Music Appreciation Text Questions Unit 1

UNIT ONE: Music Appreciation Text Questions

1. What are the basic elements of music?
Rhythm, tonality, and dynamics are the basic elements of music.
2. What is pitch?
Pitch is the frequency of sound which varies throughout music.
3. What is syncopation? What types of music use syncopation?
Syncopation is the emphasis on normally un-emphasized beats, or resting on a normally emphasized beat. Ska, reggae rap, jazz and some metal groups use syncopation.
4. What are three examples of forms of music? Describe each form.
A Concerto is a musical solo piece accompanied by an orchestra. A Sonata is a piece written for a solo instrument, most of the time being a piano or keyboard instrument. A symphony is a musical piece composed for an entire orchestra, and is often an extended writing.
5. What is form in music?
Form is the framework a composer uses to write a piece of music. It consists of all other musical elements.
Critical Thinking Questions
1. Music has sometimes been referred to as a “universal language.” Why has this description been applied to music? Do you agree or disagree with this assessment? Why?
This description has been placed because music is found around the world, and there is a universal way that music is read. I agree with this assessment because music in Germany can be read easily in Japan, or music written in the U.S can easily be read in Africa.
2. Why is musical notation important? What benefits do musicians and others receive from being able to write down and note aspects of a musical piece?
Musical notation is important because it allows someone to put their feelings about a piece of music, and convey that to other people. This allows musicians and others to know what can be changed to make the music better.
3. In the first part of the unit, we discussed how music is everywhere in society. What are some of the ways that we use music? How do you use music in your own life?
Music is used to enhance the mood of a scene in a movie, or advertisement, it’s used to grab attention of otherwise distracted people, and it is used for personal entertainment. Music is used for me used to distance myself from the people around me who otherwise try to distract me from my work or annoy me.
4. Music can help influence the mood or feeling in a place by the way in which it is played. What is a specific example of this that you have experienced? Discuss the experience (what was the song? how was it played? how did the mood/feeling change?). For example, you might discuss an experience at a concert, religious service, or another place where music played a part in creating the mood.
Music played in the background of a horror movie, it enhances the dramatic effect of fear by a creepy tone, an increasing tempo, and a growing intensity through dynamics.