Matching Pairs Contemporary Music termsOnline version This is for a class lesson for piano students studying contemporary music ideoms. by Rene Johnson 1 Cloudbursts by Eric Whitacre 2 Cross rhythms such as 5 against 4 or 7 against 8 are common. 3 Putting objects in the piano to create new sounds on the strings or using the piano for knocking or tapping as part of the music. 4 Non-traditional scales 5 Irregular time signatures 6 John Cage Dice Random notes 7 Using one key for the right hand, another key for the left hand. 5/4 or 7/8 Bitonality Polyrhythms Prepared piano Cluster chords Chance Music Blues scales or modes