Musical TermsMusical Terms

66thth Grade Keyboard Unit Grade Keyboard Unit

Essential Music TermsEssential Music Terms

Music LiteracyMusic Literacy

Literacy means “to Learn to Read”Literacy means “to Learn to Read” Music Literacy means “To Learn to Music Literacy means “To Learn to

Read Music”Read Music” Music is a language of symbols.Music is a language of symbols. We will be learning and improving We will be learning and improving

our Music Literacy Skills this our Music Literacy Skills this trimester through music reading trimester through music reading practice and playing the keyboards.practice and playing the keyboards.

StaffStaff

The The staff is a set staff is a set of five lines and of five lines and four spaces.four spaces.

Music notes are Music notes are written ON the written ON the lines or IN the lines or IN the spaces to spaces to indicate pitch indicate pitch and duration.and duration.

The Staff lines & spacesThe Staff lines & spaces

Treble Clef Treble Clef

Used for higher Used for higher pitched notes, pitched notes, instruments and instruments and voicesvoices

Placed at the left Placed at the left end of the staffend of the staff

Also called the G Also called the G Clef because the Clef because the final curl is around final curl is around the second line or G the second line or G pitched line.pitched line.

Bass ClefBass Clef

Used for lower Used for lower notes, instruments notes, instruments and voicesand voices

Placed at the Placed at the beginning (left side) beginning (left side) of the staffof the staff

Also called the F clef Also called the F clef because the two because the two dots are on either dots are on either side of the F lineside of the F line

PitchPitch

Pitch – the highness or lowness of a tone Pitch – the highness or lowness of a tone (note)(note)

Pitches are indicated on the staff using the Pitches are indicated on the staff using the first seven letters of the alphabet: ABCDEFGfirst seven letters of the alphabet: ABCDEFG

The lines and spaces in the treble and bass The lines and spaces in the treble and bass clef have letter names.clef have letter names.

When a note is place ON a line or IN a space When a note is place ON a line or IN a space it tells the musician what key to play on it tells the musician what key to play on their instrument or how high or low to singtheir instrument or how high or low to sing

Treble Clef Pitch NamesTreble Clef Pitch Names

To remember the lines think of this saying:

Every Good Boy Does Fine

For the spaces remember the word FACE

Bass Clef Pitch NamesBass Clef Pitch Names

To help you remember the lines of when the bass clef symbol is present:

Glad Bags

Don’t Fall Apart

To help you remember the Space in the bass clef:

All Cows Eat Grass

DurationDuration

Duration means Duration means length of timelength of time

Notes have Notes have duration names duration names and special and special shapes that tell shapes that tell musicians how musicians how long or short to long or short to play that notes.play that notes.

Eighth Note ½

Beat

4 Beats

1 Beat

RestsRestsRests are silence Rests are silence in music.in music.To create rhythms To create rhythms a musician uses a musician uses both pitches both pitches (sounds) and rests (sounds) and rests (silence)(silence)A whole note and A whole note and a whole rest a whole rest receive the same receive the same duration– 4 beats duration– 4 beats of sound or 4 beats of sound or 4 beats of silenceof silence

More Rest More Rest ExamplesExamples

The Grand The Grand StaffStaff

•The Grand Staff consists of both the Treble and the Bass•Clef Symbols and pitches. The two staves are connected with•Bar line and a bracket. •Both Hands are in the ready to play position!

Notes Between the staves Notes Between the staves in thein the

Grand StaffGrand Staff

Notes with stems pointing down are ALWAYS PLAYED WITH THE

LEFT HAND

Notes with the stems pointing up are ALWAYS PLAYED WITH THE

RIGHT HAND

The Piano KeyboardThe Piano Keyboard

Right HandLeft Hand

How to use your hands?How to use your hands?

Beginner sheet music often has Beginner sheet music often has numbers below each note. These numbers below each note. These numbers refer to fingers on your numbers refer to fingers on your hands. hands.

BOTH HANDS:BOTH HANDS: 1 – thumb 1 – thumb 2 – index finger 2 – index finger

3 – middle finger 3 – middle finger 4 – ring finger 4 – ring finger 5 5

– little finger– little finger

MelodyMelody

Melody is an Melody is an organized group organized group of tones.of tones.

If it is a If it is a memorable tune, memorable tune, with lots of with lots of repetition you’ll repetition you’ll remember it… like remember it… like “Row, Row, Row “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”!Your Boat”!

HarmonyHarmony

Harmony is a Harmony is a combination of combination of tones sounded tones sounded together.together.

The basic unit of The basic unit of harmony is a harmony is a chord, where two chord, where two or more tones are or more tones are played at the same played at the same time. time.

RhythmRhythm

Rhythm divides Rhythm divides time in musical time in musical pieces using a pieces using a combination of combination of sound and silencesound and silence

TempoTempo

Tempo is how fast or Tempo is how fast or slow music is played.slow music is played.

Italian is the Italian is the language used for language used for these terms: these terms: Largo = Very SlowLargo = Very Slow Andante = At a Andante = At a

Walking SpeedWalking Speed Moderato = A medium Moderato = A medium

speed (faster than speed (faster than Andante)Andante)

Vivace = Very FastVivace = Very Fast

DynamicsDynamics Dynamics are how loudly Dynamics are how loudly

or softly the music is or softly the music is played.played.

Italian terms used to Italian terms used to indicate dynamics:indicate dynamics: Piano = SoftPiano = Soft Mezzo piano – medium softMezzo piano – medium soft Forte = LoudForte = Loud Mezzo forte = medium loudMezzo forte = medium loud Crescendo = gradually get louderCrescendo = gradually get louder Decrescendo = gradually get Decrescendo = gradually get

softersofter

Famous Piano PlayersFamous Piano Players

Billy Joel

Ray Charles

GeorgeGershwin

Jerry LeeLewis

Beethoven

Elton John

Lady Ga Ga

Alicia Keys