What do you hear? What do you imagine?

Through the month of May, students have been expanding their musical vocabulary to describe dynamics (how loud), tempo (how fast) and articulation (the character with which music is played).  

Here's some of the terms that they have been learning:

     forte (loud)    piano (quiet)

          presto (fast)    moderato (medium speed)    largo (slow)

                legato (smooth)     marcato  (choppy)

Students have practiced describing recorded music as well as music they make themselves, and have begun to notice how these musical elements impact the mood of the music.  For example, a lullaby can lull a child to sleep with it's quiet, gentle sound, but if you perform the same piece with a loud and choppy voice it may make the same child cry.

Listen to the two pieces below, and try your hand at using the musical vocabulary to describe each piece.  Then consider how these musical elements shape the mood of the music.  You may even want to form a picture your in your head, inspired by the music you hear!  I've included some images that were shared by Ms. Hansen's class to get your imagination started.

CLICK HERE to listen to
Air on a G String
by J. S. Bach

CLICK HERE to listen to
William Tell Overture - Finale
by G. Rossini

I imagine flowers blowing in the wind.                                       I imagine a volcano exploding!

   I imagine meeting my only loved one.                                       I imagine a crowd of people 
                                                                                                        rushing back and forth.