This short reading is a brief overview of music elements and fundamentals. Read this, and start to learn these terms, concepts, and categories. We will also learn, use, and apply all of the terms experientially during the semester—keep this list handy
Most, if not all, music has aspects of the following elements or fundamentals:
Pitch
The relative highness or lowness of sound (frequency)
Rhythm
The durations of sounds and silences—aspects of time and timing in music
Timbre
The tone quality, sound quality, and tone color of sound. Description of the sound, often with similes and metaphors or adjectives
Form
The organization and structure of music
Texture
The number of melodic or rhythmic lines sounded at any given time in the music.
Expression
The aesthetic aspects of music that convey emotion and meaning.
