Music

• Melody


  The main TUNE made of pitches or tones moving in steps or jumps
• Rhythm


  Notes of different duration (long or short)
• Beat of the Music


  Pulse is regular throughout the music
• Dynamics (Intensity of Sound)

  • ff = fortissimo (very loud)
  • f = forte (loud)
  • mf = mezzo forte (medium loud)
  • pp = pianissimo (very soft)
  • p = piano (soft)
  • mp = mezzo piano (medium soft)
• Harmony


  Refers to chords in music or notes that sound at the same time
• Key


  The scale used in a piece of music
• Key Signatures


  Made up of sharps or flats
• Form or Structure


  Repetition and Contrast (ie verse & chorus, Binary Form with 2 sections or Ternary Form with 3 Sections)
• Tempo


  • Adagio – slow
  • Andante – at a walking pace
  • Moderato – moderately
  • Allegro – fast
  • Vivace – lively and fast
  • Presto – very fast
• Ritardando


  Gradually slowing down
• Accelerando


  Gradually faster
• Texture


  • Monophonic = single melody line
  • Homophonic = melody with accompaniment
  • Polyphonic
• Tone Colour


  Timbre = difference in tone between one voice or instrument and another
• Riff


  Short catchy tune repeated in the music used mostly in POP and JAZZ
• Hook


  Short musical idea to catch your attention
• Call and Response


  When a group copies what the solo or first group did
• Pedal point


  A long low note that is held or repeated in the music (think of bagpipe droan)
• Note Types


  • Semi Breve
  • Minim
  • Crotchet
  • Quaver
  • Semi-Quaver
• Types of Scores


  • Orchestral
  • Piano
  • Lead line (melody with chords)