1. Sound Pitch: (high and low) –Corresponds to size! Dynamics: (loud, soft) –Forte (f) –Mezzo Forte (mf) –Mezzo Piano (mp) –Piano (p) Timbre/Tone Color: (bright, dark, mellow, harsh, etc.) – Abstract descriptions for what you are hearing

2. Sound Standard Choral Voices – soprano, alto, tenor, bass Standard Orchestra Instrumentation –String (violin, viola, cello, bass) –Woodwind (flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon) –Brass (trumpet, french horn, trombone, tuba) –Percussion (timpani, drums, mallet keyboards) Other –Keyboard (piano, organ, harpsichord) –Jazz Instruments (saxophone, drumset)

3. Beat (pulse) - Meter (duple, triple) - Tempo (fast, slow) Melody: –Theme (main idea) Musical terms to describe: –Articulation (legato, staccato) –Accents –Syncopation Rhythm and Melody

4. Harmony Consonance & Dissonance –A relationship between two notes (interval) is either stable or unstable –Unstable (dissonant) intervals resolve to stable (consonant) intervals

5. Key Tonal: –Called “functional” –Every chord has a function: going back to the Tonal Center –Can be Major or minor scale Atonal –Chromatic, no tonal scale Music history is all about moving from functional tonality towards Atonality!

6. Texture – Monophonic (single line) – Homophonic (one line, accompanied) –Polyphonic (2 or more equal lines)

7. Form The shape and structure of a piece of music Most music is divided into sections –New sections defined by harmony and/or melody –Older musical ideas return often –Some large pieces are broken into movements, which are also broken into sections

8. Genre The Form and/or instrumentation defines the genre of a piece of music: Symphony (Orchestra) Concerto (Soloist with orchestra) Chamber Music (Small ensemble) –String Quartet –Woodwind Quintet –Brass Quintet Sonata (Solo instrumental music) Art Song (Solo voice with piano) Opera (Music with vocal storytelling ) Ballet (Music with dancing)

9. Historical Eras Middle Ages (450-1450) Renaissance (1450-1600) Baroque (1600-1750) Classical (1750-1800ish) Romantic (1800-1900) 20th Century (1900-2000) - Often divided into two halves (1900-1945) - 1945-present = modern music