Music-Crash-Course
Introduction
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At the time of this release - v1.0 - (January 2001),
limited support from the author is available via e-mail:
Contact the Author by Email
Lets Get Started!
At the time of this release - v1.0 - (January 2001),
limited support from the author is available via e-mail:
Contact the Author by Email
Lets Get Started!
This is the Frame of a music graph.
In order to help the reader quickly identify PITCH (that is, individual pitches), equally spaced horizontal lines are used, as a visual reference.
To make identifying pitches even easier, these lines are viewed (written) in groups of five. The five lines chosen depends upon the range of the music to be performed.
These five lines, called a stave(or staff), will have symbols placed on it (clefs, notes, rests and other symbols). Because the position of these symbols define TIME and PITCH, the "frame" of the graph is not needed. [The "frame" is the two lines with arrows labeled PITCH and TIME]. 
This is a short section of a stave. Staves become longer (horizontally) as needed.Glossary
Beams, beamed
Bbeams are often used to replace flags when two or more eighth and/or sixteenth and/or thirty second notes appear sequentially. When two or more notes are connected by a beam, they are said to be beamed.
Clef
A musical symbol (sign) - there are several clefs. When a clef is place on a stave, a specific range is indicated. Although treble and bass clef are most often used, there are other clefs including alto clef and tenor clef. Though only 3 signs are used in most written music, the placement(s) of these signs on the stave determines the range of the stave. The sign together with it's placement determines the clef (and the name of the clef).
Conventional time
Measured in weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds.
Ebony & Ivory
A partial piano keyboard used in 'A Music Crash Course' as an example instrument.
Flag(s)
Eighth notes have one flag; sixteenth notes have two; thirty-second notes have three and so on. Flags are attached to stems at the opposite end of the note head. Sometimes flags are are replaced by beams.
Frame (of a graph)
Borrowed from mathematics, the frame labels two subjects and shows their relationship. In the case of 'A Music Crash Course', those events are TIME and PITCH.
Harmony
Occurs when more than one note is performed at the same point in TIME
Head
All notes have note heads. The head of a note is placed on the stave, along with a clef, to indicate a specific pitch. The three most common note heads are the whole note head (resembling as circle); a half note head (also resembling a circle but shaped ever so slightly different); a quarter note head (resembling a circle but filled). Quarter note heads are also used with eighth, sixteenth, and other notes - the distinction between them being made by the use of flags. Quarter notes have no flags.
Middle C
The (pitch) C at the middle of a piano keyboard - used as a reference pitch. Middle C is indicated on one ledger line below the staff in treble clef and one ledger line above the staff in bass clef.
Natural
Used to indicate the alteration of a note from an established key signature. Also used to alter a note within a measure after it has been previously assigned an accidental.
Notation
Written music
Note(s)
Symbol placed on a stave to indicate pitches to be performed by the musician reading the music.
Perform
To produce one or more musical pitches from an instrument or voice. In the context of 'A Music Crash Course' a rest is said to be "performed" even though a rest means to "perform nothing".
PITCH
Which sounds to perform on a conventional instrument (or with voice). Although pitches we use in music may be precisely measured by frequency, the study of electronics is not the subject of 'A Music Crash Course'. In the study of acoustics the definition refers to the relative height or depth of a sound which humans hear - measured by vibration in air.
Pitch line
Used in 'A Music Crash Course' in a similar manner as the Music graph.
Range
a specific portion of all possible pitches. A stave has a specific range (unless extended by ledger lines) defined by the use of clefs.
Rest(s)
A symbol placed on a stave to indicate that silence is to be performed by the musician reading the music. In the context of 'A Music Crash Course' a rest is said to be "performed" even though a rest means to "perform nothing".
Stave (or staff)
Five evenly spaced lines; with a clef, each line represents a pitch (as do the spaces between them) - a musical graph without a frame. Some experts will argue there is a difference between a staff and a stave - although they may be correct, it is beyond to scope of 'A Music Crash Course' to define.
Stem
All notes have stems (except the whole note). The stem is a vertical line, one end of which begins at the note head and extends approximately one staff length vertically. When place and the right of the note head, the stem extends upwards, when placed on the left, downwards. The direction of the stem is determined by it's placement and usage.
Sustain (length)
To hold for a specific length of time.
Time
conventional time.
TIME
musical time
Time line
used in 'A Music Crash Course' in a similar manner as the Music graph
Treble Clef
also call G clef; see clef.
Value(s)
TIME values - rests are as important as notes - "value(s)" used to describe a relative amount of musical time.
Bbeams are often used to replace flags when two or more eighth and/or sixteenth and/or thirty second notes appear sequentially. When two or more notes are connected by a beam, they are said to be beamed.
Clef
A musical symbol (sign) - there are several clefs. When a clef is place on a stave, a specific range is indicated. Although treble and bass clef are most often used, there are other clefs including alto clef and tenor clef. Though only 3 signs are used in most written music, the placement(s) of these signs on the stave determines the range of the stave. The sign together with it's placement determines the clef (and the name of the clef).
Conventional time
Measured in weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds.
Ebony & Ivory
A partial piano keyboard used in 'A Music Crash Course' as an example instrument.
Flag(s)
Eighth notes have one flag; sixteenth notes have two; thirty-second notes have three and so on. Flags are attached to stems at the opposite end of the note head. Sometimes flags are are replaced by beams.
Frame (of a graph)
Borrowed from mathematics, the frame labels two subjects and shows their relationship. In the case of 'A Music Crash Course', those events are TIME and PITCH.
Harmony
Occurs when more than one note is performed at the same point in TIME
Head
All notes have note heads. The head of a note is placed on the stave, along with a clef, to indicate a specific pitch. The three most common note heads are the whole note head (resembling as circle); a half note head (also resembling a circle but shaped ever so slightly different); a quarter note head (resembling a circle but filled). Quarter note heads are also used with eighth, sixteenth, and other notes - the distinction between them being made by the use of flags. Quarter notes have no flags.
Middle C
The (pitch) C at the middle of a piano keyboard - used as a reference pitch. Middle C is indicated on one ledger line below the staff in treble clef and one ledger line above the staff in bass clef.
Natural
Used to indicate the alteration of a note from an established key signature. Also used to alter a note within a measure after it has been previously assigned an accidental.
Notation
Written music
Note(s)
Symbol placed on a stave to indicate pitches to be performed by the musician reading the music.
Perform
To produce one or more musical pitches from an instrument or voice. In the context of 'A Music Crash Course' a rest is said to be "performed" even though a rest means to "perform nothing".
PITCH
Which sounds to perform on a conventional instrument (or with voice). Although pitches we use in music may be precisely measured by frequency, the study of electronics is not the subject of 'A Music Crash Course'. In the study of acoustics the definition refers to the relative height or depth of a sound which humans hear - measured by vibration in air.
Pitch line
Used in 'A Music Crash Course' in a similar manner as the Music graph.
Range
a specific portion of all possible pitches. A stave has a specific range (unless extended by ledger lines) defined by the use of clefs.
Rest(s)
A symbol placed on a stave to indicate that silence is to be performed by the musician reading the music. In the context of 'A Music Crash Course' a rest is said to be "performed" even though a rest means to "perform nothing".
Stave (or staff)
Five evenly spaced lines; with a clef, each line represents a pitch (as do the spaces between them) - a musical graph without a frame. Some experts will argue there is a difference between a staff and a stave - although they may be correct, it is beyond to scope of 'A Music Crash Course' to define.
Stem
All notes have stems (except the whole note). The stem is a vertical line, one end of which begins at the note head and extends approximately one staff length vertically. When place and the right of the note head, the stem extends upwards, when placed on the left, downwards. The direction of the stem is determined by it's placement and usage.
Sustain (length)
To hold for a specific length of time.
Time
conventional time.
TIME
musical time
Time line
used in 'A Music Crash Course' in a similar manner as the Music graph
Treble Clef
also call G clef; see clef.
Value(s)
TIME values - rests are as important as notes - "value(s)" used to describe a relative amount of musical time.
Read Me
Agreement
This agreement is between Dave Myers Music Services ("the licensor") and the user ("the licensee") of this software ("the product"). The licensee is granted a non-exclusive and non-transferable license to use this product for personal purposes. The software may not be altered or sold without the written permission of Dave Myers Music Services. The software is covered by all applicable copyright laws. The licensee is not permitted to (i) modify or create derivative works based on this software, (ii) decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code for the product, (iii) sell, lease, sublicense or otherwise transfer rights to the product, or (iv) remove or alter any trademark or copyrighted information in the product. The licensee may copy and distribute the software as long as it has not been modified and provided that the licensee keeps intact all the notices that refer to this License and to the absence of any warranty and gives any other recipients of the Program a copy of this License along with the Program. No fees or compensation may be collected for copying the software. Any mass distribution (that is, any distribution to persons beyond the licensee's personal contacts) is not permitted. Dave Myers Music Services reserves the right to withdraw permission to distribute the software.
Version 1.0 - January 2001
A few words from the author
Designed for musicians, vocalists, or anyone who would like to be able to read music and for those who would like to be able to understand more about the music they read. This material is beginner to intermediate level and takes a fresh, just the facts, approach to the subject. Not intended to be absolutely complete - This is a "crash course" - As such, it is not for everyone. This author has decided not to create numerous pages explaining, speculating or commenting about every possible exception or alternative concerning concepts presented. Subjects planned for future versions include Minor Scales, Modes, Chords and Chord changes, Dynamics, Articulations, Notation conventions, Interval definitions and so on.
-Dave Myers
"A Music Crash Course", system requirements, download and installation instructions may be found on-line:
http://www.davemyers.com/download.htm
[email protected]
This agreement is between Dave Myers Music Services ("the licensor") and the user ("the licensee") of this software ("the product"). The licensee is granted a non-exclusive and non-transferable license to use this product for personal purposes. The software may not be altered or sold without the written permission of Dave Myers Music Services. The software is covered by all applicable copyright laws. The licensee is not permitted to (i) modify or create derivative works based on this software, (ii) decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code for the product, (iii) sell, lease, sublicense or otherwise transfer rights to the product, or (iv) remove or alter any trademark or copyrighted information in the product. The licensee may copy and distribute the software as long as it has not been modified and provided that the licensee keeps intact all the notices that refer to this License and to the absence of any warranty and gives any other recipients of the Program a copy of this License along with the Program. No fees or compensation may be collected for copying the software. Any mass distribution (that is, any distribution to persons beyond the licensee's personal contacts) is not permitted. Dave Myers Music Services reserves the right to withdraw permission to distribute the software.
Version 1.0 - January 2001
A few words from the author
Designed for musicians, vocalists, or anyone who would like to be able to read music and for those who would like to be able to understand more about the music they read. This material is beginner to intermediate level and takes a fresh, just the facts, approach to the subject. Not intended to be absolutely complete - This is a "crash course" - As such, it is not for everyone. This author has decided not to create numerous pages explaining, speculating or commenting about every possible exception or alternative concerning concepts presented. Subjects planned for future versions include Minor Scales, Modes, Chords and Chord changes, Dynamics, Articulations, Notation conventions, Interval definitions and so on.
-Dave Myers
"A Music Crash Course", system requirements, download and installation instructions may be found on-line:
http://www.davemyers.com/download.htm
[email protected]