What is the best description of "meter"?

Meter refers to the rhythmic structure of music, specifically how beats are organized into recurring patterns or groups. It is typically defined by the time signature, which indicates how many beats are contained in each measure and what note value is considered one beat. For instance, in a 4/4 meter, there are four beats in a measure, and the quarter note gets one beat.

This organizational aspect is crucial in establishing the feel and flow of a piece of music, as it helps musicians understand where to put emphasis and how to navigate through the rhythm. The meter can invoke different feelings or movements in music, such as the steady march of a 2/4 meter or the flowing waltz feeling of a 3/4 meter.

In contrast, tempo relates to the speed of the beats in a piece, the visual representation of music pertains to notations and scores, and pitch patterns deal with the melodic aspects of music. While all of these elements are important in understanding music holistically, meter specifically focuses on the grouping of beats, which is why it stands out as the best description in this context.