Elements of Music

• Pulse/ Beat

  The heartbeat of music
• Pitch

  High/ Low
• Tempo

  Allegro —> Fast

  Adagio —> Slow

  Andante —> walking speed

  Moderato —> Moderate

  Accelerando (accel) —> getting faster

  Ralletando (rall) —> becoming slow
• Dynamics

  Pianissimo —> Very soft

  Piano —> Soft

  Mezzo Piano —> Quite soft

  Mezzo Forte —> Quite loud

  Forte —> Loud

  Fortissimo —> Very loud
• Duration

  Duration —> How long or short a note is

  Semibreve —> 4 beats

  Minim —> 2 beats

  Crotchet —> 1 beat

  Quaver —> 1/2 beat

  Semi Quaver —> 1/4 beat
• Articulation

  Smooth —> Legato

  Detached —> Staccato
• Texture

  Texture —> Thick or Thin

  Solo - Thin (1 person)

  Tutti - Thick (band)

  Unison - (2 or more play/ sing the same tune)

  Melody —> The tune

  Accompaniment —> backing of tune

  Ostinato —> repeated phrase
• Tonality

  Major —> Happy

  Minor —> Sad
• Accompaniment

  Block Chords

  Oom cha chords

  Broken chords

  Arpeggios
• Structure

  Binary = AB AABB

  Ternary = ABA AABA

  Rondo = ABACA

  Strophic = AAA verse of chorus
• Timbre

  Wood/Metal/Reed/Skin Strings/Woodwind/Brass/Percussion

  Pizzicato = plucking strings