Elements of Music - Somerset Silver Palmsmiddlehigh.somersetsilverpalms.net/ourpages/auto/2014/8/15/70395797... · Elements of Music • Rhythm: (beat ... separated by bar lines on

Elements of Music

Introduction to rhythmK. Muncy

Elements of Music• Rhythm: (beat, meter, tempo, syncopation)

• Dynamics: (volume and expression)

• Melody: (pitch, theme, phrasing, conjunct, disjunct)

• Harmony: (key, chord, progression, consonance, dissonance, tonality, atonality)

• Texture: (monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic, imitation, counterpoint)

• Timbre: (register, range, instrumentation)

• Form: (binary, ternary, strophic, through-composed)

1. Rhythm: Rhythm deals with element of "TIME" or “TEMPO” in music. When you tap your foot to the music, you are "keeping the beat" or following the structural rhythmic pulse of the music. There are several important aspects of rhythm:

• TEMPO: the speed of the BEAT.

Tempo indications are often designated by Italian terms)

Largo = "large" or labored (slow) Adagio = slow Andante = steady "walking" tempoModerato = moderate Allegro = fast ("happy") Presto = very fastRitardando= gradually slowing the tempoAccelerando= gradually accelerating the tempoRubato- free of tempo. speed up and slow down at will.

Rhythm (continued):• METER: Beats organized into recognizable/recurring accent

patterns that fit into what are called Measures which are separated by bar lines on a musical staff. (it’s absolutely related

to language and poetry)

Strong or accented beats generally happen on beat one.

Meter is notated using a Time Signature. A time signature has a top number and a bottom number. The top number indicates how many

counts per measure and the meter.

Why is it called a Measure? What does it measure?

Bar Line

Measure

TimeSignature

Staff

Rhythm (continued):• DURATION: how long a sound (or

silence) lasts.

Sounds and Silences are notated using Notes and Rests. Notes indicate that a

sound should occur while rests represent moments of silence. Each note and rest has a definite duration

that is determined by the bottom number in the Time Signature and the

tempo.

Examples:

4 indicates that a Quarter(1/4) note will receive one count.

so, 1/4 = 1 then 1/2 = 2 and 1 = 4 and so on.

8 indicates that an Eighth(1/8) note will receive one count.

1/8 = 1 then 1/4 = 2 and 1/2 = 4 and 1 = 8 and so on.

(It’s less complicated than it sounds.)

Rests (Silence)

Notes(sound)

Rhythm (continued):4 Counts per measure

Quarter note/rest = 1 Count

Rhythm (continued):Reading Quarter notes and rests in 4/4 time. (A.K.A. common time)

Tip(s): Split the measure in half visually and aim for the strong beats. Always look ahead. Your eyes should be at least a measure or two ahead of where you’re playing.

Rhythm (continued):In 4/4 time half notes and rests are held for 2 counts. Whole notes and

rests take 4 counts of time. Make sure to count all 4 counts.

Triple Meter in 3/4

Rhythm (continued):

3 counts per measure

Quarter note/rest = 1 count

Rhythm (continued):Reading in triple meter.

Tip(s): Aim for the strong beats. Always look ahead. Your eyes should be at least a measure or two ahead of where you’re playing.

Rhythm (continued):

Rhythm (continued):

Check edmodo for this assignment. More to come.