universal language.‟ Musical notation is understood in virtually every ...

Music is called the „universal language.‟ Musical notation is understood in virtually every country. This course of study will introduce you to a wide variety of music. You will explore the historical periods of music as well as the lives of noted musicians and composers. The course includes a basic theory tutorial in rhythm, musical notation, and form. You may want to take private music lessons on either the guitar or the piano as part of this course of study; this would help in your understanding of Music. There is a form included in each unit that your music teacher can fill out periodically if you decide to take private lessons. You will need to purchase or borrow audio CDs (a good source may be your school library or your local public library of music to complete the listening exercises. You will also complete a research paper on a period of music. Your final grade will be based on your music teacher‟s evaluations, your work in the units, and your research paper. Rhythm Without rhythm, there would be no music. Rhythm is what divides the sounds into sections. It is the “beat.” Rhythms may be basic and simple or they may be extremely complicated. Even a child with a toy drum will eventually settle into a rhythm of sorts, beating out a “rat a tat tat.” To incorporate rhythm into a written piece of music requires planning. The beat must be divided up and written down so that others reading the music will be able to duplicate the rhythm. Meter Beats are grouped into meters. Just like there a seven days in a week, a meter can have two, three, or four beats. Note Values Notes can be held out a long time or be very short and quick. White notes are held out longer than black notes. Time Signature At the beginning of each musical piece there is a time signature. The top number tells you how many beats are in a measure and the bottom number tells you what type of note gets one beat. For example if the time signature is 4/4, then there are four beats in each measure and a quarter note is worth one beat. Some popular time signatures are 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, and 6/8.

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Whole Notes Whole notes are four beats long.

Half Notes Half notes are two beats long.

Quarter Notes Quarter notes are one beat long.

Eighth Notes Eighth notes are ½ of one beat. Multiple eighth notes are connected in pairs by a bar. Single eighth notes are written with a flag.

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Tempo Tempo is another word for speed. Along with a time signature a musical piece should include a tempo description. The time signature tells you how many beats per measure but it does not tell you how fast or slow to play the piece. Italian terms are standard to describe a particular tempo.

Allegro Allegro is fast. Moderato Moderato is a medium pace. Not too slow and not too fast. Andante Andante in Italian means “walking” or “moving along”. This is a brisk pace. Adagio Adagio = slowly. Largo Largo = very slowly. Activity Four: Define the following Italian terms. (Five points) Largo ___________________________________________________________________ Allegro ___________________________________________________________________ Andante ___________________________________________________________________ Adagio ___________________________________________________________________ Moderato ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright 2002 Starline Press, Inc www.starlinepress.com

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