Themepark
Do you know anyone who can't hum the opening bars of Beethoven's 5th Symphony? Its memorable beginning notes form a pattern, or motif, that is repeated in various ways throughout the movements. The Beatles knew about musical patterns, and so did Frank Sinatra.
Music has always been a part of the human experience--from ancient man's humming while he clubbed a mastadon--to inspiring reflections of man's religious beliefs--to delightfully complex classical fugues--to commericial jingles that play over and over in our minds.
Sample some of the following activities to learn more about musical patterns.
Places To Go People To See Things To Do Teacher Resources Bibliography
The following are places to go (some real and some virtual) to find out about patterns in music.
Listen to the amazing rhythms and patterns of African music.
Travel to the Country Music Hall of Fame and discover the origins of country music.
Visit this world-renowned orchestra and make your own musical patterns. This site lets you explore the ways a piece of music can sound when played by different instruments.
Glide on over to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and see what the big deal was about the musical patterns of Elvis's gyrating hips.
American Treasures of the Library of Congress: Memory (God Bless America). America's unofficial national anthem was composed by an immigrant who left his home in Siberia for America when he was only five years old.
Select the composer you would like to learn more about. As you read along find yourself transported to another country and another time!
An innovative vocalist, composer, and conductor, Bobby McFerrin is famous for his rhythmic vocal explorations. His joyous ditty "Don't Worry, Be Happy" hit the #1 spot on pop charts in almost every country in the world in the late 80s.
Meet Buddy Holly and learn about his contributions to the musical genre rock and roll.
Get to know Fred Astaire and discover his fascinating rhythms.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a Zulu choir who sings a rhythmic a cappella music known as mbaqanga, Isicathamlya or "township jive."
Get to know Omaha Native Americans and listen to the patterns of their music.
Meet dozens of American musicians and experience their personal musical patterns. In this primary source collection, you can hear video and audio recordings of musicians telling their stories in their own voices. You can hear Aaron Copland explain how he named his work, Appalachian Spring.
Learn about musical patterns by downloading free sheet music from several musical genres.
What is the pattern to the classic song, Do Your Ears Hang Low? Find the lyrics to all your favorites from this website.
Browse through musical patterns of over 3000 pieces of sheet music published in the United States between 1850 and 1920.
Test your ability to work with musical patterns. Play this musical game and see how well you do.
Here you'll find all the things we broadcast including our popular and long-running Jazz at Lincoln Center Radio series. You'll also find our latest podcasts including JazzStories featuring behind the scenes stories and personal insights from musicians.
Check out this "tongue-in-cheek" song that recognizes that patterns are indeed everywhere.
Explore the language of music. The patterns in musical language organize sounds so that instead of noise, you get music.
Jazz has its own unique blend of musical patterns. Learn about the swing rhythms of this American musical genre.
- The Kingfisher Young People's Book of Music. New York: Kingfisher, 1996.
- Ardley, Neil. Music: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York, N.Y. : Facts on File, 1986.
- Dixon, Malcolm. Sound and Music. Mankato, Minn.: Smart Apple Media, 1999.
- Hart, Avery. Kids Make Music!: Clapping and Tapping from Bach to Rock. Charlotte, Vt.: Williamson Pub., 1993.
- Love, Presley. Rock Lyrics Trivia: Quiz Book. Honolulu: Hi-Lite Pub. Co., c1992.
- Pogue, David. Classical Music for Dummies. Foster City, CA: IDG Books, c1997.
- Rowe, Julian. Music. Crystal Lake, IL: Rigby Interactive Library, c1997.
- Schleifer, Martha Furman. Women Composers: Music Through the Ages. New York: G.K. Hall, c1996.