New Apostolic
Church
Music Theory Guide
A summary of basic music theory to aid in increasing musical literacy in the
Mpumalanga region.
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Table of Contents
Basics of music theory ............................................................................................... 4
Clefs ....................................................................................................................... 4
Time signatures ...................................................................................................... 5
Note names ............................................................................................................ 6
The Grand Staff ...................................................................................................... 8
Terminology (ABRSM) ............................................................................................ 9
Recorder .................................................................................................................. 10
Introduction to recorder playing ............................................................................ 10
Fingering sheet ..................................................................................................... 10
Marimba ................................................................................................................... 11
Basics of marimba playing (From Lithgow, J. 2016) ............................................. 11
6 rules for playing marimba: ................................................................................. 11
Additional resources ................................................................................................. 12
References ............................................................................................................... 12
Appendix A Recorder sheet music ........................................................................... 13
Appendix B Marimba sheet music ............................................................................ 15
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Basics of music theory
7
9
1
5
8
4
2
3
Figure 1: http://makingmusicfun.net/pdf/sheet_music/toccata-piano.pdf
6
Shown in the figure above is a typical example of sheet music or a music score on
stave notation. Stave notation is the most commonly used method of scoring music
and basically consists of five lines and four spaces.
Every line and space represents a key on the piano.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Treble clef
Bass clef
Time signature
Key signature
A note
Barline
Name of piece
Composer of piece
Tempo indication
Clefs
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Clefs assign notes to certain lines and/or spaces. There are two basic clefs, the
treble clef and the bass clef. The treble clef is also called the G clef. This is because
the staff line it wraps around, is known as G. Any note placed on this line now
becomes G.
The bass clef is also called the F clef for the same reason as mentioned above. The
staff line in between the two dots is F. Any note placed on this line is now F.
The two clefs are joined by middle C. It is so called because it sits in the middle,
between the two systems.
If you have any further questions, have a look at the following website with helpful
videos: http://www.musictheoryvideos.com/clefs.html
Time signatures
Time signatures determine the amount and type of notes in a measure. The
signature is literally two numbers placed over one another, as in a fraction. The
bottom number determines the type of note used, while the number above it
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determines how many, as is shown in the example below.
Theoretically, you can have any time signature. But for the purposes of this guide,
we will look at 3/4, 4/4 and 6/8, since these are the most common ones found.
If there are any further questions, have a look at the following website with helpful
videos: http://www.musictheoryvideos.com/time-signatures.html
Note names
You are already aware that the stave consists of lines and the spaces between the
lines. Each of these lines and spaces have assigned note names, as is shown
below.
Image from: http://neilhawes.com/sstheory/snames1.gif
Note that the letters only go to G before starting again at A. That is because the
musical alphabet is as follows: A; B; C; D; E; F; G.
Now, if musicians had to go through the alphabet every time they got to a new note,
playing a simple piece of music would take much too long. For this reason,
musicians have invented little rhymes to help them remember the notes.
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Image from: http://www.piano-keyboard-guide.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/note-names-of-treble-clef-spaces.png
For the lines, we have:
Now, where the spaces conveniently spell the word ‘FACE’, unfortunately we don’t
have the same luxury with the lines, as you can see.
So, to remember these letters, we use the rhyme “Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit”.
Image from: http://www.musictheory4u.com/images/Clef%20New%20repace%2001web%20L2.png
Every
Good
Boy
Deserves
Fruit
Note the treble clef on these pictures. That is because these rhymes are only valid
for notes on the treble clef.
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For the bass clef, we have different ones:
Image from: http://musicianself.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/treble-and-bass.jpg
All
Good
Cows
Boys
Eat
Do
Grass
Fine
Always
For the spaces, the rhyme is “All Cows Eat Grass”, and for the lines: “Good Boys Do
Fine Always”.
The Grand Staff
The relationship between the treble and the bass clef is shown below.
Image from: http://www.people.vcu.edu/~bhammel/theory/resources/lessons/assets/grand.JPG
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Terminology (ABRSM)
Term
Abbreviation/Symbol Meaning
Accelerando
A tempo
Adagio
Allegro
Allegretto
Accel.
a tempo
adagio
Allegro
Allegretto
Allegro moderato
Andante
Cantabile
Crescendo
Da capo
Dal segno
Allegro moderato
Andante
cantabile
Cresc.
D.C.
D.S.
Decrescendo
Decresc.
Diminuendo
Dim.
Fine
Forte
Fortissimo
Legato
Lento
Mezzo
Mezzo forte
Mezzo piano
Moderato
Pianissimo
Piano
Poco
Rallentando
Ritardando
Ritenuto
Staccato
Tempo
Fine
f
ff
Lento
m
mf
mp
moderato
pp
p
Poco
rall.
rit. / ritard.
rit. / riten.
Stacc.
Tempo
Increase tempo
In time
Slow
Lively
Fairly quick, not as
quick as Allegro
Moderately quick
At a walking pace
In a singing style
Gradually getting louder
Repeat from beginning
Repeat from the segno
sign
Gradually getting
quieter
Gradually getting
quieter
The end
Loud
Very loud
Smoothly
Slow
Half
Moderately loud
Moderately soft
Moderately
Very quiet
Quiet
A little
Gradually getting slower
Gradually getting slower
Held back
Detached
Speed/pace
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Recorder
Introduction to recorder playing
How to hold your recorder: (Note that your left hand is always above your right hand
when playing. )
Image from: http://blowthyhorn.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/sop_recorder_pos.jpg
Fingering sheet
This is a basic chart showing how to play notes on the recorder.
Image from: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/04/51/ca/0451cad81a0425f8b8e528c4661b19b4.jpg
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Marimba
Basics of marimba playing (From Lithgow, J. 2016)
Holding your beaters:
1. Grip each beater firmly between the thumb and index finger.
2. Place your other three fingers lightly around the beater near the end of the
beater. Don’t grip tightly with these three fingers as this will cause tension in
the forearm and will restrict the bouncing action required when playing.
3. Turn your hands over and let the back of your hands face upwards.
4. Now make a V with your beaters and you have the right hand positions.
6 rules for playing marimba:
1. Always bounce your beaters off the bars. When you finish playing a note your
beater should be up in the air and not on the bar.
2. Always play in the middle of the bars. This is usually where the best sound is
found.
3. Don’t extend your index finger on the handle of the beater as this will restrict
your movement.
4. Use wrist action and not a forearm action when you play.
5. Always attempt to alternate your hands when you play. Try never to play two
notes one after the other with the same hand.
6. Don’t bang on your instrument! It is not necessary!
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Additional resources
Musictheory.net is a helpful website with lessons, exercises and apps to answer
any questions you may have about music theory. Available at:
https://www.musictheory.net/
Musictheoryvideos.com is a handy website with videos to accompany the lessons
already provided. Available at:http://www.musictheoryvideos.com/
On the Play Store: Music Theory Helper. An free app to explain all things related to
music theory.
Recorder: Learnrecorder.com is a website dedicated to teaching recorder via the
web. Available at: http://www.learnrecorder.com
Marimba: Marimbaworkshop.co.za is Joan Lithgow’s website with all the
information you could possibly need on marimbas. She also manufactures marimbas
from her workshop in Johannesburg. Available at:
http://www.marimbaworkshop.co.za/training.html
Sheet music: Free sheet music is available from the following websites:
Makingmusicfun.net: http://www.makingmusicfun.net
IMSLP: www.imslp.org
Free scores: http://www.free-scores.com/index_uk.php3
References
ABRSM Grade 1 theory terms. Available at:
http://www.abrsm.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=28118
Lithgow, J. (2016). Introductory Marimba Workshop.
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Appendix A Recorder sheet music
Introduction to playing recorder:
Ode to Joy: Obtained from: http://makingmusicfun.net/pdf/sheet_music/five-note-recorder-sheet-music.pdf
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Amazing Grace: Obtained from http://makingmusicfun.net/pdf/sheet_music/amazing-grace-recorder-solo.pdf
When the Saints: Obtained from http://makingmusicfun.net/pdf/sheet_music/five-note-recorder-sheet-music.pdf
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Appendix B Marimba sheet music
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Marimba Memory Jogger (Lithgow, 2016) for Hamba Nathi (an easy way to
remember what notes to play)
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