Music Terms

Canon

(round) A melody harmonically layered upon itself by dividing performers and starting at different times.

Theme and Variations (A A' A'' A''')

A form in which the same section (theme) is presented several times with a different variation of it each time

Rondo (ABACA)

A form that keeps bringing back the "A" section after each new section.

Time Signature

A fraction-looking symbol at the start of a piece of music which indicates its meter - the number of beats and type of note values in each measure. The top number indicates how many beats per measure; the bottom number is an abbreviation for the type of note to receive one beat (4 stands for ¼ or quarter note).

Measure

A group of beats (determined by meter) set apart with bar lines

Rhythm

A pattern of short and long sounds and silences. The rhythm is usually superimposed over an implied steady beat. Rhythm is the end result of starting with a beat, establishing a tempo for the beat, putting a pattern of accents on the beats (organizing them into a meter); then, working with those elements as a base, composing/ improvising a rhythmic pattern that rides on top of the beat, tempo, and meter. Lyrics generally influence and match the rhythm of a song.

Melody with accompaniment (homophonic)

A predominant melody with some type of accompaniment. The accompaniment can be an ostinato, chords, harmony, descant, etc. homophonic: characterized by the movement of accompanying parts in the same rhythm as the melody.

Meter

A regular, recurring pattern of strong and weak beats, usually in twos, threes, or fours. (See time signature.)

Melody

A sequence of single pitches that move up or down, or repeat.

Chord

A set of three (triad) or four notes which are harmonically related, constructed of thirds (skips in a scale, e.g. C-E-G, G-B-D-F). Notes of a chord may be played simultaneously or in succession of one another (arpeggio).

Sharp

A sharp raises a pitch one half-step.

Ostinato

A short repeating pattern of rhythm and/or melody.

Singing Game

A song that has a game to be played while singing it; e.g., Ring Around the Rosy, London Bridge, Patty Cake.

Coda

A special ending

AB (verse/refrain)

A two-part, or binary, form with contrasting sections.

Leger Line

An extra "piece" of staff line used to indicate pitches that go above or below the regular five-line staff.

Natural Voice

An unforced voice, free from strain or distortion.

Fermata

Hold the note until satisfied (or until the conductor signals).

Interval

IThe distance between two pitches. These distances are referred to as half-steps (closest neighbor in chromatic scale), whole-steps (two half-steps, also called a second), or a number (such as third, fourth, fifth) based on the distance between the lower note (counts as "one") and upper note within the scale.

Competing Melodies (polyphonic)

Melodies of equal importance occurring simultaneously. Common examples are rounds, canons, and partner songs. (polyphonic): (especially of vocal music) in two or more parts each having a melody of its own; contrapuntal.

Staff

The five lines and four spaces used to diagram music.

Pentatonic Scale

The most common pentatonic scale includes do, re, mi, so, and la, which may be extended to higher or lower octaves. Fa and ti are omitted. C pentatonic scale: C D E G A c; F pentatonic: F G A C D f.

Syncopation

The occurrence of an accent on a normally unaccented beat (or part of the beat).

Solfege

The system that names pitches: do re mi fa so la ti. The hand signs for these symbols are:

Introduction

A "preface" to the music.

Descant

A countermelody sung or played in a higher pitch range than the main melody (performed simultaneously).

Flat

A flat lowers a pitch one half-step.

Solo/Chorus (call/response)

A form consisting of the alternation between a solo and a responding chorus or individual

Partner Song

A melody which can be sung simultaneously with another because of similar harmonic structure.

Style

A type of music distinguished by its characteristic use of rhythm, timbre, melody, lyrics, texture, harmony, form, dynamics, and tempo; e.g., jazz, blues, gospel, classical, country, rock, popular. (Genre)

ABA (ternary)

(composed in three parts) A three-part form with a contrasting middle section.

mezzo ( m )

(met'-so) medium. Not used alone; modifies forte or piano (mp , mf) The two basic dynamic indications in music are: p or piano, meaning "soft". f or forte, meaning "loud".

Accent: ( > )

Emphasis placed on a note. (Natural accents occur in meter, with strongest pulses on beat one.)

Pitch

Generally refers to high or low; specifically refers to a note (letter name or frequency).

Key Signature

Key Signature: Zero, one, or more sharps/flat symbols placed next to the clef to indicate which notes are to be raised/lowered a half step. Enables one to locate do and/or la in the music. (Last sharp = ti; last flat = fa.)

Rhythm Instruments

Simple classroom instruments that are played by striking: drums, rhythm sticks, maracas, claves, triangles, cymbals, castanets, tambourines, tone bells, xylophones (Orff instruments), cow bells, jingle bells, etc

Form

Structure or organization of the music (motifs, phrases, sections, movements, AB, ABA, rondo, etc.)

Melodic Contour

The "shape" of a melody as its phrases rise and/or fall in pitch; inspires movement and mapping.

Texture

The layers of sound in music, and the type of layer each one is (melodic, harmonic, percussive, etc.)

Tempo

The speed of the beat in music. (Tempi: The plural of tempo.)

Beat

The steady, underlying pulse in the music.

Timbre: (tam'-br)

The unique qualities of a sound, often referred to as the tone "color" or quality. The timbre of a voice or instrument can be rough, nasal, squeaky, bright, sweet, etc. The timbre of a trumpet, for example, is uniquely different from the timbre of a flute or a violin.

Iconic Notation

The use of non-traditional symbols to represent elements of music such as pitch, rhythm, form.

Dynamics

The various levels of volume in music, which may be consistent or change gradually or suddenly.

Quarter Notes

are the basic unit of time in most elementary music.

Two eighth notes

equal the time of one quarter note, and four sixteenth notes equal the time of one quarter note

crescendo

gradually gets louder

decrescendo

gradually gets softer

forte (f )

loud

Whole notes

receive four times the time value

Half notes

receive twice the time value

piano (p)

soft

Harmony

two or more pitches sounding at the same time.

-issimo

very (added as a suffix to piano or forte). Examples: fortissimo ( ff ) , pianissimo ( pp ).

G-Clef

Signifies the treble clef or notes of the upper half of the piano, indicates the G-line in the treble staff.

Unison (monophonic)

One layer of sound (a single melodic line).

Head Voice

Refers to singing notes that resonate in the head (higher range).

Body Percussion

Rhythmic sounds made on and with the body, such as clapping, stomping, patting, clicking, etc.

Found Sounds

Using everyday objects to make music, for example, cans, bottles, desks, pencils, hardware, etc.