Beginning Music Theory

Intro to Music Theory

Lesson 1​

Open Ended

In your own words, tell me the difference between beat and rhythm. (if you are unsure, take a good guess!)

Open a new tab and watch the Youtube video to the left to learn more about music notation.

​

Learn about Music Notation​

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN41d7Txcq0

Open Ended

In your own words, tell me what the top number of a time signature means.

Open a new tab and watch the Youtube video to the left, then answer some questions on beat vs. rhythm.

​

Learn about Beat vs. Rhythm​

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DjoipqbkC8

​General Review

In terms of music works, beat stays the same and rhythm is how the words go.​

Can change. Rhythm is the 'stuff' that is layered ON TOP of the beat. Rhythm fits evenly into each beat.

Rhythm

Beat is the basis of music. It doesn't change. Each time a beat is played, the same amount of silence before the beat is the same amount of silence until the next beat is played.

Beat

VS.

Open Ended

Did anything change? Again, in your own words, tell me what the difference is between beat and rhythm.

​Rhythm Review

​

​4 beats

1 beat each

2 beats

1/2 beat each

(you need two to make 1 entire beat)​

1/4 beat each

(you need four to make 1 entire beat)​

whole note

half note

quarter note

eighth note pairs

sixteenth note sets

How to count rhythms using a number system

1. You always start on beat 1! Then you could up to the number that is shown on the top of the time signature.

2. For beats you hold out, like a whole note that gets 4 beats, you would still start at 1 and hold the number out. When written, it looks like this -- 1 (2, 3, 4).

3. When rhythms begin to subdivide, you have to divide the notes to equal one beat. We say "1 and" to subdivide a pair of 8th notes. It is written as 1+.

4. For 16th notes, you have to subdivide these as well. We say "one ee and ah" to signify four distinct sounds in one beat. It is written as 1e+a.​

Multiple Choice

What is the count for this rhythm?

• 1 e + a 2 3 + 4

• 1+ 2 3+ 4

• 1 2 3 4

• 1+ 2+ 3+ 4

Multiple Choice

What is the count for this rhythm?

• 1 2 3+ 4

• 1+ 2 3+ 4

• 1 2 3 4+

• 1+ 2+ 3+ 4

Multiple Choice

What is the count for this rhythm?

• 1 (2 , 3 , 4)

• 1 2 3 4

• 1

• 1+ 2+ 3+ 4

Multiple Choice

What is the count for this rhythm?

• 1 (2 , 3) 4+

• 1 (2) 3+ 4+

• 1 2 3+ 4

• 1 (2) 3 4+

Multiple Choice

What is the count for this rhythm?

• 1 (2) 3 4

• 1+a 2+ 3 4

• 1+a 2+ 3+ 4

• 1+a 2 3 4

Open Ended

In your own words, tell me the difference between melody and harmony. (if you are unsure, take a good guess!)

​General Review

Harmony is BUILT UPON a pre-existing melody. You cannot have harmony without first having melody.

Harmony

In general terms, melody is the "singing" part of a song. It's typically more complex than harmony, and has more melodic contour -- movement in pitch.

Melody

VS.

Open Ended

Did anything change? Again, in your own words, tell me the difference between melody and harmony.

​Melody Review

Contour

Contour is when you can see if a pitch (the sound a note makes) is going up or down.

Example:

The contour of this example is going up, so the pitch will be getting higher.

Draw

Draw the contour of the notes with your finger, then draw an arrow up or down to show what direction the pitch is going.

Draw

Draw the contour of the notes with your finger, then draw an arrow up or down to show what direction the pitch is going.

Draw

Draw the contour of the notes with your finger, then draw an arrow up or down to show what direction the pitch is going.

Draw

Draw the contour of the notes with your finger, then draw an arrow up or down to show what direction the pitch is going.

Open a new tab and watch the Youtube video to the left, then answer some questions on key signature.

​

Learn about Key Signatures​

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY9Q0R0G2jM

Open Ended

In your own words, explain what a key signature does.

Multiple Choice

What is the order of the flats in a key signature?

• Eb Ab Bb Db C F G

• F C G Db Ab Eb Bb

• Bb Eb Ab Db G C F

• Ab Eb Bb C F G Db

Multiple Choice

What is the order of the sharps in a key signature?

• E A B D C F G

• F C G D A E B

• B E A D G C F

• A E B C F G D

Multiple Choice

True or False. Key signature is an important component of music making.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False. Key signature can alter how a piece of music sounds.

• True

• False

​For the remainder of class...

Please use the following options to continue musical practice.

1. https://www.musictheory.net/ Please go to exercises and click 'note identification.' (you can change the settings to match your instrument using by clicking the gear in the top right corner)

2. ​https://tonesavvy.com/music-practice-exercise/15/rhythm-performance-game-eighth-notes/ (click the rhythm pad ONCE, after the first four beats, use the rhythm pad to click out the correct rhythms.