Elements of Music

Dynamics

Refers to the volume of the music, which is loud, soft, or moderate.

Tempo

Refers to the speed of the song, which is fast, slow, or moderate.

Texture

Refers to how many layers or sounds are in the music.

Crescendo

A gradual increase of the volume of music.

Decrescendo

A gradual decrease of the volume of music.

Monophonic Texture

One layer or sound in music.

Homophonic Texture

Two or more layers or sounds in the music.

Pitch

How high or low the voice or instrument is.

Glissando

A continuous slide upward or downward between notes.

Syncopation

Unexpected accents on the weaker beats of the music.

Call and Response

A musical technique where a phrase is followed by a response, similar to conversation.