1. A biography and music composition guide

2. An accomplished, famous, country singer/songwriter from Wyomissing, Pennsylvania Career started at the young age of 16 WHO IS TAYLOR SWIFT? She has come out with 3 successful albums, as a majority of her songs have reached the top of the music charts Music was therapy to her in her life, always composing songs about real experiences in her life

3. The song entitled “Tim McGraw” was the song that jump started Taylor’s music career, as it immediately hit the top of the country music charts Her first CD release, “Taylor Swift”, reached and stayed at the top of the music charts for 8 consecutive weeks in 2006 SUCCESSFUL MUSIC CAREER

4. In 2008, Taylor’s 2 nd album was released, entitled “Fearless” 7 of the songs from this album reached the top of the music charts 592,304 albums were sold and was the highest debut of any other country artist in 2008 SUCCESSFUL MUSIC CAREER

5. In 2010, Taylor released yet another smashing album entitled “Speak Now” The album sold over 1 million copies in the first week of being released, making Taylor the first female artist to sell over 1 million copies in the first week of release in over 6 years SUCCESSFUL MUSIC CAREER

6. Taylor Swift was never the popular kid at school and never had a lot friends She turned to music as her therapy to get through life Every song that Taylor writes are real life experiences that she has had Taylor makes it easy for her fans to relate to her and understand what she is feeling, because we have all been there too She tells the story of her life! INSPIRATIONS BEHIND THE SUCCESS

7. Words to a song aren’t the only thing that bring emotion and feeling out in a song Form a balance of repetition and contrast in a musical composition Rhythm the division of time into measurable durations, or the element of music that manipulates the framework of time and duration Melody musical sounds arranged in a distinct sequence. The theme or main idea of a song or composition MUSIC IN DETAIL: BEHIND THE WORDS

8. Harmony two or more different pitches being executed simultaneously Dynamics (The symbols used to represent how loud or soft the music should be played (for example: ff f mf mp p pp) Timbre the distinctive quality of sounds, depending on strength of frequencies and resonance Texture the interwoven structure of separate musical lines or melodies in the harmony of music These characteristics are always changing throughout a song MUSIC IN DETAIL: BEHIND THE WORDS

9. Examples from Taylor Swift: Mary’s Song (Oh My My My) – 3:30 LISTENING TO THE MUSIC 2:00 Keeps a steady flow and beat Stays consistent at medium paceMelody stays consistent Every instrument plays different notes, but sounds amazingmfConsistent sound Drums make you anticipate upcoming chorus while everything else keeps a steady background flow 2:30 Chorus: repetive notes and consistent flow Strong flow of musicBecomes strong and bold Great harmony and uplifting beatsSong turns to fSounds geat Great chords with the guitar as the banjo plays different notes Time Form Rhythm Melody Harmony Dynamics Timbre Texture

10. 4:00 Form changes a bit by a few notes, but stays ultimately consistentRhythm stays strong Melody takes charge with great pitches and sounds The harmony sounds great, and changes the song a bit because of the different notes used in this segment than the rest of the song Dynamics grew slightly stronger - m The timbre sounds great. Very strong and well-put together All instruments are put together and they sound great. It makes the whole framework of the song come together 4:30 Form goes back to it's consistent form Rhythm is strong, but then goes softMelody is soft againHarmonizing is excellent on this segment Dynamics changed from mp to p The sound quality is excellent Violin, drums, and voice are the main instruments. They stay together consistently Breathe – 4:27 LISTENING TO THE MUSIC Time Form Rhythm Melody Harmony Dynamics Timbre Texture

11. LISTENING TO THE MUSIC Fifteen – 4:57 3:30 Form stays the same from the segment before, but then begins to change again The rhythm is fantastic I love that melody changes here. One part is one melody, and then next part is a different melody, but they interconnect great. The harmony sounds great, and changes the song a bit because of the different notes used in this segment than the rest of the song Dynamics were sticatto at the beginning, and then began to cool down - f to mp Timbre sounds fabulous This part of the song is strong and emotional with they lyrics. The instruments playing here make the segment much more personal. 4:00 Form stays consistent Rhythm is stong, as it is leading into the chorus of the song Melody stays consistent and brightThe harmony sounds perfect Dynamics grew slightly stronger - mf The timbre sounds great. Very strong and well-put together Everything sounds in order and goes great together. Everything is tuned up together. Time Form Rhythm Melody Harmony Dynamics Timbre Texture These 7 characteristics make the music come to life by always changing!

12. Mary’s Song (Oh My My My) Released in October 2006 in the album release of “Taylor Swift” Breathe Released in November 2008 in the album release of “Fearless” Was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals Hit #87 on the Billboard Hot 100 Fifteen Released in November 2008 in the album release of “Fearless” Reached #38 on the Billboard Hot 100 HISTORY OF THE MUSIC

13. LISTENING GUIDE Mary's Song (Oh My My My) - 3:30 Each song that I chose to do for this assignment was chosen for a specific reason due to the lyrics and melody, rhythm, harmony, etc. I chose Mary's Song (Oh My My My) because it talks about a boy and a girl who grow up together and later become married. This song is a true story and I think that is why I love it so much. The song is very upbeat and positive, which works great with what is being sang. FormRhythmMelodyHarmonyDynamicsTimbreTexture 0:30 The form is repetive using an accoustic guitarSlow and steady Melody was beautiful and softHarmonizes wellDynamics were soft - p Timbre was rough at the beginning Accoustic guitar, bass guitar, and singing fit together very well 1:00 Structured very wellStrong & catchyStrong beat that flows wellPerfect harmony Dynamics grew louder and stronger - f Sound was excellent Drums and symbols come in to play, sounds great 1:30 Form is well put together with great transitions Fast, but then slows downMelody slows down Banjo and guitar play a harmonizing duetGoes from f to mGreat sound Banjo, guitar, base, drums, and voice sound beautiful 2:00 Keeps a steady flow and beat Stays consistent at medium paceMelody stays consistent Every instrument plays different notes, but sounds amazingmfConsistent sound Drums make you anticipate upcoming chorus while everything else keeps a steady background flow 2:30 Chorus: repetive notes and consistent flow Strong flow of musicBecomes strong and bold Great harmony and uplifting beatsSong turns to fSounds great Great chords with the guitar as the banjo plays different notes 3:00 Great transitions in this part of the song Rhythm starts slow, then speeds up Beautiful melody that starts soft and slow, and becomes strong and loudSounds perfectly harmonized Song is p until chorus comes along, then turns f Timbre sounds fabulous Before the chorus, song is soft with just the banjo, then turns strong with the drums, guitar, and voice 3:30 Repition melody from previous bars in the song Rhythm is fast, but then goes slow Melody is bold, then turns soft and meek The harmony sounds perfect, and fits together great Song goes form f to p, in which ends the song with p The quality of the sound is great Instruments intertwine great together, each playing their own melody and rhythm, but tying in together beautifully

14. Breathe - 4:27 I chose the song Breathe because this song is a song that anyone can relate to. It is a break up song, so the melody is very soft and not really a negative kind of beat, but very relaxed and slow. I chose this song because I think that the melody has everything to do with bringing the emotions out of this song. The melody is a very powerful thing for this song. FormRhythmMelodyHarmonyDynamicsTimbreTexture 0:30 The form is repetive using 2 accoustic guitarsSlow and steadyMelody was beautiful and softHarmonizes wellDynamics were soft - pTimbre was excellentAccoustics guitars and voice intertwine beautifully 1:00 Form changes a bit as melody changes Slow and soft, along with a stronger beat (drums)Melody stays consistent Harmony becomes more involved when drums and harmonizing voices come inDynamics were soft - pSound was excellent When the drums and harmozing voices came in, it made the song more involved and very pretty 1:30 Stays the same as beforeStrong, slow, soft beat This song is great because even when the chorus comes around, song stays soft and emotional Harmonizes great with all other parts of the songDynamics were soft - pGreat sound Accoustic guitar with the drums and soft voice sound great together. They fit. 2:00 Form stays consistentSoft, strong beatMelody stays consistent Every instrument plays different notes, but sounds amazingDynamics were soft - pConsistent sound Emotions run high when all instruments are playing and sounding beautiful together. It creates a great structure 2:30 Form stays consistentStrong flow of music Gorgeous melody as violins are introducedEverything harmonizes perfectlyDynamics were soft - pSounds great I think the violin brings the structure even more together in this segment 3:00 Form stays consistent Drums make smooth rhythm become more rough Beautiful melody that starts soft, and becomes rougher, but still softSounds perfectly harmonizedDynamics were soft - mpTimbre sounds fabulous All instruments have been introduced and the sounds are perfectly pieced together 3:30 Form stays consistent Rhythm stays more rough with the drums and violin taking charge Melody is rough, but then begins to lighten up again The harmony sounds perfect, and fits together great Dynamics were soft - mp but then turned back to p The quality of the sound is great The violin and the drums, along with voice, take charge and bring more, stronger emotions into the song. This provides a great structure for the song. 4:00 Form changes a bit by a few notes, but stays ultimately consistentRhythm stays strong Melody takes charge with great pitches and sounds The harmony sounds great, and changes the song a bit because of the different notes used in this segment than the rest of the song Dynamics grew slightly stronger - m The timbre sounds great. Very strong and well-put together All instruments are put together and they sound great. It makes the whole framework of the song come together 4:30 Form goes back to it's consistent form Rhythm is strong, but then goes softMelody is soft againHarmonizing is excellent on this segment Dynamics changed from mp to p The sound quality is excellent Violin, drums, and voice are the main instruments. They stay together consistently

15. Fifteen - 4:57 Fifteen is a great song that everyone is able to relate to on some sort of level. It is about a girl who is fifteen and is a freshman in high school. It talks about how she feels, and how she can't see life past this stage of life because the stage of life that she is in is so important to her at the time. It talks about friendships made, mistakes made, lessons learned... the melody of this song is upbeat, but also relaxed at the same time. FormRhythmMelodyHarmonyDynamicsTimbreTexture 0:30 Form stays consistent and repetiveUpbeat, but softMelody was pretty, and it kept consistentHarmonizes wellThe dynamics were bold - mp/mTimbre was excellent The banjo, bass guitar, accoustic guitar, and voice built a strong formation and building block for the rest of the song 1:00 Form is consistent Rhythm starts slower and then speeds up as the chorus comesMelody stays exciting and easy to listen to Harmony becomes more involved as the chorus comes on and instruments and voice become louder Dymanics were m and then turned to mfSound was excellent The song became exciting as drums had more beats in the measure. All instruments and voices stayed together 1:30 Stays the same as before Fast, then transitions to a slower rhythm as chorus endsMelody sounds great, very well put togetherHarmonizes great with all other parts of the songDynamics were mf to mpGreat sound I really liked this segment of the song because a cello came in and played in the background. All parts of the song sounded great together 2:00 Form stays consistentSoft, strong beatMelody stays consistent Every instrument plays different notes, but sounds amazingDynamics were mp to mfConsistent sound Everything sounds perfect. Music stays consistent as in previous segments of the song and all instruments sound wonderful. 2:30 The form changes as the chorus concludesMusic stays upbeat and strong The melody becomes a little more bold towards the end of this segment Every part of this segment is very well put together and sounds great together Dynamics become a bit sticatto, but not by much - mfSounds great The texture of this segment brings in a lot of emotion, especially when adding lyrics to the melody 3:00 Form changes a little The rhythm here is slow, but soon begins to quickenThe melody sounds very intact with everythingSounds perfectly harmonizedDynamics were mfThe sound is excellent This part of the song is strong and emotional with they lyrics. The instruments playing here make the segment much more personal. 3:30 Form stays the same from the segment before, but then begins to change againThe rhythm is fantastic I love that melody changes here. One part is one melody, and then next part is a different melody, but they interconnect great. The harmony sounds great, and changes the song a bit because of the different notes used in this segment than the rest of the song Dynamics were sticatto at the beginning, and then began to cool down - f to mpTimbre sounds fabulous This part of the song is strong and emotional with they lyrics. The instruments playing here make the segment much more personal. 4:00 Form stays consistent Rhythm is stong, as it is leading into the chorus of the songMelody stays consistent and brightThe harmony sounds perfectDynamics grew slightly stronger - mf The timbre sounds great. Very strong and well-put together Everything sounds in order and goes great together. Everything is tuned up together. 4:30 Form is consistentRhythm is strong Melody is same as before, but also changes a bit towards the endHarmonizing is excellent on this segmentDynamics stay the same - mfThe sound quality is excellent Everything sounds awesome together. Voice in this segment really brings everything together. 5:00 Form changes a little as it brings the song to a closeRhythm is strong and soft Melody is strong, but becomes soft as the song comes to a closeThe harmony sounds beautifulDynamics changed from mpEverything sounds great I really liked this segment because of the voice. I just feel like the voice brings the segment to a nice close.

16. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2010, from uuLyrics.com: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.uulyrics.com/cover/t/taylor- swift/album-taylor-swift.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.uulyrics.com/music/taylor- swift/&usg=__5_5N8R8krMCT4R_zdIY_JsNK- X8=&h=500&w=499&sz=70&hl=en&start=0&sig2=lMUkMooab6PZ9vJSucJI8Q Taylor Swift: Biography. (2009, October 18). Retrieved November 9, 2010, from CMT.com: http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/swift__taylor/bio.jhtml See The Cover of Taylor Swift's 'Speak Now' Album! (2010, August 19). Retrieved November 10, 2010, from WhyFame.com: http://gossip.whyfame.com/see-the-cover-of-taylor- swifts-speak-now-album-6473 Fabian, S. (n.d.). Taylor Swift Biography. Retrieved November 5, 2010, from About.com. Ferrin, C. E. (n.d.). Master Glossary. Retrieved November 9, 2010, from Listen to the Music: http://webcom3.grtxle.com/musicapprec/index.cfm?pageid=16940 Hollenbach, J. (2010, March 18). Taylor Swift’s FEARLESS Album Officially Lauded as Most Awarded Album in Country Music History. Retrieved November 10, 2010, from TheHotZone.com: http://www.hotzoneonline.com/archives/3541 Taylor Swift. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2010, from 8Notes.com: http://www.8notes.com/biographies/taylor_swift.asp SOURCES