elements of music and its definition

2. What is Music?

3. Music
An art of sound in time that
expresses ideas and
emotions through elements.
Vocal
Instrumental

4. “Without music, life
would be a mistake”
Friedrich Nietsche

5. “Music is the universal
language of mankind”
Henry Wardsworth
Longfellow

6. What are the
elements of music?

7. Rhythm
The patterns of long and
short sounds and
silences in music.

8. Beat
The pulse in music.
Strong
Weak

9. Time signature
Is a notational convention
used in Western musical
notation to specify how many
beats (pulses) are to be
contained in each bar and
which note value is to be given
one beat.

10. Tempo
The pace or speed at
which a piece of music is
performed.

11. DYNAMICS
The volume of the sound,
as well as the style in
which the performer
plays the
instrument/music.

12. TIMBRE
The unique quality or
qualities inherent in
sounds.
Piano
Guitar

13. PITCH
The degree of highness
or lowness of a sound.

14. What is a staff or
musical staff?

15. The Musical Staff
Music is written on a STAFF of five lines
and the four spaces between
5
4
3
2
1

16. Music Notation
 Music notes are oval shaped symbols
that are placed on the lines and in the
spaces. They represent musical
sounds, called PITCHES.

17. Take note!
If the notes appear higher
on the staff they sound
higher in pitch.
If the notes appear lower on
the staff they sound lower
in pitch.

18. Organizing Musical
Sounds
Musical notes are named
after the first seven letters
of the alphabet:
 A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C ...

20. Clefs in Music
Notation
Clef signs help to
organize the staff so
notes can easily be read.

21. Treble Clef
The treble clef is used for
notes in the higher pitch
ranges.

22. G clef or Treble clef

23. Take note!
 The curl of the treble clef circles
the line on which the note G is
placed. This G is above middle C
(The C nearest the middle of the
keyboard).

24. Note naming patterns
In the treble staff the names of the
line notes from bottom to top are:
E G B D F

25. Line
E- Every
G- Good
B- Boy
D-Does/Deserves
F- Fine/Fudge

26. The names of notes in the
spaces spell the word:
F A C E

27. Spaces
F- Father
A- Always
C- Comes
E- Early

28. The Bass Clef
The Bass clef (pronounced
“base”) is used for notes in the
lower pitch ranges. The bass
clef (or F clef) has evolved
from the stylized letter f into:

29. The bass clef/f clef

30. The two dots of the bass
clef surround the fourth line,
the line on which the note F
is played.

31. In the bass staff the names of
the notes on the lines from
bottom to top are:
G B D F A

32. G-Good
B-Boy
D-Do
F-Fine
A-Always

33. The space notes appear
from bottom to top as:
A C E G

34. A-All
C-Cows
E-Eat
G-Grass

36. MELODY
A series of pitches that
move forward (the sing-
able part) within a piece
of music.
Succession of musical
tones

37. Types of Melody
There are two types of
Melody.

38. CONJUNCT
A conjunct melody is a
melody that moves in
stepwise motion.

39. DISJUNCT
A Disjunct melody is one that
moves with more leaps
(jumps) than steps.

40. HARMONY
Combinations of pitches
sounding simultaneously.

41. FORM
The structure of a piece
of music, the way a piece
of music is organized.

42. TEXTURE
The fabric or layering of
sound created by melody,
harmony and tone
coloring (timbre).

43. Different Textures
Monophonic:
A soloist performing a
melody.

44. Homophonic:
A soloist performing a
melody with
accompaniment (for
example Flute with
Piano).

45. Polyphonic:
Many musicians
performing/combining rhythmic
and melodic patterns together.