1. The 4 Parameters of Sound PITCH = the frequency of vibration (heard as “high” vs. “low”) DURATION = the length of time a sound lasts (heard as aspects of rhythm) TIMBRE = tone color (the source of the sound, i.e., instrument, voice, other) DYNAMICS = Loudness/Softness

2. Some Useful Terms related to Pitch Interval – “distance” between 2 pitches Octave – 2:1 ratio of frequency - What is an Octave - YouTubeWhat is an Octave - YouTube Tonality – organization around home pitch Tonic – the home pitch Key – collection of pitches around a tonal center Scale – set of pitches in ascending and descending order (scala [Ital.] = “ladder”) - Music Theory 101: Scales and Modes – YouTube - The Major Scale Formula: Lesson 1 Music Theory – YouTube - Understanding the Natural Minor Scale... - YouTubeMusic Theory 101: Scales and Modes – YouTubeThe Major Scale Formula: Lesson 1 Music Theory – YouTubeUnderstanding the Natural Minor Scale... - YouTube

3. Piano Keyboard & Great Staff

4. One Chromatic Octave

5. Scale types Use only 7 of 12 available pitches Series of whole and half steps Major – W-W-1/2-W-W-W-1/2 (sounds “bright,” “cheery,” “optimistic”) Minor – W-1/2-W-W-1/2-W-W (sounds “dark,” “somber,” “sinister”) Diatonic (major or minor) -The difference between Major and Minor Scale Sound Qualities - YouTubeThe difference between Major and Minor Scale Sound Qualities - YouTube Chromatic (uses all 12 notes) - Chromatic Scales: Music Theory - YouTubeChromatic Scales: Music Theory - YouTube

6. Harmony (Some Useful terms) Chord – 2 or more simultaneous pitches Triad – 3-note chord Tonic – the home pitch (name of “key”) Consonant / Consonance – “pleasant” combinations of sounds (subjective) Dissonant / Dissonance – “unpleasant” combinations of sounds (subjective) Exs. Musical Consonance & Dissonance Explained... - YouTubeMusical Consonance & Dissonance Explained... - YouTube

7. Pitches in time Melody (tune) – coherent / succession of / single pitches [3 parts to definition] – similar to speech Phrase – subdivisions of melody Cadence – resting points

8. TEXTURE Interrelationship of melodic & harmonic elements (what’s happening at any given moment in the piece) Two Basic Kinds of Textures Monophonic / Monophony Polyphonic /Polyphony Subdivides into several different types

9. Monophony / Monophonic ONE musical line only Multiple performers possible (on that one line) = “unison” [“one sound”] Examples - What is a Monophonic Texture? – YouTube - Musical Textures - Monophonic - YouTubeWhat is a Monophonic Texture? – YouTubeMusical Textures - Monophonic - YouTube

10. Polyphony Counterpoint – general term for the art of combining melodies Homophonic / Homophony – multiple parts moving together, with top melody most important (also: Homorhythmic) Accompaniment – less important background Example - AP Music Theory: Music Texture (Polyphony, Biphonic, Heterophonic, Monophonic, Homophonic) - YouTubeAP Music Theory: Music Texture (Polyphony, Biphonic, Heterophonic, Monophonic, Homophonic) - YouTube