Download Elements of Music

ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
Writing and reading music begins with the staff.
Without the staff, notes would simply be “floating” in the air. Even with the staff, clefs are
necessary to help us identify pitches.
These are the 3 most common clefs: treble, alto and bass.
We have “dynamics”. These are indications that instruct us on how to play… softly, loudly,
gradually louder, gradually softer, etc.
Songs are written in “keys”. At the beginning of a song there is something called a “key signature”.
It follows the clef at the beginning of the staff. The chart with all key signatures is called the “circle
of fifths”. Above is a picture of the circle of fifths.
The symbols that we place on the staff represent pitches and rhythms. In a 4/4 time signature the
following note lengths apply…