Music theory

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/music-theory

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is music theory?Music theory is the study of how music is made. It looks at notes, rhythms, chords, and how they work together to create songs.
2. Why do some songs sound good together?Music theory shows which sounds fit nicely together. It explains why some chords feel happy or sad and how they can make a song feel exciting or calm.

Diatonic Scale: A seven-note musical scale with a specific pattern of whole and half steps, forming the basis of Western tonality.
Counterpoint: The relationship between two or more melodic lines played simultaneously, creating harmonic complexity.
Atonality: Music that lacks a clear tonal center or key, often characterized by dissonant harmonies and avoidance of traditional chord progressions.