Elements of Music
HAVPA
Rhythm
• Music cannot happen without rhythm or the
movement of musical sounds through time.
• The placement of sound in time is the rhythm
of a piece of music.
• Can also be called “beat” or “pulse”
Rhythm Cont.
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Rhythm can be…
a single pattern or beat
several complicated beats put together
basic
repetitive
• “Feel the rhythm”
Rhythm Cont.
• The meter of a piece of music is its basic
rhythm.
• It is the pattern of rhythms in a repeated
manner of strong and weak beats.
Rhythm Cont.
• Time Signatures
Duple = multiples of 2
Triple = multiples of 3
Rhythm Cont.
• Syncopation
any rhythm that puts an emphasis on a beat
or a part of the beat that is not usually
emphasized
“off the beat” or “off-beat”
Tempo
• The speed of music
– Metronome markings
• Beats per minute
– Verbal Descriptions
• Can be relative and subjective
Tempo Cont.
• May Vary within a piece of music
– Accelerando
• To gradually speed up
– Ritardando
• To gradually slow down
Tempo Cont.
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Largo – slow & broad
Adagio – slow
Andante – literally “walking” (medium slow)
Moderato – moderate or medium
Allegro – fast
Vivo/Vivace – lively & brisk
Presto – very fast
Prestissimo – very, very fast
Melody
• One of the most basic elements of music.
• Melody is made up of individual notes that are
usually placed in an orderly manner
• These notes have a particular
– Pitch
– Duration (length)
Placing a series of notes together in some kind of
order, one after the other, creates melody.
Harmony
• When there is more than one tone or pitch
sounding at the same time in music, the result
is harmony.
Form
• The overall plan or structure of the music
• The “big picture”
• Verse-and-chorus
Timbre
• The “color” of the music.
• Includes all the elements of a sound that have
nothing to do with how high or low the pitch
or tone is, how loud or soft it is, or how long
or short the notes are.
Dark, bright, thin, full, rich, hollow, nasal, etc.
Dynamics
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How loud or soft the music is
Forte – Loud
Piano – Soft
Mezzo – medium
pp
p
mp
mf
f
ff
Dynamics Cont.
• Crescendo < - to get gradually louder
• Decrescendo > - to get gradually softer
Instrumentation
• What instruments can you hear in the music?
– Piano: Keyboard, Organ
– Percussion: Drums, clapping, beat boxing
– Strings: Guitar, Bass, Violins, harp
– Woodwinds: Clarinet, flute, piccolo
– Brass: trumpet, saxaphone, tuba
– Electronic: Autotune…
Voicing
• What type of voicing do you hear?
– Solo (male or female/adult or child)
– Duet (2 voices)
– Trio ( 3 voices)
– Quartet (4 voices)
– Quintet (5 voices)
– Choir (more than 6 voices)
– Back Ground Singers (1-6 voices)
Mood
• What is the overall mood of the music?
– Happy
– Sad
– Angry
– Remorseful
– Excited
– Hopeful
– Depressing
– Uplifting
Message/ Theme
• What is the overall message or theme of the
song?
– Heartbreak
– Party/club song
– Encouragement
– Revenge/Venting
– Swag
– Religious
– Informative +
Listening to Music Outline
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Title of Song:
Artist/Group:
Rhythm: can you tap your foot to a steady beat?
Tempo: how fast or slow? (use terms)
Melody/Harmony: more melodic or harmonic?
Form: is this song the typical verse & chorus form?
Timbre: What is the overall color?
Dynamics: What is the overall dynamic?
Instrumentation: What instrumentation is use?
Voicing: What voices do you hear? (not in your head)
Mood: What is the overall mood?
Message/Theme: Is there are message or theme?
Listening to Music
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Title of Song: Apparition
Artist/Group: Crumb
Rhythm:
Tempo:
Melody/Harmony:
Form:
Timbre:
Dynamics:
Instrumentation:
Voicing:
Mood:
Message/Theme:
Listening to Music
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Title of Song: Wild Wild West
Artist/Group: Will Smith
Rhythm:
Tempo:
Melody/Harmony:
Form:
Timbre:
Dynamics:
Instrumentation:
Voicing:
Mood:
Message/Theme:
Listening to Music
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Title of Song: Jailhouse Rock
Artist/Group: Elvis
Rhythm:
Tempo:
Melody/Harmony:
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Instrumentation:
Voicing:
Mood:
Message/Theme:
Listening to Music
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Title of Song: radioactive
Artist/Group: Lindsey Stirling & Pentatonix
Rhythm:
Tempo:
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Timbre:
Dynamics:
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Voicing:
Mood:
Message/Theme:
Listening to Music
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Title of Song: Don’t Stop Believin
Artist/Group: Journey
Rhythm:
Tempo:
Melody/Harmony:
Form:
Timbre:
Dynamics:
Instrumentation:
Voicing:
Mood:
Message/Theme: