Music- Organization of Sound in Time ( 1st week)

  1. Properties of Sound 

Pitch Levels of high and low

Tone- sound with definite pitch.

Interval- space (not time) between pitches (rhythm) octave = 8

Dynamics- levels of loud and soft

Term (Italian language)

Symbol

Effect

Piano

p

Soft 

Forte 

f

Loud

Cressendo

<

Gradually louder

Diminuendo

>

Gradually soft

Tone Color- tone quality (timbre)

-Bright, dark, brilliant, mellow, etc. 

-A trombone doesn’t sound like a violin.

Rhythm- music in tens of time.

Beat- recurrent pulse.

Meter- organized patterns of beats. 

Tempo- levels of fast and slow.

Ex: 

  • allegro/ moderately fast

  • presto/ veryfast

  • grave/ very slow, solemn

  • adagio/ slow 


Syncopation- unexpected accent


-JAZZY, off the beat

Melody- organized tune

Harmony- accompany sounds 


  • Support, depth, richness, enrich, melody.

  • Chord- three or more pitches together (simultaneously)

  • Consonance- pleasing

  • Dissonance- harsh


Key- central tone 

  • Major key- happy key

  • Minor key- sad key

  • Scale- pattern of notes (major/ minor scale)


Instrument Families

The Human Voice 

  • Soprano

  • Mezzo- Soprano

  • Alto

  • Tenor

  • Bass

Keyboard

  • Organ (air)

  • Harpsichord (pluck)

  • Piano (hammer)

String Family

  • Violin

  • Viola

  • Cello

  • Bass

  • (Harp)

Wind Family

Flute/ Piccolo:

  • Clarinet

  • Saxophone

Double Reed:

  • Oboe

  • English Horn

  • Bassoon

Contra- bassoon

Brass Family

  • Trumpet

  • Tombone

  • Tuba

  • French Horn

Percussion Family

Definite Pitch:

  • Tympani,

  • Xylophone

  • Marimba


Infinite Pitch:

  • Cymbals, snare drum, bass drum, etc.