Elements of Music

Elements of Music

This lesson will take you through the elements of music before giving you a quiz on what you have learnt.

the regular underlying pulse of a piece of music, like a heartbeat

Beat

The organisation of the sound and silence in a piece of music using beat, metre and tempo

​Rhythm

Rhythm

The organisation of beats into groups, often the accenting of the beat determine the metre

Metre

The speed of a piece of music

​Tempo

Rhythm

Multiple Choice

Rhythm is the organisation of sound using:

• beat, tempo, metre

• pitch, chord, beat

• metre, timbre, texture

• dynamics, articluation

The instruments that support the melody with chords

​Harmony

a series of sounds that make a tune

​Melody

Melody and Harmony

the layers of sound in a musical work

​Texture

how an instrument sounds within the tune

​Timbre

Timbre and Texture

Form and Structure

The plan or design of a piece of music, including the order of ideas in the piece.

This can include looking at what is a repetition (what is the same) and what is a variation (what is different).

how different parts of the music are played, e.g. short and sharp, or flowing and smooth

​Articulation

the relative volume (loudness or softness) of sounds

​Dynamics

Expression

Multiple Choice

Dynamics are the

• supporting instruments

• what is the same in the piece

• the relative volume of the sounds

• the way the instruments are played