Forum

I know what an Interval is. I've even created my own definition of them.

Interval: The amount of (measurement) between A and B.

That's the what, but the why escapes me. Why are intervals one of the very first theory things taught to a new student?

Hmmm......I thought this is a simple way to put it:

'Intervals are the units by which music can be measured. You could say that intervals are to music what inches (or centimeters) are to carpentry. If a carpenter wants to know how "things" fit together, he needs to understand how to measure those "things". If a musician wants to know how music is put together, that musician needs to understand intervals.'

As for reading music, you're not reading it by identifying notes, you read/indentify the intervals, wich leads you from one note (or more than one note) to the next one, for that it's quite important because it shows you where to go.

Does this make sense? :dry:

nesh16041972 wrote:

Hmmm......I thought this is a simple way to put it:

'Intervals are the units by which music can be measured. You could say that intervals are to music what inches (or centimeters) are to carpentry. If a carpenter wants to know how "things" fit together, he needs to understand how to measure those "things". If a musician wants to know how music is put together, that musician needs to understand intervals.'

As for reading music, you're not reading it by identifying notes, you read/indentify the intervals, wich leads you from one note (or more than one note) to the next one, for that it's quite important because it shows you where to go.

Does this make sense? :dry:

Nicely put, Vanessa.

Andy - Not sure why you felt it necessary to come up with your own definition............the word is commonly defined as 'the difference in pitch between two notes' The problem with your definition is that, in music, the parenthesized word should be pitch - and the concept of an amount of pitch seems flawed.

Stuart

IT is the space between notes in upright position combin that with rhythm and a instrument then you get music.... i geuss..

Stuart,

I always come up with my own. It helps me to know that I've understood something if I can rephrase it.

Vanessa's answer gives me the answer I'm looking for. Intervals are taught first because they are the least common denominator in music. As far as measurement goes anyway. If you can't read a ruler, you better not be building houses.

An interval is when you have a break and have your play lunch :laugh:

Thanks