Introduction to music

The definition of a subject matter is a key to understanding that particular subject matter; hence we’re starting this course with the definition of music.
• Music is simply organized sound
• Music is the combination of sound which is pleasant to the ear.
• It can also be said to be the organization of sound in a melodious manner.
• Music is a universal language; it is the same all over the world.
• Music also is the expression of the soul.
SOME MUSIC CONCEPTS:
• Bar-lines: The bar line is the vertical line cutting through the stave at regular intervals. It measures the pulse of a music piece..
• Double bar-lines: It signifies the end of a musical work
• Intensity: is one of the properties of sound. It refers to the loudness or softness of sound
• Pitch: pitch is also one of the properties of sound that refers to how high or how low a sound is.
• Timbre: it is the quality of sound that differentiates one sound from another. It is also called tone color or tone quality
• Accent: is used when emphasis placed on a particular note
• Ledger lines: short horizontal lines used to extend the stave for the purpose of accommodating notes that either too high or too low
• Tonal relationship: tonality is an organized system of tones in which the tonic is the central point to which the remaining tones are related
• Duration: this refers to how long or short a sound is
• Stave: is a podium for writing musical notes, signs and symbols
• Clef: this is a the first musical sign placed at the beginning of the stave
MUSICAL ALPHABETS
There are seven musical alphabets. These alphabets are gotten from the first seven letters of the English alphabet; they are A B C D E F G. these letters represent each other at both a lower or upper octave, i.e. one can have a lower octave G and an upper octave G, the same applies to all the other alphabets.