Almost everybody who has ever attended an orchestral concert will ask themselves how the performers in
the orchestra play their instruments in coordination. A music structure must be well understood so that
music becomes magical. Despite this, if you are new to learning orchestra music then you might find it
improper to jump into music theory at first. But fear not! If oriented correctly, no one is too ignorant to understand the basics and enjoy orchestral music in a new fashion.
Understanding the Language of Music Can Be Challenging
Music is said to be the universal language and similar to any language; it must follow certain set formulations. When you are just beginning your discoveries in orchestra music, these rules might appear confusing at first glance particularly if you have no prior knowledge of music theory. Exactly how does it become unified when there are multiple instruments in play? What abstractions such as ‘key’, ‘tempo’ or ‘dynamics’ mean in the context of the orchestra? Of course, to understand how musicians work and perform together it is impossible to ignore such a thing as a musical theory.
Mastering the Basics of Orchestra Music Theory
The good news is that, learning music theory is definitely possible and does not have to be a nightmare for the new learner.
1. Notes and Pitch
Fundamentally speaking, music comprises notes; a note on the other hand is a sound at a given pitch. In orchestra music, you’ll often see notes written on a staff and this is a set of five horizontal lines. In note reading, where the note is on the staff will tell you which note to play, and signs such as the flat sign (♭) or the sharp sign(♯) will fine tune the note slightly higher or lower. The set of note arrangement is the basic note—A, B, C, D, E, F, and G; they are played at different octaves to embark on producing varying pitches.
2. Scales
A scale is a collection of notes that have been placed in a prescribed sequence of tête. Western music that is most popular is the major scale because the scales produce cheerful or what may be referred to as happy sound. For instance, C major scale is made of notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Every note used in constructing the scale has its own contribution to the general texture of the music and scale forms a basic foundation to enable one appreciate things such as key signatures and harmony.
In orchestra music, you will also find minor scales, although their sound is generally sad or serious. These scales are needed in order to perform such and such mood in music.
3. Chords and Harmony
In an orchestra each musician is assigned a part that they play collectively to give a harmonized output. Suburb is the occurrence of two or more tones at the same time, rather than successively, and in combination forms the chord. For instance a C major chord will consist of C, E and G notes and at times each instrument in the orchestra plays a different of the chord. This will eventually let you see how each group of instruments in the orchestra works (strings, brass, woods etc.) to come up with a chord.