Music

• A treble clef is used to write higher pitched instruments such as violins, flutes, and clarinets.
• The bass clef is used to write the lower notes.
• The bass clef is used to write lower-pitched instruments like cellos, double basses, and tubas.
• In music notation, there are two types of clefs - treble clef (G) and bass clef (F).
• Classical Period

  • 1750-1810
  • consists of the composers: MOZART CLEMENTI Early Beethoven HAYDN
  • has pretty melody, simple accompaniment, semiquaver passages and trills (rapid alteration of two adjacent notes)
  • medium note ranges and dynamics
• Dynamics


  how loud or soft the music is played aka the volume

  • mezzo piano - medium quiet
  • fortissimo - as loud as possible
  • crescendo - gradually getting louder
  • pianissimo - as soft as possible
  • forte - loud
• Tempo

  speed of music

  • adagio - slow
  • andante - walking pace
  • vivace - lively
  • ritardando /rallentando - getting slow
  • presto - very fast
  • allegro - fast
  • accelerando - gradually getting faster
• Articulation


  how notes sound (aka smooth or spiky)

  • legato - play smooth (slur)
  • pizzicato -plucked strings (harp)
  • morendo - fade away /die
  • staccato - detached , spiky
  • arco - played with bow (violin)
• Crescendo


  gradually getting louder

  mezzo forte to forte

  
• Diminuendo


  gradually getting softer

  forte to mezzo forte

  
• Pause


  holds this note (usually at the end of a phrase or piece)

  
• Accent


  emphasises or stresses the note

  
• Staccato


  detached or spiky

  
• Slur


  Legato Technique

  
• African music


  • Syncopation (off-beat rhythm)
  • Improvisation (making it up on the spot)
  • Polyrhythms (many layered rhythms)
  • Call and Response (one person starts, others reply)
• Primary chords


  • I
  • IV
  • V
• Strong chords


  Primary chords
• Repetition with variation


  • Melody becomes decorated
• Unison


  Same thing at the same time together
• Master Drummer


  The lead drummer
• Sonata


  Solo piece with piano accompaniment
• Concerto


  Solo piece with orchestra accompaniment
• Symphony


  Orchestral piece with no soloist
• Perfect cadence


  Returns frequently, full stop
• Imperfect cadence


  Ends on chord V, comma
• Secondary chords


  • ii
  • iii
  • vi
  • vii
• Scalic


  Step-wise, neighbouring notes
• Conjunct


  Expert word for scalic
• Question and Answer


  1st melody/phrase is answered by 2nd phrase (complement)
• Binary Form


  AB two section
• Ternary Form


  ABA structure familiar A section returns
• Rondo Form


  ABACADA tune returns frequently
• Melody


  The tune(pitch and rhythm)
• Rhythm


  the pulse
• Harmony


  more than 1 note playing
• Texture


  thick and thin (layers) - instruments
• Structure


  What form? Ternary, Binary , Rondo intro , middle ,end/outro
• Timbre


  Tone quality
• Treble Clef


  Notes above middle C
• Semitone


  Closest note on the piano , e.g. E - E#