What is Music?
Music Explorations
What is Music?
• How can we define music?
• What types of characteristics can
music hold?
• Is there a universal definition of
‘music?’
How Can We Define Music?
•
•
•
•
•
Scientifically
Mathematically
Emotionally
Historically
Culturally
Scientifically
• ‘’ the science or art of ordering tones or
sounds in succession, in combination, and in
temporal relationships to produce a
composition having unity and continuity’’
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
• What does this mean?
(hint: temporal= of or relating to the sequence of time)
Scientifically
Let’s Create Music Scientifically!
-Control (time signature)
-Variables (key signature)
-Experimental substances (notes
--Guidlines (rhythmic dos and don’ts)
What is Music?
Mathematically
Mathematically
How can we define music using mathematics?
Numbers?
Equations?
Patterns?
‘’ a sequence or pattern of numerically assigned tones, put to a
key, whose temporal sum must always be equal to a specific preset variable’’
Huh?
Mathematically
A scale (CDEFGABC) is assigned scales degree numbers.
CDEFGABC
12345678
Choose the order of numbers at random or apply an equation.
Ex: +1-2
At Random: Here is where your ‘Do Now’ comes in!
Equation: +1-2
1(+1) 2(-2) 8(+1) 1(-2) 7(+1) 8(-2)
(for a more interesting composition, try larger jumps in patterns
ex: +4-2)
What is Music?
Emotionally
Emotionally
Do you know how to define music emotionally?
…Urban Dictionary does
‘’ Indefinable by words alone. It is not only something you hear
but what you feel. It is something your soul can reach out and
touch. It originates from all over the world since time began.
Complex or simple, fast or slow, loud or soft. It is what you feel,
or it could be your method of escape or it could just keep you
alive. “
How can we create or recognize music
emotionally?
Emotionally
Choose an emotion and define the musical
characteristics of each.
Happy
Sad
Angry
Create a song using those characteristics, or
apply them to an already existing musical
exerpt.
What is Music?
Historically
Historically
How would you define music historically?
Can you define music with historical
characteristics, or would it be more of an
explination of music’s importance and influence
at certain points in history?
You decide. There is no wrong or right.
Historically
Music is created to fit the characteristics or
needs of a specific time.
For Example: Renaissance music focused on nature, sprituality
and literary advancement. Renaissance= The Re-birth (of society)
after the dark ages, which had no advancement in civilization,
government, or literary needs. One example of the differences
between Baroque and Rennaisance music is rhythm.
Baroque music was created because society now needed more
structure after the Renaissance. Different types of governments
were being created and societies were required to adhere to
new laws and guidlines. Baroque music follows more structured
guidlines in compositions.
Let’s listen to examples of Renaissance and Baroque music to get
a better idea.
Historically
Renaissance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkHSxZrYYv4
Baroque
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LAPFM3dg
ag
What is Music?
Culturally
Culturally
How can we define music in a cultural sense?
Activity/Homework Assignment:
Using what we’ve discussed today, create a
cultural definition of music. Have them ready to
discuss. EVERYONE MUST CREATE THEIR OWN.
No sharing work.
Culturally
‘a form of expression that reflects the societal
needs of the creators. Whether religious,
medicinal, or for entertainment, it serves a
purpose.’
Music reflects the society that creates it. In order to understand
a culture’s music, we must first understand the culture.
One way to do this would be to take an anthropological view.
What is anthropological?
Culturally
Anthropology is the study of human kind. By
viewing music and musical cultures from an
anthropological view, we are able to step back
from our biases and view societies as visitors.
i.e. explaining texting to someone who has never experienced it
(Like your grandparents).
America (Anthropological)
There are two forms of music in America
‘’Classical’’ referring to music of the past &
‘’Contemporary’’ referring to music of the
present.
The people who choose to listen to either of the
two genres tend to be different from each other
in many social and cultural ways.
America
Classical music refers to music of the past
(although there is an era of music specifically
named ‘classical’).
Music of the past differs greatly from contemporary music in
many ways (but this does not mean there are NO similarities).
What are the ways classical music is different
from contemporary music?
America
Take a look at the performances of the different music. i.e a
classical orchestra concert vs. A rock concert.
In a classical performance, the audience sits quietly and
applauds when prompted. They dress up and make an evening
of the performance. The age of the audience tends to float
around the late 30s and up. The people also seem to be in the
middle to high range for societal classes.
Contemporary Music concerts (rock shows) are filled with
younger people that shout and cheer on the music, eat and drink
during performances.
So why do these two styles of music promote different
reactions? Why is the audience so diverse for these styles of
music?
America
The answer is because the needs of society are
changing. Years ago, classical music was
considered a very noble and highly regarded
career. But now that people have realized they
can produce music without musicians, the
career has fallen short of its earlier reign.
America
Assignment: Answer the following questions
based on our society in America.
1. Is music important? (Why/why not?)
2. Are musicians important? (why/why not?)
Have your answers ready to discuss tomorrow.