Elements of Music Jake Mahowald S.D. State Standard HSp.MUe.Re.7.2.a: Analyze passages and understand the way the elements of music are manipulated. Jake Mahowald

Seven Basic Elements of Music Tempo Rhythm Melody Harmony Form Dynamics Timbre

Tempo Tempo refers to the speed of the piece, or how fast the “beat” is. Metronomes are used to find the tempo of a piece. There are many musical terms to describe the tempo of a piece, including Allegro, Andante, Presto, etc. Tempo can change temporarily within a piece. (example: ritardando)

Vocal Rhythm Etudes by Bill Douglas Rhythm refers to the pattern of the length of notes as they occur in time. Some rhythms are slow and simple; others are fast and complex. Both types are used by composers for contrast. Rhythms have strong beats (usually the same beats as the metronomic pulse) and weak beats (the “upbeats”) Accented notes on the weak beats are called syncopation Vocal Rhythm Etudes by Bill Douglas

Melody Melody is what we sing along to—it’s the main musical idea being played or sung. Melodies are usually accompanied by something: sometimes a different melody, sometimes chords, etc. Melodies are also the most memorable part of a piece, which makes them very important when writing music.

Harmony Harmony refers to the combination of notes that are played alongside the melody. Most of the time, harmony can be characterized by a harmonic analysis of the chords being played since most chords fit within a predetermined naming system. The harmony of a piece is responsible for giving it most of its character—simple melodies like “Mary Had a Little Lamb” sound completely different when different chords are used!

Form Form refers to the large structure of a piece of music. Many pieces follow a binary form, with two distinct sections (A and B). Other times, more complex forms are used such as the Rondo form (ABACADA). Studying the form of the piece is like studying the entire storyline of a movie— the individual moments are interesting, but the big picture tells you a lot about what the piece (or movie) means.

Dynamics Dynamics refers to how loud or soft the music is (this also includes changes in how loud or soft it is). Dynamics make musical lines more interesting by providing direction—when things get louder, the music gets more intense; and when things get softer, the music gets less intense. Dynamics are also used when playing expressively, as it gives musicians a unique way to play the musical line in their own way.

How Instruments and Voices Get Their Unique Sounds Timbre Timbre refers to the specific sound quality of each instrument or voice. In a composition, all the different instruments or voices take turns playing melodies, harmonies, and other accompaniment—this is to create contrast between all the different timbres How Instruments and Voices Get Their Unique Sounds

Listening for Elements of Music Whenever you listen to music, all seven of these elements are present at once. It can be overwhelming to try to listen for all of them simultaneously; instead, focus on one or two elements at a time for a specific section of music. Then, you can start to put together all of the elements to understand how the music is put together

Listening Now that you have an understanding of some of the basic elements in music, take a listen to “American Barndance” by Richard Saucedo. Listen carefully for each element of music and be prepared to discuss with your classmates.