Grade 7 | Lesson 1

Fine Arts

Lesson Overview

Great Composers

Making Art

• An Introduction to Bach

Great Composers

In the first part of your 7th grade fine arts course, you'll focus your attention on many of history's great composers and their music. It would be easy to argue that music is the most widespread and beloved of all the traditional art forms as it speaks to a particular culture as much as anything can. This first lesson will be an introduction to classical music, the art of listening and will provide an insight into what you can expect during the first part of this program.

Making Art

What is music? Seems like it might be an easy question to tackle, right? Let's try! Is music sound, noise? One great way to investigate a question like this is to use a bubble map. Have you used one of these before? Basically, you start with one bubble and make associations from it. Here is an example with the word "water" at the center:

Bubble maps can be humongous, especially when it comes to such a broad topic like music. Try one yourself!

Here is one definition of music. Does it seem to fit with what you're thinking?

Music
Music is organized sound that can be replicated through imitation or notation. Music is distinct from noise in that the sounds of a door creaking open or fingernails on a blackboard are irregular and disorganized. The sound waves that map these noises are complex and cannot be heard a identifiable pitches.

Did you hear music with this lesson? If you did not hear music, please e-mail the school or your Online Teacher and let us know. If you did hear music, the way it sounded depended much upon the sound card and sound programs in your computer.

An Introduction to Bach
It's important to become familiar with the name: Johann Sebastian Bach, as you won't be able to escape it as long as you're studying classical music or any form of music for that matter. Bach will be reference to constantly, referred to and looked to for a blueprint. Although you'll undertake a full Bach lesson in lesson #2, so this is an opportunity to become familiar with his work. This link will take you to the first movement of Bach's Second Brandenburg Concerto in F major.

Second Brandenburg Concerto in F major

Research It!
What is classical music? When did it begin? Why is it given such importance? Why do you think someone would "reject" classical music as still having importance?