Basics of Music Theory
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Sounds and Notes: How Music Is Made
Sound is created when something vibrates, sending waves through the air that our ears perceive as music or noise. In music, sound has three key qualities:
🎵 Pitch (High & Low Notes)
Pitch determines how high or low a sound is. In music, pitches are organised into scales, forming the basis of melodies and harmonies.
Notes are named using either the letter system (C, D, E, F, G, A, B) or the solfège system (do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti/si, do). While naming conventions vary, the core principles remain the same.
⏳ Duration (Long & Short Notes)
Duration refers to how long or short a sound lasts - a ringing bell lasts longer than a quick hand clap.
In written music, duration is shown by the shape and fill of a note. A whole note/semibreve (𝅝) lasts longer than a quarter note/quaver (𝅘𝅥𝅮), and notes with stems and flags are usually shorter than notes without.
🔊 Dynamics (Loud & Soft Sounds)
Dynamics indicate how loud or soft a sound is. Whispering is soft (piano, "p"), while shouting is loud (forte, "f"). However, loudness is relative - different instruments have varying volume ranges, and perception of sound levels can change based on context.
Example: A lullaby is typically played softly, while a march is performed with greater volume.
Symbols & Notation ✍ (How We Write Music)
In the previous section, we mentioned about how note symbols can indicate pitch and duration of sound, and introduced dynamic markings. There are many other kinds of markings we can find in a musical score to indicate different elements of music and intention. Some examples:
Similar to note symbols, these indicate duration. However, the duration they are indicating is related to silence, rather than sound.
Rests
A clef indicates the system of pitches used when mapping notes on a staff, helping to keep notes within the staff lines for easier reading.
Clefs
Time signatures define note duration and groupings. The top number shows the beats per bar, while the bottom number indicates the note value that gets one beat.
Time Signatures
There are many other types of symbols, such as tempo markings, articulation markings, and duration/rhythm markings
Other
Reading a Music Score 📖 (Understanding Sheet Music)
When we "read" a score, we are reading and interpreting the musical symbols in order to recreate (or follow along by listening!) the music a composer has created. Sometimes a score is very strict, and sometimes it offers opportunities for more of a performer's interpretation or for improvisation.
Introduction to Harmony 🎼 (How Notes Work Together)
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Basic concepts: Melody vs. harmony, intervals, simple chords
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Visual: Chord diagrams & harmonic examples
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Mini Interactive Exercise: Click chords to hear them
Further Learning
If you would like a more in-depth exploration of music theory, you can book a 1:1 Classical Music Immersion lesson (in Paris or via video call). In these sessions, you'll explore selected classical works, uncover their musical elements, and gain a richer understanding of how music comes to life!