When exploring music theory basics, the first question we must ask is simple: What is music? The sound of music is almost as prevalent in our world as the very air we breathe. Numerous species of insects, birds, and mammals can be heard singing sweet melodies in nature. We hear different styles of music played in grocery stores, restaurants, and shopping malls. Wherever people gather — at movies, churches, sports events, elevators, or offices — music is usually there. And if we consider all the many ways we intentionally listen to our preferred artists, we quickly realize that we are surrounded by the sound of music.
We all know music when we hear it, and we have our favorite songs, but actually defining music can be challenging. Understanding this definition is one of the first steps in learning music theory basics. Dictionary.com defines music as “an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color.”
More simply stated, music is the combination of frequencies and patterns of time — different tones or notes (frequencies) expressed in different rhythms (patterns of time). We hear multiple tones at the same time in harmony and chords. The patterns of time can be expressed in a repeated pulse and can even exist without any tones being heard during times of musical silence.
Why music sounds different: genres and musical expression
Because music is an art, we all experience it differently — what is beautiful music to one person may not be to another. Many factors influence our musical tastes, including our culture and heritage, and the music to which we were exposed when we were young. As a result of the evolution of musical tastes and their influence upon music over the past 75 years, a sea of new musical genres has emerged.
Some estimates report that over 1,200 musical genres exist in our world today, and the count may be much higher. This is such a powerful sign of how different music styles appeal to various people. How is it possible to make sense of all these different musical genres? It’s important to remember that every song within all these genres includes some combination of tones and patterns of time.
Musical notation: the language behind music theory basics
Fortunately for Western-music lovers around the world, a universal musical language exists that captures and manages the different tones and patterns of time of music, which is called musical notation. Musical notation is the printed music in a hymnal or octavo we use when we’re singing or playing our instrument.
As with any language, musical notation (or reading music) can be learned through a step-by-step process that provides all the information required for playing an instrument or singing well. That’s the process we are about to begin as we explore music theory basics and beyond in this CLEF Life series on music theory. In future weeks, we’ll see how notation captures rhythm, single or multiple tones at a time, and directions for how loud or soft tones should be executed. We’ll discuss how to make sense of the musical roadmap provided within the printed music and the different symbols that control the pitch of notes for different voices and instruments. Basically, we will provide all the information you need to effectively read music.
How music theory basics strengthen ensemble musicians
Consider this: the better we know Spanish, the better we are able to communicate with other Spanish-speaking people. It’s the same with music — the better we know musical notation, the better musician or singer we will become and the better we can make music with others. If you are a novice singer in the choir or have sung for 40 years, knowing musical notation will make singing easier and more fun. If you are a guitarist (or any other musician) who has never embraced learning musical notation, it’s time to take the next step! Musical notation is the very essence of all things music — the sooner we take that next step, the better equipped we will be to becoming an even better singer or musician. Learning these music theory basics will give you the foundation you need to read music with confidence and make music more freely with others.
Written by Steve Petrunak, a founding board member of CLEF and recently retired director of music at St. Blase Catholic Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Steve has worked in music ministry for more than 40 years and is the co-author of “Managing Music Ministry: Beyond Notes and Chords.”
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