🎶Music Theory and Composition Unit 1 – Music Theory Fundamentals

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Music theory studies the fundamental elements of music (pitch, rhythm, harmony, and form) and how they are combined to create musical compositions
• Notation represents musical ideas using a standardized system of symbols, including notes, rests, clefs, and time signatures
• Pitch refers to the perceived frequency of a sound, with higher frequencies corresponding to higher pitches and lower frequencies to lower pitches
• Rhythm describes the temporal organization of music, including the duration of notes, rests, and the placement of accents
• Harmony is the simultaneous sounding of multiple pitches, often in the form of chords, which creates a sense of depth and richness in music
• Melody is a linear succession of pitches that forms a recognizable tune or theme, often the most memorable aspect of a musical composition
• Intervals measure the distance between two pitches, expressed in terms of the number of scale degrees separating them (unison, second, third, etc.)
• Chords are built by stacking intervals, typically thirds, to create triads (three-note chords) and seventh chords (four-note chords)

Pitch and Notation Basics

• The musical alphabet consists of seven letters (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G) that represent the names of pitches
• Staff notation uses a five-line staff to represent pitch, with higher pitches placed higher on the staff and lower pitches placed lower
• Clefs indicate the pitch range of the staff, with the treble clef (or G clef) used for higher pitches and the bass clef (or F clef) used for lower pitches
  • The treble clef is centered on the second line from the bottom, indicating the pitch G4 (the G above middle C)
  • The bass clef is centered on the second line from the top, indicating the pitch F3 (the F below middle C)
• Accidentals modify the pitch of a note by raising or lowering it by a half step
  • Sharps ($\sharp$) raise the pitch by a half step
  • Flats ($\flat$) lower the pitch by a half step
  • Naturals ($\natural$) cancel the effect of a previous sharp or flat
• Enharmonic equivalents are pitches that sound the same but are notated differently (C$\sharp$ and D$\flat$)
• Octaves represent the interval between two pitches with a frequency ratio of 2:1, meaning the higher pitch vibrates twice as fast as the lower pitch

Scales and Key Signatures

• Scales are ordered sequences of pitches that form the basis for melodies and harmonies in a given key
• Diatonic scales are seven-note scales that follow a specific pattern of whole steps (W) and half steps (H), such as the major scale (W-W-H-W-W-W-H) and natural minor scale (W-H-W-W-H-W-W)
• Chromatic scales include all twelve pitches within an octave, ascending or descending by half steps
• Key signatures indicate the sharps or flats that belong to a particular key, placed at the beginning of each staff
  • Sharp keys (G, D, A, E, B, F$\sharp$, C$\sharp$) have sharps in their key signatures, with each new key adding one sharp in a specific order (F$\sharp$, C$\sharp$, G$\sharp$, D$\sharp$, A$\sharp$, E$\sharp$, B$\sharp$)
  • Flat keys (F, B$\flat$, E$\flat$, A$\flat$, D$\flat$, G$\flat$, C$\flat$) have flats in their key signatures, with each new key adding one flat in a specific order (B$\flat$, E$\flat$, A$\flat$, D$\flat$, G$\flat$, C$\flat$, F$\flat$)
• Relative keys are major and minor keys that share the same key signature (C major and A minor, G major and E minor)
• Parallel keys are major and minor keys that share the same tonic note (C major and C minor, G major and G minor)

Intervals and Chord Structure

• Intervals are classified by their quality (perfect, major, minor, augmented, or diminished) and their size (unison, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, or octave)
  • Perfect intervals (unison, fourth, fifth, and octave) are stable and consonant
  • Major and minor intervals (seconds, thirds, sixths, and sevenths) are determined by the number of half steps between the two pitches
  • Augmented intervals are one half step larger than their major or perfect counterparts
  • Diminished intervals are one half step smaller than their minor or perfect counterparts
• Triads are three-note chords built by stacking thirds, with four main types: major (M3 + m3), minor (m3 + M3), augmented (M3 + M3), and diminished (m3 + m3)
• Seventh chords are four-note chords that add a third above a triad, with five main types: major seventh (M7), dominant seventh (m7), minor seventh (m7), half-diminished seventh (m7$\flat$5), and diminished seventh (dim7)
• Inversions occur when the lowest note of a chord is not the root, with first inversion (3rd as the lowest note), second inversion (5th as the lowest note), and third inversion (7th as the lowest note, for seventh chords only)
• Chord progressions describe the sequence of chords in a musical composition, often following common patterns within a given key (I-IV-V-I, ii-V-I)

Rhythm and Time Signatures

• Rhythm is the organization of musical sounds and silences in time, with each note or rest having a specific duration
• Note values represent the relative duration of a note, with whole notes (4 beats), half notes (2 beats), quarter notes (1 beat), eighth notes (1/2 beat), and sixteenth notes (1/4 beat) being the most common
  • Dots and ties can extend the duration of a note
    • A dot after a note increases its duration by half of its original value
    • A tie connects two notes of the same pitch, combining their durations
• Rest values represent the relative duration of a silence, corresponding to the same durations as note values (whole rest, half rest, quarter rest, etc.)
• Time signatures indicate the meter of a piece, with the top number representing the number of beats per measure and the bottom number representing the note value that receives one beat
  • Simple time signatures have a top number of 2, 3, or 4, with quarter notes receiving one beat (2/4, 3/4, 4/4)
  • Compound time signatures have a top number that is a multiple of 3 (6, 9, or 12), with dotted notes receiving one beat (6/8, 9/8, 12/8)
• Tempo refers to the speed at which a piece is performed, often indicated by Italian terms (Allegro, Andante, Adagio) or beats per minute (BPM)
• Syncopation involves placing accents or emphasis on normally unaccented beats or parts of beats, creating a sense of rhythmic tension and forward motion

Melody and Harmony Foundations

• Melody is a linear succession of pitches that forms a recognizable tune or theme, often the most memorable aspect of a musical composition
  • Melodic contour describes the shape of a melody, with rising, falling, or static patterns
  • Melodic intervals are the distances between successive pitches in a melody, which can be categorized as steps (adjacent pitches) or leaps (pitches separated by larger intervals)
• Phrases are musical units that typically consist of four or eight measures, forming a complete musical thought or idea
  • Antecedent phrases end with a sense of incompleteness or tension, often on a dominant harmony
  • Consequent phrases provide a sense of resolution or completion, often ending on a tonic harmony
• Cadences are the endings of phrases or sections, providing a sense of closure or transition
  • Authentic cadences move from the dominant (V) to the tonic (I), with perfect authentic cadences (PAC) ending on the tonic in the melody and imperfect authentic cadences (IAC) ending on a different scale degree
  • Plagal cadences move from the subdominant (IV) to the tonic (I)
  • Half cadences end on the dominant (V), creating a sense of incompleteness or anticipation
  • Deceptive cadences move from the dominant (V) to a harmony other than the tonic, often the submediant (vi)
• Harmony is the simultaneous sounding of multiple pitches, often in the form of chords, which creates a sense of depth and richness in music
  • Diatonic harmony uses chords built from the notes of a particular key, with each scale degree having a corresponding chord (I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°)
  • Chromatic harmony introduces chords or tones outside of the diatonic key, creating a sense of color, tension, or transition
  • Harmonic progression describes the sequence of chords in a musical composition, often following common patterns within a given key (I-IV-V-I, ii-V-I)

Ear Training and Sight-Reading

• Ear training is the process of developing the ability to identify musical elements by ear, such as intervals, chords, scales, and rhythms
  • Interval recognition involves identifying the distance between two pitches, both melodically (played sequentially) and harmonically (played simultaneously)
  • Chord recognition involves identifying the quality and inversion of chords, as well as their function within a harmonic progression
  • Rhythmic dictation involves notating rhythmic patterns accurately after hearing them performed
• Sight-reading is the ability to perform a piece of music at first sight, without prior rehearsal or preparation
  • Strategies for effective sight-reading include:
    • Scanning the piece for key signatures, time signatures, and other important markings before playing
    • Identifying patterns, such as scales, arpeggios, or repeated rhythms
    • Maintaining a steady tempo and avoiding stops or hesitations
    • Prioritizing the melody and harmonic structure over individual note accuracy
• Solfège is a system of syllables (do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti) used to represent the degrees of a scale, aiding in pitch recognition and sight-singing
• Dictation exercises involve notating melodies, rhythms, or harmonic progressions after hearing them performed, helping to develop the connection between sound and symbol

Practical Applications and Exercises

• Composing melodies involves creating original tunes that are memorable, expressive, and well-structured
  • Strategies for melodic composition include:
    • Using a variety of rhythmic patterns and note durations
    • Employing a balance of steps and leaps in the melodic contour
    • Incorporating sequences, repetition, and variation to create unity and interest
    • Ensuring that the melody effectively communicates the intended emotional content
• Harmonizing melodies involves adding chords to support and enhance the melodic line
  • Strategies for harmonization include:
    • Identifying the key and using diatonic chords that fit within that key
    • Choosing chords that support the melodic contour and phrasing
    • Using common chord progressions and cadences to create a sense of structure and resolution
    • Experimenting with chromatic harmonies or substitutions to add variety and interest
• Analyzing scores involves examining the various elements of a musical composition, such as form, melody, harmony, and rhythm, to gain a deeper understanding of how they work together
  • Steps in score analysis include:
    • Identifying the key, meter, and overall form of the piece
    • Labeling phrases, cadences, and significant harmonic events
    • Examining the melodic contour, intervals, and motivic development
    • Considering the role of texture, dynamics, and orchestration in shaping the musical expression
• Transposition is the process of moving a melody or harmonic progression to a different key while maintaining the same interval relationships between notes
  • Strategies for transposition include:
    • Identifying the interval between the original key and the new key
    • Shifting each note of the melody or harmony by that interval, maintaining the same scale degree relationships
    • Adjusting accidentals as necessary to fit the new key signature
• Improvisation is the act of creating music spontaneously, without prior preparation or notation
  • Strategies for effective improvisation include:
    • Mastering scales, arpeggios, and common melodic patterns in various keys
    • Developing a vocabulary of rhythmic ideas and phrasing techniques
    • Listening actively to the harmonic progression and other musicians' contributions
    • Balancing tension and release, repetition and variation, to create a compelling musical narrative