Glossary

  • The curly (backwards C-shaped) sign on a stave shows notes are to be played below middle C (lower sounds).

  • The heartbeat of the music. It is the consistent underlying driving pulse of a piece of music.

  • This concept of music refers to the length of notes and the combination of sounds and silence.

    Key terms include:

    • Tempo

    • Rhythm

    • Ostinato

    • Note and rest values

    • Time signature (metre)

  • This concept of music refers to how loud or soft the music is.

    Key terms:

    • pianissimo (pp) = very soft

    • piano (p) = soft

    • mezzo piano (mp) = moderately soft

    • mezzo forte (mf) = moderately loud

    • forte (f) = loud

    • fortissimon (ff) = very loud

    • crescendo (<) = getting louder

    • decrescendo or diminuendo (>) getting softer

  • This is the tune of the song, the part of the song you would sing along to.

  • A repeating rhythmic or melodic pattern.

  • This concept of music refers to the highness and lowness of notes.

    Key terms include:

    • Melody

    • Harmony

    • Tonality

    • Range

    • Register

    • Melodic contour

  • Similar to an ostinato, a riff is a repeated melodic phrase and is usually found in popular music. Riffs are catchy and make a song recognisable. Riffs in rock and popular music are usually played on the guitar, but can be played on any instrument.

    Songs that feature famous riffs:

    • Smoke on the Water

    • Smells Like Teen Spirit

    • Another One Bites the Dust

  • Short and long sounds in different combinations create a rhythm.

  • Otherwise known as a sound story, soundscapes are created with sounds and organised to create a particular scene, landscape or feeling.

  • The 5 lines that music notes sit on.

  • This concept of music refers to the way a piece of music is put together.

    Key terms include:

    • Binary form

    • Ternary form

    • Rondo form

    • Verse/Chorus form

    • Strophic form

    • Call and response

  • The speed of the music, and whether it changes.

  • How the notes are grouped. There are simple time signatures and compound time signatures.

    • Simple time signature eg: 4/4

    • Compound time signature eg: 6/8

  • This concept of music refers to the instruments used and the quality of the sound.

    Key terms include:

    • Instrument families (strings, woodwind, percussion, brass)

    • Ensembles (eg: solo, duet, orchestra, rock band)

    • Roles of the instruments (eg: vocals = melody, guitar = strumming the chordal accompaniment)

    • Adjectives to describe the sounds (eg: shiny, sparkly, smooth, grinding, clashing, bouncy)

  • The curly sign on a stave shows notes are to be played above middle C (higher sounds).