By Prof. Lydia Ayers

What is Music? 4 main properties of musical sounds:4 main properties of musical sounds: rhythm/duration — when to play the notesrhythm/duration — when to play the notes amplitude/loudness — how loud to play the notesamplitude/loudness — how loud to play the notes pitch — which notes to playpitch — which notes to play timbre/tone color — sound qualitytimbre/tone color — sound quality what instruments are playing?what instruments are playing?

Planetary Percussion Beginning of the universeBeginning of the universe When mysterious forces came together with a vibration unlike anything before or since.When mysterious forces came together with a vibration unlike anything before or since. The big bang was beat one.The big bang was beat one.

Recognize and Control Rhythms The tool recordThe tool record Arrowheads and choppersArrowheads and choppers Shows our battle to master the body rhythms that the creation of advanced technology requiresShows our battle to master the body rhythms that the creation of advanced technology requires Arrowheads t/arrows.html

Origin of Rhythm To coordinate groups of people working together (economist Karl Bücher):To coordinate groups of people working together (economist Karl Bücher): LiftingLifting Breaking and dragging thingsBreaking and dragging things Work rhythm of women making coffee in Bali, Indonesia Work rhythm of women making coffee in Bali, Indonesia Work rhythm of men making quilts in China Work rhythm of men making quilts in China Drum, balofon and harp give rhythm to collective farming work (Baule people, Ivory Coast)

RhythmRhythm A complicated mathematical method of preventing collisions and unwanted overlaps in music.A complicated mathematical method of preventing collisions and unwanted overlaps in music. David Barber, Tenors, Tantrums and Trills 2/4 + 5/4 + 7/8 KHI Insurance Classical Mechanics, MAU

RhythmRhythm Rhythmic NotationRhythmic Notation Sound (notes) vs. Silence (rests)Sound (notes) vs. Silence (rests) Specifies starting times and durations for individual notesSpecifies starting times and durations for individual notes TIME PITCH StaffStaff a graph of five horizontal lines for writing musical notes (x = time, y = pitch)a graph of five horizontal lines for writing musical notes (x = time, y = pitch)

RhythmRhythm DurationDuration how long a sound lastshow long a sound lasts flag head stem NoteNote a written symbol that shows the duration (and pitch) of a sounda written symbol that shows the duration (and pitch) of a sound

RhythmRhythm BeamBeam the line connecting a group of flagged notesthe line connecting a group of flagged notes beam group = 1 beatbeam group = 1 beat beam

Notation of Equal Subdivisions

RestRest A short period of relative silence in an individual part, useful for turning pages, breathing, coughing, etc.A short period of relative silence in an individual part, useful for turning pages, breathing, coughing, etc. David Barber and Dave Donald A Musician's Dictionary Mandy's Garfield Photo Gallery

Notation of Equal Subdivisions 1 whole note 1 whole note = 2 half notes = 4 quarter notes = 8 eighth notes = 16 sixteenth notes

TieTie A device for linking one note to another.A device for linking one note to another. = Donald Tsang ViewImages A decorative article of clothing.A decorative article of clothing. In vocal duets, the only diplomatic way to decide the winner.In vocal duets, the only diplomatic way to decide the winner. David Barber, Tenors, Tantrums and Trills

DotsDots = a second dot adds half the value of the first dota second dot adds half the value of the first dot = A dot increases the duration of a note by half its valueA dot increases the duration of a note by half its value

Dotted Rhythm Luis Bonfá: Manha de Carnaval TieDotted Quarter Note a dotted note followed by a shorter notea dotted note followed by a shorter note