1. The Elements of Music 1) Melody 2) Rhythm 3) Harmony 4) Texture
5) Form
6) Tempo and Dynamics

2. 1) Melody: Musical Line The Nature of Melody
Melody is a succession of single tones perceived by the mind as a unity
Most memorable part of a song
Range: lowest to highest notes
Shape: upward/downward movement

3. 1) Structure of Melody
Melodic structure is analyzed much like a sentence
phrase - unit of meaning within a larger structure
Combination of phrases make up most music; like sentences in a paragraph

4. 2) Rhythm: Musical Time Rhythm refers how long or short notes are.
The quality which causes people to move in response
Meter- groupings of notes/beats
Beat - the basic unit of length
Measure – how many beats are grouped together

5. 3) Harmony: Musical Space
Harmony is two or more notes occurring simultaneously
Melody is horizontal aspect and harmony is vertical aspect
Chord - combination of two or more tones that constitute a single block of harmony
Harmony implies movement and progression of chords in music

6. 3) Tonality: Character of Harmony
Tonality - the principle of organization around a central tone, called tonic
Major - has brighter sound; used for triumphal marches and grand finales, etc.
Minor - has darker sound; used for dirges, laments, etc.

7. 4) Musical Texture Types of Texture Monophonic - single-voice texture
Polyphonic - combination of two or more melodic lines
The instruments/voices present is also a part of texture.
Thin: few voices
Thick: many voices

8. 5) Musical Form What is Form?
That quality in a work which presents to the mind of the listener an impression of conscious choice and arrangement
relationship of the parts to the whole
Binary Form - two part or A-B form;
Ternary Form - three part or A-B-A form
Can you recall the form of a typical pop song?

9. 5) Form: Pop Song
Verse
Chorus
Bridge

10. 5) Components of Form
Theme - most basic element of form which provides unity and from which the idea develops
Repetition - fixes material in the mind; familiarity
Contrast - sustains interest by introducing change
Variation - falls between repetition and contrast where aspects are altered but recognizable

11. 6) Tempo and Dynamics Tempo – how fast or slow
Adagio……………… Slow
Moderato…………… Moderate
Vivace……………… Lively
Dynamics – how loud or soft
piano (p)……………....Soft
mezzo piano (mp)……Medium soft
mezzo forte (mf)………Medium loud
forte (f) Loud

12. 6) Tempo and Dynamics
Markings for tempo and dynamics contribute to the expressive content of music
Ex. Slow= ballad, Fast= exciting, Soft= gentle, Loud= powerful