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Elements of Music
Music is made up of different elements. They are the building bricks of music. When you compose a piece of music you use the elements to build it, just like a builder uses bricks to build a house.
You will learn about the eight elements and how they are put together to form a piece of music (structure).
Duration
Duration means the length of each sound. Some sounds or notes are long, some are short.
Dynamics
Dynamics means the loudness and softness of the music. Sometimes this is called volume. Music often changes volume gradually and goes from loud to soft or from soft to loud.
Pitch
Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of notes in the music. Most pieces of music use a mixture of high and low sounds. Some instruments, for example the tuba, can play very low notes, whereas smaller instruments, such as the piccolo, can play very high notes.
Silence
Silence is as important as sound in music. It is the absence of sound and can be used to dramatic effect.
Tempo
Tempo means the speed of the music, whether it is fast or slow. Does the music speed up or slow down or does it stay at the same tempo throughout?
Texture
Texture refers to how many layers or voices are in a piece. If there are a lot of instruments playing at once the texture is thick; if there are only one or two instruments playing the texture is thin. You can build up the texture from thin to thick, or reduce it from thick to thin.
Timbre
Every instrument has its own tone colour or timbre. It is the way we describe sound with words. For example, a metal instrument sounds different from a wooden one, and hitting the skin of a drum sounds different from blowing a recorder.
Rhythm
Rhythm is how the basic pulse (or beat) is subdivided. This can be simple such as dividing the beat into two or three equal parts, or complex with many constantly changing subdivisions happening.
The ninth element is
Structure
Structure Is how music is put together. There are many types of structure- Binary, Ternary, Ground Bass, Theme and Variation, Rondo, Pop Song and many more. We will look into musical structures in Grades 7 onwards, so don't worry too much about this at the moment.
Music is made up of different elements. They are the building bricks of music. When you compose a piece of music you use the elements to build it, just like a builder uses bricks to build a house.
You will learn about the eight elements and how they are put together to form a piece of music (structure).
Duration
Duration means the length of each sound. Some sounds or notes are long, some are short.
Dynamics
Dynamics means the loudness and softness of the music. Sometimes this is called volume. Music often changes volume gradually and goes from loud to soft or from soft to loud.
Pitch
Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of notes in the music. Most pieces of music use a mixture of high and low sounds. Some instruments, for example the tuba, can play very low notes, whereas smaller instruments, such as the piccolo, can play very high notes.
Silence
Silence is as important as sound in music. It is the absence of sound and can be used to dramatic effect.
Tempo
Tempo means the speed of the music, whether it is fast or slow. Does the music speed up or slow down or does it stay at the same tempo throughout?
Texture
Texture refers to how many layers or voices are in a piece. If there are a lot of instruments playing at once the texture is thick; if there are only one or two instruments playing the texture is thin. You can build up the texture from thin to thick, or reduce it from thick to thin.
Timbre
Every instrument has its own tone colour or timbre. It is the way we describe sound with words. For example, a metal instrument sounds different from a wooden one, and hitting the skin of a drum sounds different from blowing a recorder.
Rhythm
Rhythm is how the basic pulse (or beat) is subdivided. This can be simple such as dividing the beat into two or three equal parts, or complex with many constantly changing subdivisions happening.
The ninth element is
Structure
Structure Is how music is put together. There are many types of structure- Binary, Ternary, Ground Bass, Theme and Variation, Rondo, Pop Song and many more. We will look into musical structures in Grades 7 onwards, so don't worry too much about this at the moment.
COURSE OUTLINE
THE HAUNTED PLACE - MUSICAL ELEMENTS
Statement of Inquiry: Musical elements are the expressive building blocks of all music, the use of which informs the creative process to improve composition and performance.
Key concept: Change
Related concepts: Composition Expression
Global Context: Personal and cultural expression
Exploration to Develop: Artistry, craft, creation, beauty
Criterion A- Keywords test- Elements.
Criterion B- Composition/ Rehearsal/ Performance
Criterion C- Rehearsals, experimentation with sound sources and effects.
Criterion D- Arts process journal, self and peer assessment.
By the end of this year students are expected to be able to:
Demonstrate understanding of the 8 elements of music and how to use them to best effect.
Compose a vocal work that suggests the title The Haunted Place.
Rehearse in groups, record and improve composition through use of the elements.
Learn basic recording and rehearsal techniques.
Multi track record each part and alter using effects (Audacity software).
Self evaluation/ Peer Assessment of composition and rehearsal process.
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