DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

8 DIVISION OF CITY SCHOOLS QUEZON CITY

NOVALICHES HIGH SCHOOL
SUBJECT MUSIC
GOVERNMENT PROPERTY NOT FOR SALE

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LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

MUSIC OF EAST ASIA: ANALYZING ELEMENTS OF MUSIC OF JAPAN, KOREA AND CHINA

Background Information for Learners

We traveled and visited countries of East Asia last meeting. In there, we listened to the vocal music
of China , Korea and Japan. As we listened to their songs, we heard different musical instruments used in their
music. We figured out that their folk songs were not learned through musical scale rather, by hearing from their
parents and grandparents.
As we go along the journey to our next lesson, we will recall the classification of musical instruments
according to Hornbostel sachs System. They are aerophone (produces sound by blowing), chordophone (produce
sounds by plucking), idiophone (produce sounds by striking) and membranophone (produce sounds by vibration). 
Now we will have a further understanding about the musical elements reflected in musical ensemble of East
Asian countries such as China, Japan and Korea.
The elements of music are combined to create a beautiful music or song. It is a key to understanding,
analyzing and creating music.

The Elements of Music

1. Timbre – sound quality of a musical note. It distinguishes sounds produced whether voices of a choir,
string, wind, or percussion instruments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=144QVYv__S4

2. Rhythm – it is a pattern in music. One best example is your heartbeat. Listen to your heartbeat and you
will know that there is a rhythm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F21pS3Wo8ko&t=58s

On the wings of love!!!!! By Regine V.

3. Pitch – it is the highness or lowness of a tone.

Bahay kubo..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc4DmKyCYxs

4. Texture – combination of tempo, melody and harmony

Interweaving with one another. It is how sound is organized.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTKTpY6PJL8

5. Form – Structure of a musical composition.

 6. Melody –it is a succession of tones that the
listener hears. It is a combination of pitch and
rhythm. It is the heart of the music.

7. Harmony – two or more sounds played

simultaneously and the result is a pleasing melody
to our ears. It needs a melody to exist.
For example, singing in chorus.

As we continue our discussion, Japanese music is basically meditative in character. Its performance
is highly ritualized. It is based on the 5-tone scale or pentatonic. It is also influenced by the court music of
China. Indian and Indonesia contributed to the development of the Japanese Style. Aside from that,
Japanese music is monophony which observes minute tones, free rhythm, and delicate timbre. It is usually
written in duple meter. On the other hand, Japanese instruments embraced the difference between timbre
and pitches. The same pitch is heard with different fingerings resulting in a vastly dynamic level and tone
color.
The Chinese believed that sound influences the harmony of the universe. Chinese culture conceived
music in the highest sense as a means of calming the passion and of dispelling unrest and lust, rather than as
a form of amusement. Each tone is connected to one of the five elements of nature ( earth, wood, metal,
fire and water). The tonality of Chinese music is pentatonic. But sometimes it is heptatonic .Harmony is also
created in this structure. The texture is homophonic which means only one instrument is playing. Timbre is
very important in Chinese music.
Korean traditional music has five categories and they are rhythm, melody, ornamentation,
instruments and form. It is the art of combining vocal or instrumental sounds for beauty of form or
emotional expression. Their music uses bright rhythm and melodies that offers a more energetic and
capricious contrast for the nation’s collection of classical music.

Learning Competency Code

Analyzes musical elements of selected songs and instrumental pieces heard and performed
MU8SE-IIa-h-2
Directions/Instructions:
LISTENING. Click the link, watch the video and listen to the song.
A. Vocal music
Arirang - https://youtu.be/f99tZQ8XtGM
Sakura - https://youtu.be/jqpFjsMtCb0
Mo Li Hua - https://youtu.be/1-exMxaTUvE
Exercises / Activities
A. Answer the questions briefly.
1.What kind of feeling or mood does it express?
2. What are the musical elements used in the song?
B. Identify the elements of music.
1. It refers to two or more sounds played simultaneously. _______________
2. It is considered as the heart of the music. ___________________
3. It pertains to highness or lowness of a tone. ________________
4. It is the structure of a musical composition. _________________
5. It pertains to a pattern of music. ____________________

Reflection
East Asian Music is based on a pentatonic scale, a musical scale in an octave with five notes such as do, re, mi, so,
and la. Their music is meditative (Japan), calming ( China), and with emotional expression ( Korea).

Key to Correct Answer

Answers may vary
1. sad, calm, peaceful
2. timbre, melody , pitch

Reference for Learners

https://www.slideshare.net/charlene143/japanese-music
https://nmbx.newmusicusa.org/elements-of-japanese-music/
https://www.connollymusic.com/stringovation/what-is-classical-music-in-china#:~:text=From%20the
%20beginning%2C%20Chinese%20music,is%20repeated%20in%20multiple%20variations.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z3r2mp3/revision/2
https://www.britannica.com/art/Korean-music
https://study.com/academy/lesson/music-of-east-asia-scales-themes-instruments-
characteristics.html#:~:text=The%20music%20of%20East%20Asia%2C%20the%20region%20including%20Japan
%2C%20China,scale%2C%20which%20uses%20seven%20notes.

Prepared by

MARILYN E. ESPEDIDO
Teacher III, MAPEH