Music Elements Overview

Elements of Music

Elements of music that create the songs you listen to everyday

• Major - sounds pleasant, positive, happy

• Minor - sounds dark, sad, negative

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Major/Minor

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Multiple Choice

What gives a more happy sound?

• Major

• Minor

Multiple Choice

What gives a more sad sound?

• Major

• Minor

Melody & Harmony

Melody, also known as a 'theme'

​Notes arranged together to create an idea.

This is what yo​u hum or sing along with to a song.​

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​Harmony

When two or more notes are played at the same time, the non-melody note is called harmony.

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea of the song, what you sing along to?

• Melody

• Harmony

Multiple Choice

What is the non-melody note called?

• Harmony

• Extra Melody

How fast or slow the music is

​Tempo Names -

• Allegro - Fast

• Moderato - Medium

• Andante - Slow

​Gives the music it's pulse or heartbeat

Tempo

Multiple Choice

How fast or slow the music is...

• Tempo

• Speed

• Pace

Poll

What emotion do you think a fast song would MOST represent?

• Happy

• Sad

• Excited

• Angry

Poll

What emotion do you think a slow song MOST represents?

• Happy

• Sad

• Excited

• Angry

​Rhythm

Rhythm is the organization of different beats that backs the music.

This will keep the tempo and is usually played by percussion (drum set).

This is what makes you want to tap your toe or dance to music.​

Open Ended

What is one way you can interact with the rhythm of the song?

Instruments are split into 4 families. Different instruments can cause music to have different sounds.​

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Instruments

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Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Oboe, & Bassoon

Family Members

Woodwinds

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba

​Family Members

Brass

​Violin, Viola, Cello, Upright Bass, Guitar, Ukulele, Harp

​Family Members

Strings

​Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Drum Set, Cymbals, Timpani, Marimba, Chimes, Piano

Family Members​

Percussion

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT an instrument family?

• Woodwind

• Brass

• Strings

• Instruments

• Percussion

​Characteristic of sound that makes the instruments sound different.​

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Helps create the difference between genres and decides what instruments are used in which genres

Timbre

Poll

Which instrument family do you think would add a mellow sound to a song?

• Flute

• French Horn

• Snare Drum

• Cello

How loud or soft a song is

• piano - soft

• mezzo piano - medium soft

• mezzo forte - me​dium loud

• forte - loud

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Dynamics​

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Form

The road map of music

​A - Verse

B - Chorus

C - Bridge​

Many songs follow this pattern:

​- A, B, A, B, C, B​

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(Verse 1, Chorus, Verse 2, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus​)

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Texture

Creates all of the elements to make an overall sound.

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Is what distinguishes different genres of music from one another.​

Poll

What do you think the most important element of music is?

• Major/Minor Key

• Tempo

• Dynamics

• Timbre

• Form