Though music permeates our lives, the basic “language” of music is often misunderstood. While music can be consumed without its knowledge, understanding what music is, and how it is produced, can profoundly enrich the experience of listening, moving it from a passive to a more active endeavor. This Study Unit begins with the smallest “atoms” of music – pitch, volume, pulse, and tone, then grows through the layers of melody, countermelody, harmony, bass, and rhythm. Finally, the unit looks at the structure, instrumentation, and tempo of musical examples. The student learns how the choices performers, producers, and bands make in the studio are based on these musical aspects.
What will you learn in this unit?
- Learn about the smallest “atoms” of music: pitch, pulse, dynamics, & tone
- Examine five layers of music: melody, harmony, bass, rhythm & countermelody
- Consider some of the basic “building blocks” of music, including verses, choruses, introductions, and bridges.
- Learn how the speed of music – “tempo” – can influence how music is received.
- Investigate form and structure in music and how building blocks are used to craft an entire song.
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