ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the relationship between language and learning in music and facilitates students to use both literary and technical language to make their musical understanding and learning explicit. The chapter discusses the sequence of learning implicit in the use of language about music and understands the role of musical criticism in music teaching, learning and assessment. Intuitive language and technical language are not mutually exclusive. The chapter explores the relationship between these two and the way in which each can be used to talk and write about music, and thus extend understanding of music. In developing a technical, musical vocabulary one need to be aware that there are some confusions and misconceptions over the use of certain words and concepts that are common to students and teachers alike. While timbre refers to the quality of the individual sound or collection of sounds, it can get muddled with certain definitions of texture.
