Elements Of Music

Question 1

Melody.

Answer 1

The melody refers to the sequence of notes. The following can be discussed when looking at at score or listening to a piece:

. Range - This is the distance between the lowest and the highest note. (This can be either large or short)
. Intervals - This is the distance between each note. These can be small steps or big leaps.
. Key signature: can be seen in the key signature, accidentals, tonic start/finish, chord or tonic triad.
. Chords: can discuss where chords fall with relative tonic, or whether they repeat.
. Patterns - anything which is repeated.
. Anything different - something which doesn’t follow a pattern.

Question 2

Rhythm.

Answer 2

Rhythm is what makes music move and flow. It is made up of sounds and silences. The following can be discussed when looking at at score or listening to a piece:

. Note lengths - discuss rests, any swung notes etc.
. Most used - talk about the notes that are predominantly in the piece
. Patterns - any repeated sequences of rhythm
. Time signature - 4/4 (4 crotchet beats to a bar), 3/4 (3 crotchet beats to a bar) etc.
. Tempo - beats per minute, andante to allegro
. Anything different - discuss discrepancies
. Extra - things like an anacrusis, changes in time signature etc.

Question 3

Dynamics.

Answer 3

This refers to how loud or quiet the music is. Here you can discuss changes in volume.

Pianissimo - very soft
Piano - soft
Mezzo piano - medium soft
Mezzo forte - medium loud
Forte - loud
Fortissimo - very loud
Crescendo - getting louder
Diminuendo - getting softer

You can also discuss any accents heard or seen.

Question 4

Instruments.

Answer 4

You can discuss what types of instruments are present in a piece as well as whether they contribute or the melody or harmony etc.
Instrument groups include:

. Bowed strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass)
. Woodwind (piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon)
. Brass (trumpet, french horn, trombone, tuba)
. Percussion instruments
- tuned (timpani, xylophone, marimba)
- indefinite pitch (triangle, gong, kit, tambourine)
. Keyboard instruments (piano, electric organ)
. Guitar family (guitar, bass, ukulele)
. Vocals

Question 5

Tonal colour.

Answer 5

This refers to the sound quality. Certain words can be used to express the effect of tonal colour, such as:
. Dark - brilliant
. Opaque - transparent
. Rich - mellow
. Fuzzy - clear
. Dull - sharp
. Complex - simple
. Warm - crisp

Question 6

Articulation.

Answer 6

This refers to the musical performance technique that affects the transition or the continuity on a single note or multiple notes.
Articulation marks include:
. Slurs
. Phrase marks
. Staccato
. Accent
. Sforzando 
. Legato
. Tenuto

Question 7

What can be picked out when analysing a piece?

Answer 7

. Melody
. Rhythm
. Dynamics
. Instruments
. Tonal colour
. Articulation