fast • Vivo/Vivace – lively & brisk • Presto – very fast • Prestissimo – very, very fast

Melody

• One of the most basic elements of music. • Melody is made up of individual notes that are

usually placed in an orderly manner • These notes have a particular – Pitch – Duration (length)

Placing a series of notes together in some kind of order, one after the other, creates melody.

Harmony

• When there is more than one tone or pitch sounding at the same time in music, the result is harmony.

Form

• The overall plan or structure of the music

• The “big picture”

• Verse-and-chorus

Timbre

• The “color” of the music. • Includes all the elements of a sound that have

nothing to do with how high or low the pitch or tone is, how loud or soft it is, or how long or short the notes are.

Dark, bright, thin, full, rich, hollow, nasal, etc.

Dynamics

• How loud or soft the music is• Forte – Loud • Piano – Soft • Mezzo – medium

pp p mp mf f ff

Dynamics Cont.

• Crescendo < - to get gradually louder

• Decrescendo > - to get gradually softer

Instrumentation

• What instruments can you hear in the music? – Piano: Keyboard, Organ– Percussion: Drums, clapping, beat boxing– Strings: Guitar, Bass, Violins, harp – Woodwinds: Clarinet, flute, piccolo – Brass: trumpet, saxaphone, tuba – Electronic: Autotune…

Voicing

• What type of voicing do you hear? – Solo (male or female/adult or child) – Duet (2 voices) – Trio ( 3 voices) – Quartet (4 voices) – Quintet (5 voices) – Choir (more than 6 voices)– Back Ground Singers (1-6 voices)

Mood

• What is the overall mood of the music? – Happy – Sad – Angry – Remorseful – Excited – Hopeful – Depressing – Uplifting

Message/ Theme

• What is the overall message or theme of the song? – Heartbreak – Party/club song – Encouragement – Revenge/Venting – Swag – Religious – Informative +

Listening to Music Outline• Title of Song: • Artist/Group:• Rhythm: can you tap your foot to a steady beat?• Tempo: how fast or slow? (use terms)• Melody/Harmony: more melodic or harmonic? • Form: is this song the typical verse & chorus form? • Timbre: What is the overall color?• Dynamics: What is the overall dynamic?• Instrumentation: What instrumentation is use? • Voicing: What voices do you hear? (not in your head)• Mood: What is the overall mood? • Message/Theme: Is there are message or theme?

Listening to Music• Title of Song: Apparition• Artist/Group: Crumb • Rhythm:• Tempo:• Melody/Harmony:• Form:• Timbre:• Dynamics:• Instrumentation:• Voicing:• Mood:• Message/Theme:

Listening to Music• Title of Song: Wild Wild West• Artist/Group: Will Smith• Rhythm:• Tempo:• Melody/Harmony:• Form:• Timbre:• Dynamics:• Instrumentation:• Voicing:• Mood:• Message/Theme:

Listening to Music • Title of Song: Jailhouse Rock • Artist/Group: Elvis• Rhythm:• Tempo:• Melody/Harmony:• Form:• Timbre:• Dynamics:• Instrumentation:• Voicing:• Mood:• Message/Theme:

Listening to Music• Title of Song: radioactive• Artist/Group: Lindsey Stirling & Pentatonix• Rhythm:• Tempo:• Melody/Harmony:• Form:• Timbre:• Dynamics:• Instrumentation:• Voicing:• Mood:• Message/Theme:

Listening to Music • Title of Song: Don’t Stop Believin• Artist/Group: Journey • Rhythm:• Tempo:• Melody/Harmony:• Form:• Timbre:• Dynamics:• Instrumentation:• Voicing:• Mood:• Message/Theme: