Introduction to the Elements of Music: Developing Concepts About Music

Children in the prekindergarten and primary grades need to be involved in musical experiences that help them develop musical skills and formulate concepts or understandings about music. This chapter introduces the elements of music that provide a framework for conceptual learning. The elements of music—melody, rhythm, form, harmony/texture, and expressive qualities—are each described separately, but they never occur one at a time in music. They are woven together into a “moving tapestry of music.”