The document defines several key elements of music - rhythm, beat, tempo, dynamics, timbre, pitch, melody, harmony, form, and texture. It provides definitions for each element and discusses how they are used and combined in musical works. Rhythm refers to patterns of long and short sounds. Beat establishes a steady pulse. Tempo indicates the speed of the music. Dynamics refer to volume. Timbre is the unique quality of sounds. Pitch describes highness or lowness. Melody is a singable line of pitches. Harmony uses combinations of pitches. Form looks at a piece's structure. Texture considers layering of sounds. When used together, these elements can express emotion in music.

1. ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
There are several key elements of music. When
combined and used correctly they express
emotion and provide us with “singable”,
enjoyable pieces that can represent time, place
and even become what we use to describe who
we are and what we represent.

2. Rhythm
 Definition: The patterns of long and
short sounds and silences in music.
 To create a rhythm combine any variety
of notes and rests together (see your
note and rest value chart).
 Rhythms can and are performed
throughout any piece of music by any
instrument, however, we can mostly
recognize a rhythm when it is performed
on a percussion instrument.

3. Beat
 Definition: A steady pulse contained in
music.
 Music is organized with time
signatures that indicate how many
beats are found within one measure of
music.

4.  The top number of the time signature
indicates how many beats will appear
in one measure/bar of music.
2 3 4 6 6 over 8 means 6 beats per
bar
4 4 4 8 4 over 4 means 4 beats per
bar

5.  The bottom number of the time
signature indicates what type of note
receives one beat.
The 8 in 6/8 time means an eighth note receives one beat
2 3 4 6
4 4 4 8
The 4 in 4/4 time means a quarter notes receives one beat

6.  The time signature appears at the
beginning of the music after the clef
(treble or bass).
 It does not appear in any other
measure unless there is a time
change throughout the piece.

7. Tempo
 Definition: The pace or speed at
which a piece of music is performed.
 Tempo markings are traditionally given
in Italian and the words that refer to
tempo can be categorized in the
following ways:

8. SLOW
 Grave – extremely slow and solemn
 Adagio – very slow
 Lento – slow
 Largo – slow and broad
 Larghetto – less slow than largo

9. MEDIUM
 Andante – rather slow, at a moderate
walking pace
 Andantino – a little faster than andante
 Moderato – at a moderate pace
 Allegretto – fairly quick, slightly slower
than allegro

10. FAST
 Con moto – with movement, or a certain quickness
 Allegro – lively, rather quick
 Vivace – quick and lively
 Veloce – with velocity
 Rapido – rapid
 Presto – very quick
 Prestissimo – as quick as possible

11. Other words that refer to Tempo
 Accelerando – gradually getting
quicker
 Meno mosso – less movement, slower
 Ritardando – gradually getting slower
 Rallentando – gradually getting slower
 Tempo rubato – robbed time

12. DYNAMICS
 Definition: The volume of the sound, as
well as the style in which the performer
plays the instrument/music.
 It is important to not confuse how loud or
soft something is on a recorded
performance. It is easy to turn up (or
down) the volume using an electronic
device.

13. Dynamics
 When dynamics are discussed in
regards to orchestration we are
referring to how loud or soft each
instrument can perform on its own,
the stylistic elements that support that
sound and finally what dynamics they
can create when combining and
performing as an ensemble or
orchestra.

14. Italian Terminology
Italian
Terminology
SYMBOL Translation
pianissimo pp (ppp) As soft as possible
piano P Soft
mezzo piano mp Medium soft
mezzo forte mf Medium loud
forte f Loud
fortissimo ff (fff) As loud as possible

15. Variations in Volume
Italian Terminology SYMBOL Translation
Crescendo Gradually louder
Decrescendo Gradually softer
Sforzando sfz or sf Strongly accented
Forte – piano fp Loud, then immediately soft

16. Terminology referring to “style” of
playing
Italian Terminology Translation
brilliante or con brio With brilliance or vivacity
cantabile In a singing style
dolce Sweetly
legato Smoothly
scherzando Playfully
staccato Detached
tenuto Held
vivace Lively

17. TIMBRE
 Definition: The unique quality or
qualities inherent in sounds that allow
us to distinguish between them.
 Timber (TAMBOUR – as in
“tambourine”) has also been referred
to as the tone colouring of an
instrument.

18.  The distinct tone quality of an
instrument can be represented by the
colour that matches the sound.
 Let us consider the Flute.
What colour(s) would you think best
represents the sound quality of this
instrument?

19.  It is also important to consider how the
instrument is being played.
 Quickly review in your notes some of
the Italian terminology that is used to
describe the styles of how one can
perform on their instrument...

20.  At this point, depending on the style in
which the instrument is being played,
specific colours and/or descriptive
words could be used to best interpret
the sounds you hear!

21.  There are major differences between
the families of instruments and how
they sound.
 There are also differences that occur
within each family. For example Flute
vs. Bassoon (both Woodwind),
however very different tone qualities.

22. PITCH
 Definition: The degree of highness or
lowness of a sound.

23. The Staff
 Music is written on a STAFF of five
lines and the four spaces between
5
4
3
2
1
It is important to remember to count from the bottom
up!

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

25.  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.

26. 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 ...
they keep repeating over and over and
by their position on the staff they can
represent the entire range of musical
sound.

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

28. Treble Clef
 The treble clef is used for notes in the
higher pitch ranges. The treble clef
(or G clef) has evolved from a stylized
letter G into the present:

29.  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).

30. Note naming patterns – drawing and
naming notes!
 Take out a pencil and on a new sheet
of paper create the following – a blank
staff:
 Use a ruler if you have one to ensure
they are straight and even!

31.  Now draw the treble clef and create 5
notes, one on each line (leave some
space between each note so that they
do not stack on top of each other).
Somewhat like this...
 Do not colour them in and only draw
them on the five lines!

33.  Now let’s name the five line notes that
appear in the treble clef...

34. Note naming patterns
 In the treble staff the names of the line
notes from bottom to top are:
E G B D F
 This order can be memorized with the
saying:
Every, Good, Boy, Deserves, Fudge
Or...

35.  Now recreate a new staff (including
the treble clef) and fill in the four
spaces using whole notes...

36.  Get ready to name them...

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

38. 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:

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

40.  For a third time create a staff on your
paper only this time practice drawing
the bass clef – try to place the two
dots directly in the 3rd and 4th space
surrounding that fourth line.
 It is very important to indicate the dots
in those exact spaces or you are not
drawing the symbol correctly!

41.  Now draw on the 5 line notes leaving
room in between (no “snowman” or
stacking!)

42.  Let’s name these notes...

43.  In the bass staff the names of the
notes on the lines from bottom to top
are:
G B D F A
 The phrase that can help you
memorize this order is:
Good, Boys, Do, Fine, Always
Or...

44.  Finally, one last time create a staff
(including the bass clef) and draw on
the four space notes

45.  Unfortunately the space note names
do not combine to make a word.
 Do you know a phrase that can be
used as a way to identify the notes of
the bass clef?

46.  The space notes appear from bottom
to top as:
A C E G
 The phrase that can help you
memorize this order is:
All, Cows, Eat, Grass
Or...

47. MELODY
 Definition: A series of pitches that
move forward (the sing-able part)
within a piece of music.

48. HARMONY
 Definition: Combinations of pitches
sounding simultaneously.
 Consider two performers presenting a
piece to an audience. If one
instrument is performing on whole
notes while the other is playing the
main melody there will be harmony.

49.  Instruments that have strings (violin,
harp) or tuned percussion (piano,
xylophone) can play harmony on their
own.
 However, instruments like Flute,
Clarinet, or Trumpet, need to have
other performers playing with them for
the harmony to occur.

50. FORM
 Definition: The structure of a piece of
music, the way a piece of music is
organized.

51.  There are many forms in music, but
the main elements you need to
consider when defining a piece of
music is the repetition and contrast
that occurs in the melody.

52.  Forms have been categorized based
on letter names, for example A B form
is known as BINARY Form
 ABA form is known as TERNARY
Form where there is a repeat of an
entire section – the A section of the
melody.

53.  In Modern or 20th Century music
sections or musical ideas have been
categorized using the terms “Chorus”
(or Refrain) and “Verse”.
 There may even be a “Bridge” which is
sometimes a completely different idea
within the melody that often occurs
near the end of the song.

54.  Example:
Verse1 Chorus Verse2 Chorus Bridge Chorus
Chorus
 The text of most Modern music can
easily organize the sections of the
melody as we can (almost always)
understand the language and
therefore identify where the repetition
of the melody occurs.

55. TEXTURE
 Definition: The fabric or layering of
sound created by melody, harmony
and tone colouring (timbre).

56.  Consider all of the instrumentation that
can be combined to create a single
piece of music.

57.  Each instrument is responsible for a
melodic and/or rhythmic line.
 When each instrument combines
together with the ensemble (orchestra)
the texture is specific to what and how
they are performing.

58. Different Textures
 Homophonic:
A soloist performing a melody.
 Monophonic:
A soloist performing a melody with
accompaniment (for example Flute
with Piano).
 Polyphonic:
Many musicians
performing/combining rhythmic and

59. Resources for images:
 world-of-songwriting.com