1. The Science of Music In the words of science, music has an identifiable pitch, a pleasing quality, and a repeated rhythm.

2. Musical Frequencies The identifiable pitch in music is the musical note. The musical note is a specific frequency of sound, designated by a letter. Examples: C-256 Hz A-440 Hz Each of these frequencies is called the fundamental frequency.

3. Musical Octaves Musical notes are arranged into octaves, a series of eight notes of increasing frequency (Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La- Ti-Do). The frequency doubles from the first to last note of the octave. The last note of an octave is the first note of the next octave.

4. Musical Quality The quality of a musical sound is a combination of the fundamental frequency and additional frequencies called overtones that give each musical instrument its own unique sound. ( A guitar never sounds like a trombone.)

5. Musical Rhythm The rhythm of music is its beat. The beat is mathematical and steady. The percussionist in a musical group keeps the beat steady.