Three key concepts about Melody:

Melody

• Definition: A melody is a sequence of pitches (or tones) perceived as a single musical idea. It is the tune of a song, the part one might hum or sing along to.
• IMPORTANT: Melodies DO NOT WORDS. 
• Melody is often considered the most memorable part of a song. It can express emotions and create a sense of musical narrative.
• Melodies can be simple or complex.
  
  IMPORTANT: notes are written tones. A tone is not visual until you make it into a note.
  
  

Three key concepts about Melody:

1. Pitch: High and Low Sounds:

• Melodies are made up of musical sounds called tones..
• These tones can be high (like a whistle) or low (like a tuba), and this difference in high and low is called pitch.
• A melody is created by stringing together tones of different pitches.
• Simple analogy: Think of a slide – sometimes you go up high, sometimes you go down low. The tones in a melody do the same. 

2. Rhythm: Long and Short Sounds:

• Melodies also have rhythm, which is how long or short the notes are.
• Some notes last longer than others, creating a pattern of long and short sounds.
• This is like the "beat" or the "pulse" of the melody.
• Simple analogy: Think of walking - you can take long strides or short steps. The notes in a melody can have long or short durations. 
  

3. Intervals: The space and distance between:

• Intervals are like steps in music. They tell us how far apart two notes are. Think of it like walking on stairs – each step is a different interval.
• Different intervals make different sounds. Some intervals sound smooth and happy, like a "perfect fifth," which is in the starting notes of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". Others sound a bit shaky or spooky, like a "minor second," which is the smallest interval between adjacent keys on a piano.
• Melodies are built with intervals. Composers choose which intervals to use to make melodies sound exciting, sad, or whatever feeling they want to share.
• Intervals help us recognize tunes. When you hear the same melody played high or low, you can still tell it's the same song because the steps (intervals) between the notes are the same.
• Understanding intervals helps you sing and play music. Knowing the distance between notes makes it easier to learn and perform your favorite songs correctly.

BONUS: Phrases: Musical "Sentences":

• Just like sentences in spoken language, melodies are often broken into smaller parts called phrases.
• These phrases help organize the melody and make it easier to understand and remember.
• A melody might have several phrases that connect together to form a complete musical idea.
• Simple analogy: Think of a story – it has different sentences that work together to tell the whole tale. A melody is the same, with different phrases that make up the whole musical thought. ​