SOME IMPORTANT BASICS

Here, I think I should define certain areas and terminologies. Since I dealt with MELODY in the preceding post, it should defined as "A meaningful series of musical tones." This means that the melody (or "tune") usually has a definite structure, which helps us to remember it. (MELODY is one of the four basic elements of music.)

Melodies of different types can cause us to experience emotional reactions, such as joy, happiness, sadness, etc. There are many other factors which influence our reactions to melodies. When words (lyrics) are made to fit a given melody, the result is a "song."

I originally figured that songs were created when people would set poems to music. But it turns out that our popular song "standards" were created (95% of the time) when lyricists made up words to fit a pre-existing tune.

The next element of music to be considered is the one most people have difficulty spelling correctly: RHYTHM. (While we're at it, let me show you a foolproof way to remember its spelling. Memorize the following 4 letters in this form: R YT M. Put an H in each of the two gaps and presto! RHYTHM. This is the category which combines the following time factors: steady pulsation (beat) ; accents (which are used to create measures;) rate of speed of the beat (tempo) and irregularities called syncopation, which encourage bodily movement.

When you whistle a tune in time with your walking, you are combining a melody with a beat. Some people can keep a steady beat better than others. (This is necessary to be a decently competent musician...it says here...) One who is lacking in this area is said to have a poor (or lousy) beat (sometimes rushing, dragging or just playing erratically.) On the other hand, musicians should also have a good sense of structure (instinctively feeling the measures.) Those who can't are said to have poor "time."

The third element of music is HARMONY. It has to do with the chord changes in a musical piece. If you whistle a tune with somebody and let them do the melody (while you are warbling a second "part," you are creating two-part harmony. The foundation of all harmony is the four part variety, seen and heard in much choral music. The melody is the top part (soprano) and the three lower ones are alto, tenor and bass.

Here comes the dynamite! MOST people are not sensitive to harmony. Those who are have widely varying degrees of skills. Someone who is good at it is said to have "an ear for music." (This usually involves a sensitivity to what the lowest part (bass) is doing.)
Unfortunately, those without harmonic skills are said to have "tin ears." This unflattering term is reserved for would-be musicians who THINK they have good ears for music, but really don't.

The net result of all this (I can tell you as a player) is HARMONY is the area where a piano player can make the most errors without being detected by the general public. I hasten to add, on the other hand, God help you if you make a mistake in the MELODY! This is referred to - by the good folks out there - as a "sour note." Those who detect sour notes usually proclaim their perspicacity with varying degrees of chortling glee.

The fourth element of music is TIMBRE or TIMBER (both pronounced TAMBER.) It has to do with the quality of musical tone. Instruments (and voices) produce widely varying qualities. Their individual characteristics equip them for enhancing emotions, whether happy or sad. So once again, here are the four elements of music:

MELODY, RHYTHM, HARMONY, TIMBRE

Armed with this information, you can be popular at parties. There will be a test tomorrow.
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