In this ETV Classic from 1968, we find Arletta Raley teaching the rudiments of music theory using hand signals, and rhythmic notation, including half-notes, quarter-notes and eighth-notes. She also teaches the word "ostinato," a continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm.
With eight students in the ETV Studio to help with her demonstrations, Mrs. Raley reaches out through the medium of television to students in the classroom. Time for Sounds II gives a glimpse of instructional television in the early days of black and white television in the state of South Carolina.
Jerry Tiemann, then Art Director at ETV, provided the graphics that were used in the animations created for the show's opening and closing. We hope that you will enjoy watching the beginnings of instructional television in the state and Arletta Raley's engaging approach to bringing and understanding of the elements of music to her young students.
Side Notes
- Ostinato - In music, an ostinato (from Italian, compare English obstinate) is a motif or phrase that persistently repeats in the same musical voice, frequently in the same pitch. Well-known ostinato-based pieces include classical compositions such as Ravel's Boléro and the Carol of the Bells, and popular songs such as John Lennon’s “Mind Games” (1973), Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder's "I Feel Love" (1977), Henry Mancini's theme from Peter Gunn (1959), The Who's "Baba O'Riley" (1971), The Verve's "Bitter Sweet Symphony" (1997), and Flo Rida's "Low" (2007).
- Arletta Raley (1936 – 2025) - Obituary.
- Jerome (Jerry) Tiemann - Obituary. Following his military career, Jerry was hired as one of the first four employees at the newly formed South Carolina ETV. He served as art director, building an art department recognized as being on par with NBC and CBS. He retired from ETV after almost four decades.
