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Music Information |
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3 Secrets To Understanding What Makes Music Tick
It's no secret that virtually everyone loves music in some form or other. After all, music is the universal language. In one way or another we all participate in it from our cradle song to our wedding song to our funeral song, with thousands of other s stops along the way. The country-western fan may not like jazz, but he or she sure loves the sound of pickin' & grinnin'. And that's as it should be. If we all liked the same kind of music, there just wouldn't be the variety that is available to us now. We can choose from musical styles ranging from heavy classical and opera to rock to children's songs to Broadway musicals to gospel music to the blues. Each has its place, and each seems on the surface to be drastically different than another form of music. The key word is "on the surface." But beneath the surface of all music is a commonality that is organic to all forms and styles of music. So what does all music have in common? What makes music tick? At least 3 things - sometimes more, but never less: 1. Melody 2. Rhythm 3. Harmony The melody is the part of a song or composition that you whistle or hum - in other words, the tune of the song. In one sense, it is the most visible of the 3 elements, because melody is what identifies a song. Without melody, it would be difficult to even conceive of a song or piece. In musical notation, the melody is almost always written in the treble clef - also known as the treble staff. It consists of a horizontal line of notes that move up and down on the clef as the tune moves higher or lower. Rhythm is the beat - the swing - the throb of the music. It happens in repeating patterns, depending upon the type of music. It is like a horizontal line of beats which occur at regular or semi-regular intervals. A waltz, for example, basically consists of a heavy beat followed by two lighter beats. So we say that a waltz is in triple meter - one strong beat followed by two weak beats, then repeated. A march, on the other hand, generally consists of a heavy beat followed by a light beat, then another heavy beat followed by another light beat. (I'm simplifying, of course - there are many varieties?) So a march is in duple meter - as you might expect since we have two feet and we march in left-right-left-right patterns. All rhythms are some combination of triple meter and/or duple meter, and the possibilities are endless - from boogie to R&B to mambos and sambas and bossa novas and?.on and on. Harmony, the 3rd aspect of music, is the musical background of a song - the chords, or intervals "behind" the melody. Without harmony, a song sounds empty - like a vocalist singing without an accompanist - or accapella. Music doesn't HAVE to have harmony to function, but in actual practice it almost always does, even if it is just the interplay of two melodies, as in counterpoint. You could spend a lifetime learning all the nuances of music, but it its most basic form, it is these 3 elements combined together; melody, rhythm, and harmony that comprise music. Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music books and music educational materials such as DVD's, CD's, musical games for kids, chord charts, musical software, and piano lesson instructional courses for both children & adults. His book & DVD course titled "How To Dress Up 'Naked Music' On The Piano!" is used by adults around the world. He holds advanced degrees from Southern Oregon University and was the founder of Piano University in Southern Oregon. He is the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled "Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions" with over 59,700 current subscribers.
MORE RESOURCES: Scientific Research Says Music Benefits Athletic Performance Swimming World Magazine Stressbusters: Start the new year learning to create synthesizer music The Daily Progress Globalfest Moves Online, Showcasing World Music Without Boundaries The New York Times City launches Greater Madison Music City program to build recovery plan for local music industry Channel3000.com - WISC-TV3 Sincere, Outdoorsy, Trippy, a Music Festival Breathes Los Angeles The New York Times The last 2 Maine nightspots keeping live music alive during the pandemic Bangor Daily News Commodores musician on his famous band, power of music to heal Colorado Springs Gazette Sweet Sound: Violinist forges a path in music Valdosta Daily Times Meet Kidd G, Country Music’s Next Emo-Rap Star The New York Times 400 Years of Music, One Destination The Wall Street Journal cutNscratch: Web series focuses on music industry women Roanoke Times From ‘Soul’ to ‘Lovers Rock’ to ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,’ celebrating the new Black music movies The Philadelphia Inquirer Long Beach’s Rock For Vets keeps the music going despite coronavirus Long Beach Press Telegram South Plainfield, Scotch-Plains Fanwood Choral Music Students Join Together for Virtual Field Trip TAPinto.net Country singer Johnathan Len films latest music video on North Beach in Corpus Christi Corpus Christi Caller-Times Where to see live music in The Woodlands area in January and February Community Impact Newspaper Hogan announces $30 million COVID relief to entertainment, music venues; 23 Baltimore organizations to receive funds Baltimore Sun Detroit Tejano music pioneer's legacy preserved on album of newly-discovered recordings Michigan Radio Mountain Music — Lizzy Plotkin and Natalie Spears discuss making their new record Glenwood Springs Post Independent Live Music Friday: Jessie Lynn WAVY.com Outdoor dining music noise complaints? St. Charles says Chicago Daily Herald Some talk, some laughs and some music: Signature Sounds introduces new online interview series GazetteNET Local medical student holds live music session to raise money for hospitalized children Dayton 24/7 Now San Diego Heartbeat Music Academy are finalists to perform at virtual Presidential Inauguration CBS News 8 Parody 'It Wasn't Me' music video mocks Democrats' hypocrisy about violating own lockdown orders Fox News Holiday sales down at local music store WETM - MyTwinTiers.com 13 Ways Music Got Us Through 2020 Pitchfork Luther College hosts online music weeks for high school students and teachers Luther College News The 20 best music biopics - ranked! | Biopics The Guardian Real-Time Social Music App EarBuds & Bose Encourage Fans to “Listen Like a Pro” Ahead of Divisional Playoff Game Business Wire Music teacher revamps '96 Packers song, 'The glory has returned' FOX 6 Milwaukee Troy Youngblood & Dan Miller : Smoke & Mojo — The Maine Music Project • MUSICFESTNEWS Music Fest News Sexy angels and mermaids abound in Jennifer Lopez's 'In the Morning' video Entertainment Weekly Local music icon Marge Dudeck dies at 85 South Bend Tribune Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett: Why Fans Think Their New Music Videos Are Connected Showbiz Cheat Sheet In new music video, Tavana wants us all to consider our part in creating a 'plastic island' Hawaii News Now Paul Stanley Releases First Full-Length Soul Station Album Music Mayhem Magazine The best songs of 2020 ... that you didn't hear The Guardian I Think Beethoven Encoded His Deafness in His Music The New York Times How Pop Music Fandom Became Sports, Politics, Religion and All-Out War The New York Times BREAKING: Iconic Singer-Songwriter KT Oslin Passes musicrow.com The Year Live Music Stopped Pitchfork The Music Club, 2020 Slate Rebecca Luker, a Broadway Star for Three Decades, Dies at 59 The New York Times MF DOOM, Elusive Bard of Hip-Hop, Dead at 49 Rolling Stone Stimulus Offers $15 Billion in Relief for Struggling Arts Venues The New York Times Grammys Postpone 2021 Ceremony Over Covid-19 Concerns Rolling Stone |
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