Introduction to the Language of Music.

The universal system of communication between two or more professional musicians by the use of musical signs and symbols is known as the language of Music. Music is pre-historic, but the language of Music is not. When the Lord God laid the foundations of the earth, the morning stars sang and the sons of God shouted for joy (Job 38: 7), Yes! Music is pre-historic. Indeed, Music was not created by man, like we mentioned in previous classroom session, a cursory look at the nature of Music with respect to man, reveals that music is instinctive with man, a mother instinctively sings to her baby and indeed, even lullabies are so known and judged to be lullabies, by basic instincts! No mom, sings rock and pop to put her baby to sleep, all moms (and dad's sometimes) are music composers once babies come around! Thus, Music is instinctive, with man. Since it is instinctive with man, the very important question is who put that instinct in man and why? You see at once that these questions are not something you may just turn your eyes away from! And again, this is one of the reasons music is given. Remember the philosopher who said: "let me make the Music of a nation, and I'll care not who makes its laws..." why? why would he rather make a nations music than her laws? Same reason why some say: like music like people, that is like saying show me your playlist and I'll tell you whom you are, well some may argue that this isn't so, but would such argument not be on very personal notes, on the general is it not actually so, people consciously or subconsciously get their mindsets shaped by what they hear and believe. Therefore, why has the Lord God placed music within the instincts of man? We would get to that shortly, but first let us address another equally important aspect to lay a foundation to the study on the language of Music, and that would be what is musicology? Musicology is basically the study of Music (the basic instincts) intelligently, so as to indeed better understand it and get better (professional) with its usage, the language of Music may be considered to be a product of this intelligent enquiries (study of the basic instincts). This is one of the lots the Lord God the creator of all things has given unto the children of men,  and this like every other lot given man, is unto a common purpose: to point man to something more, even the same as the purpose of nationalities with their respective boundaries, even the same reason why music is instinctive:

Acts 17:24-28

The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope (or feel) for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ 

This is the reason, perhaps the composer would ask: from whence comes this song idea? So unfortunately, only few ever do ask, and thus they end up worshiping the created things rather than the creator. 

Thus, Music is pre-historic and instinctive, but the language of Music is constructed based on intelligent study of musical sounds (the basic instincts). The study has evolved down generations (see assignments on the tonic sol-fa), and the aim still remains to better understand the basics and have a device of effective communication among musicians. How for instance do I explain to a violinist what I desire that he plays? He may be playing yes, but, he isn't playing what the director of Music has in mind, how can this director describe to the fullest details if possible what he wants? How can he have a full ensemble play to purpose? We must keep in mind, the value of purpose, the orchestra must play together, how would the cello know that at this point he should be silent and not play anymore? And how would he know for how long this rest (silence) should serve? You see, the orderliness of things! Yes, it could happen instinctively when one person sings alone, he gets to a point and observes a rest for a set duration, but, with the choir? There's further need, there's need for communication, here's where our learning the language of Music comes in! And as can be seen already, that ought to be a course on its own and in stage 3 it is, therefore, here things are just introductory. In further sections of this lesson we shall look at the following aspects of the language of Music.

1. The stave

2. The sounds called notes (of Music) 

3. The kinds and values of musical notes

4. The basic constituents of a music stave: key signatures and time signatures 

5. The equivalence of Music notes

6. The elements of Music.