Elements and Classifiaction Elements of Music Timbre Categories Genre vs. Musical Style Genre Categories

Objectives Students will be able to: –List the four elements of music and define the terms in their own words. –List and define timbre categories of musical instruments. –Understand the difference between genre and musical style. –Describe the characteristics of traditional, popular, and classical music.

Elements of Music Melody- A logical succession of tones.- The part of the song that is most familiar and is usually remembered. Rhythm- The way beats and pulses are organized.

Elements of Music (Continued) Pitch- The highness or lowness of a tone. – Determined by the frequency of wavelengths of sound waves. Timbre- The distinct tonal quality of an instrument or voice. – What make the instrument or voice sound unique?

Timbre Categories (Based on the way sound is produced) Aerophone- Sound is produced by a vibrating column of air. Chordophone- Sound is produce by the vibrations of strings. Membranophone- Sound is produced by striking a membrane stretched over a hollow sound box.

Timbre Categories (Continued) Idiophone- Sound is produced by the actual structure of the instrument. Electrophone- Sound is produced by electricity.

Categorize the Instrument Categorize the following instruments into their proper timbre categories. –Flute Xylophone –Electric guitar Organ –Piano Harmonica –Snare drum Cymbals

Listening Activity Listen to the following examples of music. On your paper, write the timbre categories for the instruments heard in the examples. There will be 8 examples. List them as A-H on your paper.

Genre vs. Musical Style A genre designates a particular type of music with a distinctive sound. Musical style is a form of expression within a genre. These two concepts are often confused with each other. Remember a genre is a broader category.

Genre or Musical Style? On your paper, write whether the following types of music is a genre or musical style. –Country and western –Hip hop –Heavy metal –jazz

Traditional Music Informal Develops within and is associated with a particular cultural group or region. Closely tied to language, environment, and social customs. Oldest category of music. Audience participation is sometimes encouraged.

Popular Music Intended for a wide audience. Often features prominent melodies. Primarily a form of entertainment. Usually not restricted to particular uses and settings. Often identified with the commercial side of music. Audience participation is often encouraged.

Classical Music “Art” music. Musicians generally have formal training. Performances tend to be more refined. Audience participation is usually not encouraged. In the past, only the wealthy citizens and leaders were allowed access to this type of music.

Listening activity Listen to the following two examples of music. Write your response to the following questions for each of the musical examples. What is the social function of the music? Where would you hear it? What function would it serve?

Listening Activity (Continued) Listen to two different recordings of the same pieces and answer the following questions. Would you categorize these pieces in the same way? Do you think the function or intended audience is different? Explain.