1. Elements of Music
Music History

2. Sound What is “sound”? Organization of sound
Vibration of an object through a medium that is transmitted to the brain by impulses from the eardrum
Organization of sound
Pitch
Dynamics
Tone Color
Duration

3. Pitch relative highness or lowness of sound terms: tone interval
octave
pitch range / range

4. Dynamics relative loudness and softness accent dynamic range:
pp – pianissimo – very soft
p – piano – soft
mp – mezzo piano – moderately soft
mf – mezzo forte – moderately loud
f – forte – loud
ff – fortissimo – very loud
gradual changes in dynamics
crescendo / decrescendo

5. Tone Color / Timbre
the quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument from another
Identification of timbre is descriptive in nature
bright
mellow
dark
rich

6. Voices and Instruments
Performing Media
Voices and Instruments

7. Voices Women Men soprano mezzo-soprano alto (or contralto) tenor
baritone
bass

8. Musical Instruments Families Strings Woodwinds Brass Percussion
Keyboard
Electronic

9. String Instruments Orchestral (with bows) Plucked Harp Violin Guitar
Viola
Cello
Double Bass / Contrabass / Bass
Plucked
Harp
Guitar
others

10. String Techniques Pizzicato Double stop (triple, quadruple) Vibrato
Mute
Tremolo
Harmonics

11. Woodwind Instruments Orchestral Other Reeds Piccolo Recorder Flute*
Oboe*
English horn
Clarinet*
Bass clarinet
Bassoon*
Contrabassoon
Other
Recorder
Saxophone
Reeds
Single-reed
Double-reed

12. Brass Instruments Orchestral Others Ways to alter sound Trumpet
French horn / Horn
Trombone
Tuba
Others
Cornet
Baritone horn
Euphonium
Ways to alter sound
slides / valves
mutes

13. Percussion Instruments
Definite Pitch
timpani (kettledrums)
glockenspiel
xylophone
celesta
chimes
Indefinite Pitch
snare drum
bass drum
tambourine
triangle
cymbals
gong (tam-tam)

14. Keyboard Instruments Piano Harpsichord Organ Accordion
pedals – una corda (soft), sostenuto, damper
Harpsichord
plectra
Organ
stops
pedals / manuals
Accordion

15. Electronic Instruments
Tape studio
Synthesizer
Analog synthesis
FM synthesis
Effects devices
Sampling
MIDI
Computer
computer music

16. Rhythm, Beat, Tempo, and Meter
What is the difference?
Beat – the regular, recurrent pulse that divides music into equal units of time
Tempo – the speed of the beat
Meter – the organization of beats into measures
Rhythm –
the ordered flow of music through time
the particular arrangement of note lengths in a piece of music

17. Meter time signatures duple meter, quadruple meter
triple meter, sextuple meter
downbeat
upbeat
irregular meters
accent
syncopation

18. Tempo largo – very slow, broad grave – very slow, solemn adagio – slow
andante – moderately slow, “walking pace”
moderato – moderate
allegretto – moderately fast
allegro – fast
vivace – lively
presto – very fast
prestissimo – as fast as possible

19. Tempo (continued) Qualifying words Gradual changes Metronome markings
molto – much
non troppo – not too much
Gradual changes
accelerando – gradually faster
ritardando – gradually slower
Metronome markings
indicates number of beats per minute

20. Melody definition – contour legato / staccato phrases cadences climax
a series of single tones which add up to a recognizable whole
contour
steps / leaps
legato / staccato
phrases
cadences
incomplete
complete
climax
sequence
theme

21. Harmony definition – chord progression consonance dissonance
the way chords are constructed and how they follow each other
chord
progression
consonance
dissonance
resolution
triad
important chords
tonic
dominant
arpeggio

22. Key / Tonality tonic scale key signature modulation major minor
chromatic
key signature
modulation

23. Musical Texture monophonic polyphonic homophonic
single melodic line without accompaniment
in unison or octaves
polyphonic
two or more melodic lines of relatively equal importance
counterpoint
imitation
homophonic
one main melody accompanied by chords

24. Musical Form Techniques that create musical form
repetition
variation
contrast
Ternary (3-part) form:
A (statement)
B (departure)
A (return)
Binary (2-part) form:
B (counterstatement)

25. Performance Practice performer’s role virtuoso conductor concertmaster
improvisation
embellishment
virtuoso
conductor
concertmaster

26. Musical Style definition – Stylistic periods of western art music –
a characteristic way of using melody, rhythm, timbre, dynamics, harmony, texture, and form
Stylistic periods of western art music –
Middle Ages ( )
Renaissance ( )
Baroque ( )
Classical ( )
Romantic ( )
Early 20th Century ( )
1950-present