Ostinato – A repeated pattern or phrase.

.

Year 8

Percussion – A family of instruments played by shaking or striking with beaters .

Year 8

These instruments are all from the Percussion family.

Year 8

Pulse – The steady beat in a piece of

music.

Year 8

Clap the steady pulse in this music.

Year 8

Year 8

Tempo – The speed of the music. • allegretto - a quicker tempo than andante but not as

fast as allegro• allegro - a brisk and lively tempo• andante - a moderately slow tempo (a walking pace)• meno mosso - played at reduced speed; less rapid• rubato - a flexible tempo; not strictly on the beat

Year 8

Texture – The layers of sound in a piece

of music.

Year 9

Sequence – A melodic phrase repeated

at a higher or lower pitch.

Year 9

Year 9

Pitch – How high or low the notes SOUND

Year 9

The violin can play notes at a higher pitch than the cello.

Year 9

Dynamics- How loud or soft the music

sounds.

Year 9

Dynamics in a piece of music add interest and atmosphere.

Year 9

Year 9

Syncopation - A rhythmic effect avoiding strong or main beats in bars

when performing.

Year 10

Syncopation is a common feature found in jazz music

Year 10

Improvisation - When players improvise, they invent the music as

they go along.

Year 10

Improvisation is a common feature of Jazz.

Year 10

Chord - Two or more notes played at the

same time. Many pop songs are based on three chords.

Year 10

Repetition - Bars of music that are repeated

Bar 5 is an exact repetition of bar 1.

Year 10

Canon - Exact imitation of another voice

or instrumental part. In Pachelbel’s Canon in D we can hear the

string instruments imitating each other.

Year 11

Unison - All voices or instruments singing

or playing the same notes.

Year 11

Homophonic - A single melody line with accompanying chords.

Year 12

The instruments are playing in homophonic style.

Year 12

Year 12

A cappella - Choral music performed

without instrumental accompaniment.

Year 12

This group is performing a cappella

Year 12

Glissando

Upward or downward slide on an instrument.

The harp can play a glissando .

Year 13

Ternary

Music with an ABA structure.

This music is structured in Ternary Form.

Year 13

Dissonance

The sound produced by notes which clash in a discord.

Year 14

Synthesiser

A musical instrument, usually a keyboard, which allows sound to be created and changed electronically.

In this piece of music the composer has used

a synthesiser.

Year 14

This is a picture of a synthesiser.