Theory of Music – JSS1 Cultural & Creative Arts Lesson Note (First Term)

The rudiments of music are the basic elements and principles of music notation and theory that every musician must learn first.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define the rudiments of music;
2. name the lines and spaces of the staff in the treble clef and state the use of ledger lines;
3. identify the treble clef and the bass clef;
4. state the number of beats for common note and rest values in 4/4 time;
5. explain what a time signature shows and name four common time signatures;
6. explain common dynamic, tempo and articulation markings.

What are the rudiments of music?

The rudiments of music are the building blocks of music reading and writing, learnt before more difficult musical ideas.

• Notation and theory: the signs and rules used to write music down.
• Reading and writing: the basic principles needed to read and write music.
• Music literacy: the elementary skills every musician must understand.

What is the musical staff?

The staff (stave) is a set of 5 horizontal lines and 4 spaces on which notes are written.

• Lines and spaces: each line and each space stands for a different pitch.
• Position: where a note sits on the staff tells you its pitch.
• Counting: lines and spaces are counted from the bottom upwards.
• Extension: the staff can be extended with ledger lines.

What are the line names in the treble clef?

The lines of the treble clef, from bottom to top, are E, G, B, D, F.

• Memory aid: “Every Good Boy Does Fine”.
• Another option: “Every Good Boy Deserves Favour”.

What are the space names in the treble clef?

The spaces of the treble clef, from bottom to top, are F, A, C, E.

• Memory aid: the letters spell the word “FACE”.

What are ledger lines?

Ledger lines are short lines added above or below the staff to extend its range.

• Use: they hold notes that are too high or too low for the five staff lines.
• Pattern: they follow the same line-and-space pattern as the staff lines.

What are clefs?

A clef is a sign at the start of the staff that fixes the pitch of the lines and spaces.

What is the treble clef (G clef)?

• Pitch: used for higher pitches.
• Shape: it curls around the G line, which is the second line.
• Voices: commonly used for female voices.
• Instruments: violin, flute, trumpet and the right hand of the piano.

What is the bass clef (F clef)?

• Pitch: used for lower pitches.
• Shape: two dots sit on either side of the F line, which is the fourth line.
• Voices: commonly used for male voices.
• Instruments: bass guitar, tuba, trombone and the left hand of the piano.

What are the other clefs?

• Alto clef (C clef): less common, used for the viola.
• Tenor clef: less common, used for certain instruments only.

What are musical notes?

A musical note is a sign that shows how high or low a sound is and how long it lasts.

What are the note values?

There are five common note values: whole note, half note, quarter note, eighth note and sixteenth note.

What are dotted notes?

A dotted note is a note with a dot after it, and the dot adds half the note’s value.

• Dotted half note: 2 + 1 = 3 beats.
• Dotted quarter note: 1 + 1/2 = 1.5 beats.
• Dotted eighth note: 1/2 + 1/4 = 3/4 beat.

What are rests?

A rest is a sign for silence, and each rest has the same length as the note of the same name.

What are time signatures?

A time signature is a pair of numbers at the start of a piece that shows how the beats are grouped.

• Top number: the number of beats in each measure.
• Bottom number: the type of note that gets one beat.
• Effect: it decides the rhythm feel of the music.

What are the common time signatures?

Four common time signatures are 4/4, 3/4, 2/4 and 6/8.

What is the musical alphabet?

The musical alphabet is the seven letters A B C D E F G used to name notes.

• Repeating pattern: after G, the letters start again at A.
• Octaves: notes with the same letter in higher or lower octaves sound similar.
• Clefs: the same seven letters are used on every clef.

What are accidentals?

Accidentals are signs that raise or lower the pitch of a note: the sharp, the flat and the natural.

• Sharp (#): raises the pitch by a half step (semitone), and looks like a hashtag.
• Flat (♭): lowers the pitch by a half step (semitone), and looks like a lowercase b.
• Natural (♮): cancels a sharp or flat and returns the note to its original pitch.
• Duration: a sharp or flat carries through the rest of the measure.

What are bar lines and measures?

A measure (bar) is the space between two bar lines, and bar lines divide music into equal groups of beats.

What are the types of bar lines?

There are four main types of bar line: single, double, final and repeat signs.

• Single bar line: a vertical line through the staff that divides the music into measures.
• Double bar line: two thin lines that mark the end of a section.
• Final bar line: a thin line followed by a thick line that marks the end of the piece.
• Repeat signs: a double bar with dots that tells the player to repeat a section, which saves writing.

What are dynamics?

Dynamics are markings that show how loud or soft music should be played.

What are the volume markings?

What are the gradual changes in volume?

• Crescendo: gradually louder.
• Diminuendo: gradually softer.
• Symbol: both are shown by hairpin signs.

What are tempo markings?

Tempo markings are words, usually Italian, that show the speed of the music.

What are the speed indications?

What are the tempo changes?

• Accelerando: getting faster.
• Ritardando: getting slower.
• Tempo I: return to the original tempo.

What are key signatures?

A key signature is the group of sharps or flats written after the clef to show the key of the piece.

• Purpose: it shows which notes are sharp or flat throughout the piece.
• Position: it appears after the clef at the start of each staff.
• Key: it helps to identify the key, which may be major or minor.
• Order of sharps: F, C, G, D, A, E, B.
• Order of flats: B, E, A, D, G, C, F (the reverse order).

What are articulation marks?

Articulation marks show how each note should be played or joined to the next.

• Staccato: short and detached.
• Legato: smooth and connected.
• Accent: the note is emphasised.
• Tenuto: the note is held for its full value.
• Slur: a curved line that joins notes smoothly.

Why are the rudiments of music important?

The rudiments of music are important because every kind of music study depends on them.

1. Foundation: they support all later music learning.
2. Reading: they make it possible to read music.
3. Common language: musicians in different places read the same signs.
4. Instruments: they are needed for every instrument.
5. Composition: they are the basis for writing new music.
6. Understanding: they improve how well a student understands music.
7. Ensembles: they are needed for playing and singing together in groups.
8. Careers: they are required for work in music.

How can students practise the rudiments of music?

Students learn the rudiments best through short, regular practice.

• Sight-reading: read a short piece every day.
• Note drills: name notes on the staff quickly.
• Rhythm exercises: clap note and rest values.
• Writing practice: copy clefs, notes and rests by hand.
• Flash cards: test signs and their meanings.
• Music theory apps: use them for extra drills.
• Group activities: quiz one another in class.
• Regular review: go over earlier work often.

Evaluation

1. How many lines and spaces does the staff have?
2. Write the names of the lines of the staff in the treble clef, from bottom to top.
3. Which clef has two dots around the F line?
4. How many beats does a dotted half note get?
5. What do the top and bottom numbers of a time signature tell you?

Assignment

Make a one-page theory chart that shows the following:

1. a drawn staff with the names of its lines and spaces in the treble clef;
2. the five note values with the number of beats each gets in 4/4 time;
3. the six volume markings from pp to ff with the meaning of each.