Basic Elements of Music

Elements of Music Dynamics Is the music soft or loud? Instrumentation Meter Tempo Texture Timbre Is the music soft or loud? What instruments/voices are used? Are groups of 3 or 4 used? Is the music fast or slow? Is there harmony? How is it organized? Is the music dark or brilliant; rich or mellow?

Dynamic Markings Pianissimo Very Soft Piano Soft Mezzo Piano Moderately Soft Mezzo Forte Moderately Loud Forte Loud Fortissimo Very Loud Decrescendo Gradually Softer Crescendo Gradually Louder

Instrument Families Woodwind Brass String Percussion Flute Trumpet Violin/Fiddle Drum Clarinet Trombone Double Bass Piano Saxophone French Horn Guitar Marimba/ Xylophone Oboe Tuba Banjo Bells Bassoon Euphonium Dulcimer Triangle

Meter Basic Time Signatures 4/4 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 3/4 1 & 2 & 3 & 6/8 1 2 3 4 5 6 or 1 &a 2 &a

Tempo Presto very fast (168–200 bpm) Allegro fast and bright (120–168 bpm) Allegretto moderately fast Moderato moderately (108–120 bpm) Andante at a walking pace (76–108 bpm) Adagio slow and stately (66–76 bpm) Grave slow and solemn Lento very slow (40–60 bpm)

Texture Simple Same rhythm played by all musicians Complex Different rhythm played by each musician Monophonic One melodic line without harmonic accompaniment Polyphonic Multiple melodic voices which are independent from one another Homophonic multiple voices in which the melody and other voices form a background of harmonic accompaniment. All parts have very similar rhythm. Heterophonic two or more voices simultaneously performing variations of the same melody

Tempo Presto very fast (168–200 bpm) Allegro fast and bright (120–168 bpm) Allegretto moderately fast Moderato moderately (108–120 bpm) Andante at a walking pace (76–108 bpm) Adagio slow and stately (66–76 bpm) Grave slow and solemn Lento very slow (40–60 bpm)

Timbre (tone color) dark – brilliant opaque - transparent rich - mellow fuzzy - clear dull - sharp complex - simple