Reading, Writing, and Making Music Clef Notes Dynamics Tempos Articulations

Terms Accent – the emphasis placed on a musical sound. Accent – the emphasis placed on a musical sound. Meter – the aural aspect of music in which a certain number of beats are grouped together. Meter – the aural aspect of music in which a certain number of beats are grouped together. Measure – the division of beats into defined groups separated by a bar line. Measure – the division of beats into defined groups separated by a bar line. Time signature – used to specify how many beats are in each measure and what note value constitutes one beat. Time signature – used to specify how many beats are in each measure and what note value constitutes one beat.

Note and Rest Symbols

Subdividing Notes The number plus the and equals ONE FULL beat. Therefore, just the number WITHOUT the and will only equal HALF a beat.

Clef Notes Treble Clef  Line Notes: Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge  Space Notes: F A C E Bass Clef  Line Notes: Great Big Dogs Fight Always  Space Notes: All Cars Eat Gas

Musical Terms A great many musical terms are in Italian. It shouldn't be surprising that so many musical terms are Italian, since many of the most important early composers in the renaissance period were Italian, and that period is when numerous musical indications were used extensively for the first time.

Dynamics Dynamics tell the performer or conductor how loud or how soft to play a piece of music. Dynamics are used in a piece of music to help maintain the interest of the listener.

Dynamics Fortissimo ff – very loud Forte f – loud Mezzo forte mf – medium loud Mezzo piano mp – medium soft Piano p – soft Pianissimo pp – very soft Crescendo – to gradually get louder Decrescendo – to gradually get softer

Tempos Largo – very slow Adagio – slow Andante – walking tempo Moderato – moderately Allegro – fast; quickly Vivace – very fast Accelerando (accel.) – to gradually get faster Ritardando (rit.) – to gradually get slower

Music Theory: Articulations Staccato – to play the notes short and detached Accent – to play the note louder, with a special emphasis Tenuto – to hold the note for its full value Fermata – to hold the note longer than its normal value; approximately twice the normal duration