Download Unit 1 – Fundamentals of Music

V
Unit 1 – Fundamentals of Music
Mr. Jackson
AP Music Theory
First Found Music Notation
• Found in a Cuneiform Tablet about 2000 BC in today’s Iraq.
• Ancient Greece – used notation for Pitch AND time. Original stone at
Delphi (See Below)
V
Modern Notation
V
Aspects of Sound
Sound has….
V
Aspects of Sound
Wavelength
Wavelength is the distance between one wave and the next.
Shorter wavelengths produce higher pitches
Frequency is the rate of vibration measured in “times per second” –
called Hertz.
For example: when a violinist plays an A string – the string vibrates
back and forth 440 times per second, or 440 Hertz (Hz)
The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch – and the shorter
the wavelength
V
Aspects of Sound
Wave height
Wave height refers to the “height” or “intensity” of the wave.
This is the Amplitude of the wave.
In music, we refer to this as the Dynamic Level or Loudness.
V
Aspects of Sound
Waveform
Wave height refers to the shape of the save as it moves, producing its
Unique Quality.
Timbre refers to the specific quality of sound.
Is made of more than one frequency
(HARMONICS/OVERTONES)
Example: Singing an A vs. Playing an A on the piano (Same pitch
– but they sound different.)
V
Aspects of Sound
Envelope
Envelope refers to the sound’s ATACK, SUSTAIN, and RELEASE.
We know this as Articulation in music.
V
Aspects of Sound
Duration
Duration is the LENGTH OF TIME sound and silence lasts.
V
The Staff and Clefs
The Staff
Music is written on a Staff (STAVES for plural). Originally, we only had 4
lines on our staff (In Gregorian Chant time) – but now we have 5 Lines.
At first, Movable C Clefs were used at a time when music was mostly a
single line of melody. (MONOPHONIC)
Clefs originally conformed to Vocal Ranges.
V
The Staff and Clefs
Clefs
When music became increasingly more complex, with multiple layers
and different lines being played at the same time, such as in
POLYPHONIC MUSIC…
One clef fore all female voices bean to be used (Above Middle C)
was used: The Treble Clef
The Bass Clef was used for Male Voices
When we use the Treble Clef and Bass Clef together it is called The
Grand Staff.
Note: The Grand Staff
uses the lines and
spaces to navigate
through the Musical
Alphabet (A-G),
continuing with Ledger
Lines in both directions!
V
The Staff and Clefs
Clefs (Cont..)
Although most instruments use either the Treble of Bass Clef, some
V
instruments regularly read Movable C Clefs or other clefs to avoid
excessive ledger lines.
Remember that with
Viola players commonly read AltoClef
Movable C Clefs, the
center of the clef
designates where
Trombone, Bassoon, and Cello players will often playMiddle C is!
TenorClef .
Percussionists often read from The Neutral Clef
The Staff and Clefs
Clefs (Cont..)
V
The Staff and Clefs
Octave Designation
V
The Staff and Clefs
Ledger Lines
Ledger Lines extend the staff in either direction.
V
Pitch & Accidentals
Accidentals
Accidentals alter pitch in some form.
Flats lower a pitch by a Half Step.
Sharps raise a pitch by a Half Step.
Double Sharps raise a pitch by a Whole Step.
Double Flats lower a pitch by a Whole Step.
Natural Signs CANCEL out any Sharps or Flats.
V
Pitch & Accidentals
The Piano
The Piano is a great and effective visualization of how
Western Music organizes whole and half steps.
V
Pitch & Accidentals
Enharmonics
Enharmonic Equivalents are two notes that sound alike but have
two different names.
V
Music Notation
Elements & Rules
Interval- the distance between two notes.
V