Elements of Music Year 8

RHYTHM

Is the element of TIME in music. When you tap your foot to the music, you are "keeping the beat"
or following the structural rhythmic pulse of the music.

 NOTE DURATION: how long a sound (or silence) lasts.

 TEMPO: the speed of the BEAT

DYNAMICS
Refers to the volume of the song, you can comment on the overall volume, as well as the volume
of different sections.

MELODY

Melody is the element that focuses on pitch, this in contemporary music it is usual the vocalist,
however other instruments might play the melody e.g. a guitar solo.
 PITCH: the highness or lowness of a musical sound
 MELODY: a linear series of pitches
FORM

Most rock music follows a very similar form (structure of the song).

 INTRODUCTION: Usually an instrumental introduction before the melody (vocalist comes in)
 VERSE: story-telling, usually the same melody each time however the words are different.
 CHORUS: Recurring usually after the verse has the same melody and words each time.
 INSTRUMENTAL BREAK: An instrument will play a solo, e.g. the guitar and the drums.
 OUTRO: Usually the instrumental ending to the song.

INSTRUMENTS

For this you list what instruments you can hear.

EMOTION/CHARACTER

How does the song make you feel? (just don’t go by the lyrics!)
How are the elements of music helping create this?
Year 8 Music Listening Template

Name of song: Name of Band:

Learning Intentions

To understand some of the elements of music that make up a song.

Success Criteria

All will be able to identify most of the elements and write a sentence.

Most: will be able to identify all the elements and write a sentence.

Some: will be able to write in a paragraph

Element Sentences
Emotion Character

Instruments

Melody

Rhythm Tempo Note Duration

Dynamics

Form
Sentence Stems Year 8 Music

The emotion/character of the song was ……………

The instruments that I heard were…………………

The melody was in the…………………, the melody moved mostly

in…………….

The tempo of the song was ………………….., and the note duration
were…………………..

The dynamic range of the song was……………………, the dynamics

changed in the………………………

The structure of the song was………………………………..

Class Example We Will Rock You By Queen

The emotion/character of the song was motivational.

The instruments I heard were, electric guitar, male vocalist, bass

guitar and dums.

The melody was in the male vocalist and the melody moved mostly in
step.

The tempo of the song was a medium tempo and the note duration
was long notes in the chorus and quicker notes in the verses.

The dynamic range of the song was small, and the song was mostly
loud.

The form of the song was, Intro, V1, C, V2, C,V3,C,C, Solo/outro.