Texture
When musicians play together, the combined elements of their individual parts result in a musical texture. These elements can include dynamics, articulation, range of pitch, and much more.
Explore the language that musicians use to describe texture, as well as the ways in which variations in musical texture can transform a melody.
Musical Word Wall
- Texture
- Homophony
- Polyphony
Classroom Discussion Prompts
- Besides dynamics, articulation, and range of pitch, what musical elements do you think contribute to musical texture?
- Choose a score excerpt from an ensemble piece you’re working on. Play the excerpt as a group and then ask your students to describe the excerpt’s musical texture(s). Is it homophonic? Polyphonic? What adjectives would you use to describe it?
- With the same or another excerpt, prompt your students to draw the layers of the music. Don’t worry about making the drawing look “good”—the purpose is to use simple images to represent what you’re hearing.
- Why do you think the composer wrote the excerpt with this musical texture? What feelings were they trying to express? How would it sound with a different texture?
Explore More
Articulation
Explore how articulation can change the mood and intention of a piece of music.
Theme and Variations
Learn how to identify a musical theme, describe its character and tone, and how it can be transformed through various compositional techniques.
Ode to Community
Explore what it means to be a good musical citizen in an ensemble, and learn about the various individual and group roles that support a piece of music.
About Listen and Learn
Join Ensemble Connect fellows in a series of interactive videos that introduce core musicianship skills through guided listening activities. The fellows dissect an excerpt of classical ensemble music through the lens of a particular technique (e.g., articulation), helping students understand the technique and how to apply it to their own music. Alongside each video is a list of suggested prompts for discussion and further learning with your students.
Ensemble Connect is a program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the New York City Department of Education.