Year 4 - Music
The golden ratio and music
Compose and create: cosmic programme music
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this optional unit, pupils are introduced to the term, programme music. They study the programme music symphonic work, Deep Field, by Eric Whitacre and use this as inspiration for composing, considering structuring around the golden ratio and the use of small music ideas called golden bricks.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to structure a short musical piece by including the climatic point at the golden ratio.
Key Notes
- The Fibonacci sequence can be shown in a spiral shape.
- We can find this sequence or its related Fibonacci spiral in nature and art.
- The sequence and spiral create a ratio that is approximately ⅔ to ⅓. This is called the golden ratio.
- The golden ratio can often be heard in music, with the climax of the music at the golden ratio point.
- A piece of music can be inspired and built from one small musical idea. Eric Whitacre calls this a 'golden brick'.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Fibonacci sequence: a number sequence where where each number is the sum of the previous two, starting from 0 and 1
- Fibonacci spiral: a visual pattern formed by drawing arcs connecting the corners of squares whose side lengths follow the Fibonacci sequence
- golden ratio: a special or 'perfect' proportion found in nature, art, music and maths that makes things look and sound balanced and beautiful
- climax: the point of the most intensity, the peak of the music
- golden brick: Eric Whitacre's term to describe a small musical idea that is the core building block on which the whole piece is built
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The golden ratio and the golden brick are connected or the same thing.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
The Fibonacci sequence can be shown in a spiral shape. We can find this sequence or its related Fibonacci spiral in nature and art.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'Fibonacci sequence'
a number sequence where where each number is the sum of the previous two, starting from 0 and 1.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: The golden ratio and the golden brick are connected or the same thing. Correction: Here, the word golden is used to suggest beauty, balance or perfection, or its importance. However, these two concepts are not connected. Be sure the pupils understand that Whitacre uses the term 'golden brick' just to mean his small musical idea.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 4 Music guide library.