Music is the abstract

Music is the abstract art of arranging vocal or instrumental sounds in a manner that produces a flowing, unified and thoughtful composition that has melody, harmony, rhythm and timbre. In contrast to the other arts, music is not a readily tangible form of expression and is only validated when its sound patterns are skillfully interwoven into a format that is both evocative and appealing to the ears.

Music may be called both the most mathematical and the most abstract of the arts. Unlike words, pictorial images, or dance, however, musical tones in themselves have no concrete associations, and only gain meaning when they are combined into patterns. Through the centuries various philosophers have attempted to integrate theories on the essence of music with their particular world views. Many non-Western cultures and some Western writers as well have perceived it as an inherently mystical force, able to unlock elemental truths or principles that cannot be translated into written or graphic form.

Music is an important part of our lives, and has been an important part of every civilization known to man. Sound is often the first input we receive at birth. A child quickly learns to relate certain sounds to specific occurrences: thus, it learns to recognize its mother's voice and associate it with warmth, nourishment and nurture, even though it is ignorant of words.

Music has been identified as the second category of sound a child relates to, after the voices of the parents. Throughout time, music has been an important means of displaying the ideas, experiences, and feelings of different societies and cultures.

This guide provides information on music and sound as art and entertainment to help you learn all about the world of music. You'll also find information on music theory, history of music, reading music, instrumental music activities, music lessons and music education articles to help you in learning how to read music notes, make your own music, and learn to play and love music.

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