SoundPitch, Dynamics, and Tone

Color

Properties of Sound

• Sound is the vibration of an object.

• There are four properties of sound:

PitchDynamicsTone Color

Duration (not covered)

Properties of Sound

Pitch• Pitch is the highness or lowness

that we hear in a sound– Example: In the Star Spangled Banner,

the pitch on “say” is lower than that of “see.”

•Sound is a form of vibration and when we count the number vibrations per second this is called Frequency

•Sounds with a definite frequency are called a Tone.

Pitch

Tone vs. Noise

The distance between the highest note and the lowest note an instrument can produce is called it’s Range

Dynamics• Dynamics are the loudness or

softness in music

• Volume in music is created by the amount of vibration produced by that sound

Dynamics• Changes in dynamics add spirit and

mood to music• When a performer plays a note louder

than all other notes around it, this is called an Accent

• Dynamic Words: words in Italian in music that tell us how loud or soft to perform the music

Example of Accent: Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky

Crescendo Example: Guitar solo in Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey

Higher order question….

Think of 5 examples of sound from everyday life and give them dynamic markings

Example: The fire alarm is fortissimo.

Tone Color• The quality of a sound that

makes it different from other sounds is called Tone Color (timbre)

• Makes music interesting!

Listening Outlines• Just reading and talking about music

isn’t enough.• You must listen to music as well!

Tone Color Examples• Rolling in the Deep by ADELE• Overture from Robin Hood by The

London Symphony Orchestra• Unomathemba by Ladysmith Black

Mambazo• Until the End by Breaking Benjamin• Bach Cello Suite #1 by Yo yo ma• Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap