Music is a part of the soundtrack to our everyday lives. Music is found in many places we don’t even think about, like the background of our favorite TV shows; we listen to the radio, download it, and even go to concerts of our favorite artists. Did you ever wonder about the behind-the-scenes of music: beats, melodies, etc? Take a journey with me to the Music Lab and find out…
There are some basic bits of music theory that I learned in school and used over the course of my life as a musician, both as a singer and an instrumentalist.
If you have ever heard the song “Do Re Mi” from the Sound of Music, you know the names of the pitches of notes.
The notes or pitches are as follows: Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti
Whole Note = 4 beats
Half Note = 2 beats
Quarter Note = 1 beat
Then, there are rests that match these with the same amount of beats.
Rests = no sound
Whole Rest = 4 beats
Half Rest = 2 beats
Quarter Rest = 1 beat
This is a Music Staff.
The notes and rests hang out on the staff either in the lines or spaces.
The notes on the lines are E G B D F.
The notes in the spaces are F A C E.
Check out these music books to learn more about music and music theory!
M is for Music by Kathleen Krull
An alphabet book introducing musical terms, from allegro to zarzuela.
The School of Music by Meurig Bowen
Here you will go an a unique and melodious journey, which introduces aspiring musicians to all kinds of music, from classical, to country, to contemporary…and many more! Meet six musicians and learn about different instruments and genres of music, as well as basic theory for beginners, from melodies and harmonies to pitch and rhythm.
Turn it Up! by National Geographic Kids
Here you will go an a unique and melodious journey, which introduces aspiring musicians to all kinds of music, from classical, to country, to contemporary…and many more! Meet six musicians and learn about different instruments and genres of music, as well as basic theory for beginners, from melodies and harmonies to pitch and rhythm.
Make Music! by Norma Jean Haynes
Here you will go an a unique and melodious journey, which introduces aspiring musicians to all kinds of music, from classical, to country, to contemporary…and many more! Meet six musicians and learn about different instruments and genres of music, as well as basic theory for beginners, from melodies and harmonies to pitch and rhythm.
