Music compositions do not always begin
on the first beat of the measure.
The fermata extends the duration of a note by
extending the count of a pitch (or pitches that sound simultaneously)
Dots placed after a note extend the duration of that note by
adding one- half of its value.
Rests are
symbols for silence
Ties
________ connect two or more notes of the same pitch by adding together the note values of each tied note.
Slurs connect
two or more notes of different pitches.
For every note value there is a corresponding
symbol to rest
Note values may be extended through the use of
a tie: ⁀
Ties must be drawn
from note head to note head and must connect each note.
How many times are tied notes played?
Tied notes are played only once
Tied notes continue to sustain
for the duration of all tied note values.
Ties may be used to
hold a note into the next measure.
Slurs should not be confused with
ties.
Slurs should be played
smoothly and connected.
A dotted note should not be confused with
the staccato
Staccato:
a dot that is placed above or below a note.
Staccato notes are played in
a disconnected or unconnected manner.
An incomplete measure at the beginning of a piece is called
an anacrusis (from the Greek word, anákrousis, meaning “to strike, push back”).
An incomplete measure at the end of the piece together with the anacrusis measure at the beginning will usually
total the correct number of beats signified by the top number of the time signature.
The anacrusis is sometimes called
a pick-up or upbeat.
Rests may be dotted, but
they may not be tied.