Elements of
Music
Harmony
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Two or more notes together
Chord – three or more notes at one
time
Triad – A three note chord
Form
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Binary – AB form; music has two sections
Form – The way music is arranged
Call and Response – Soloist sings, then
congregation repeats or echoes what the
soloist sang. (Originated in Africa)
ABA – Ternary form; music has three
sections – the “A” section is played twice
Rhythm
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The way music is arranged in time or
organized into beats
Time signature – (Also known as
meter) 2/4, ¾ , 4/4
4/4 – The top number tells you how
many beats are in each measure. The
bottom number tells you what kind of
note gets the beat.
Rhythm Continued
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Duration – How long a note is held or
played
Whole note = 4 beats
Half note = 2 beats
Quarter note = 1 beat
Eighth note = ½ beat
Sixteenth note = ¼ beat
Dot – Adds half of the note’s original value
Melody
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One note at a time
The tune of a song
Sharp (#) – Raises a pitch one half step
Flat (b) – Lowers a pitch one half step
Phrase – A musical sentence
Grand Staff – The bass and treble clef on
the two separate staffs, but are connected.
Usually used with piano music.
Tempo
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How fast or slow the music is
Allegro- A fast tempo
Moderato – A medium tempo
Largo – A slow tempo
Dynamics
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How loud or soft the music is.
Pianissimo (pp) – very soft
Piano (p) – soft
Mezzo piano (mp) – medium soft
Mezzo forte (mf) – medium loud
Forte (f) – Loud
Fortissimo (ff) – Very loud
Dynamics Continued
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Crescendo – gradually get louder
Decrescendo – gradually get softer
Timbre
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How different instruments and voices
sound different from each other.
Woodwind Family
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Clarinet
Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
Saxophone
Brass Family
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Trumpet
Tuba
French Horn
Baritone
Trombone
String Family
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Violin
Viola
Cello
Bass
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(Piano, harp)
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Percussion
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Snare drum
Xylophone
Cymbals
Triangle
Bass drum
Marimba
Piano
Voice
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Soprano – Highest female voice
Alto – Lowest female voice
Tenor – Highest male voice
Bass – Lowest male voice
Open Response Question
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List two elements that you think are
the most important
– What does list mean?
Open Response, Part B
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Explain why these two elements are
important. Give at least two examples
of each
– What does explain mean?
– How many examples is it asking for?
Open Response, Part C
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Compare and Contrast these two
elements. What would music be like if
these two elements did not exist?
– What does compare and contrast mean?
– Describe what music would be like if
these elements did not exist.