White Key Notes

Note C is always the white key before the 2 black keys

Black Key Notes (# is a sharp) (b is a flat)

Staff
The musical staff has five lines and four spaces.
Treble Clef
This is the sign at the beginning of the staff. It indicates which notes
are represented by which lines and spaces.

Lines in the Treble Clef

The lines are E-G-B-D-F. Count the lines (1-5) from the bottom of the
staff to the top. (Every Good Boy Does Fine)

Spaces in the Treble Clef

The spaces are F-A-C-E. Count the spaces (1-4) from the bottom of the
staff to the top.

Notes on the Piano Keyboard

The notes on the keyboard are in repeating octaves - C D E F G A B C
Staff
The musical staff has five lines and four spaces.
Bass Clef
This is the sign at the beginning of the staff. It indicates which notes
are represented by which lines and spaces.

Lines in the Bass Clef

The lines are G-B-D-F-A. Count the lines (1-5) from the bottom of the
staff to the top (Good Boys Do Fine Always).

Spaces in the Bass Clef

The spaces are A-C-E-G. Count the spaces (1-4) from the bottom of the
staff to the top. (All Cows Eat Grass)

Notes on the Piano Keyboard

The notes on the keyboard are in repeating octaves
-CDEFGAB-
 Treble Clef Base Clef

Flats and Sharps

Sharp – up a ½ step

Flat – down a ½ step

Natural – do not use a sharp or a flat

 •

Cycle of 5ths

Cycle of 4ths
Homework:

Know all notes for each white key on the piano

Counting – Repeat each line 20 times every day

Line 1. 1, 2, 3, 4

Line 2: 1 and, 2 and, 3 and, 4 and

Line 3: 1 e and uh, 2 e and uh, 3 e and uh, 4 e and uh

Line 4: 1 and uh, 2 and uh, 3 and uh, 4 and uh

Practice Left and Right hand exercises that you were given.

Left Hand (Count 1, 2, 3, 4)

C-G 1
C-A 2
C-Bb 3
C-A 4

F-C 1
F-D 2
F-Eb 3
F-D 4

G-D 1
G-E 2
G-F 3
G-E 4

Right Hand

C, Eb, F, Gb, G, Bb, C

Memorize

Every Good Boy Does Fine

FACE
Good Boys Do Fine Always
All Cows Eat Grass
Understand Musical Notation: Rhythm

Name ___________________________

When writing music, it is very important to tell the musician performing the music how long to hold a particular
note. This is writing in the music as the number of beats to give a certain note. The following table shows how
many beats a note gets in 4/4 time, that is in music written with four beats in a measure, and a quarter note
counting as one beat. This chart works for music in 4/4 time only.

Note Values Time Signature 4/4

Symbol Name Fraction of Beats per note
measure
Whole Whole Measure Four Beats
Half 1/2 of Measure Two Beats
Quarter 1/4 of Measure One Beat
Eighth 1/8 of Measure Half a Beat
Sixteenth 1/16 of Measure Fourth a Beat

The following stanza of music shows each of the notes, and how much of a four beat measure they take up:

4
4

• • A Whole note gets four beats and takes up one whole measure in 4/4 time.
• • A half note gets two beats and it takes two half notes to make a whole measure in 4/4 time.
• • A quarter note gets one beat and it takes four quarter notes to make a whole measure in 4/4 time.

4
4

• • An eighth note gets half a beat and it takes eight eighth notes to make a whole measure in 4/4 time.

4
4

• • A sixteenth not gets on fourth of a beat and it takes 16 sixteenth notes to make a whole measure in 4/4
time.
Notes can also be mixed in a measure. For instance since 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/4 = 1, the following three notes make a
complete measure.

4
4
Directions: In the following measures of music, indicate the missing fraction that makes the number sentence
true, and place the proper note in the measure to complete it.

4
4

1. 1/4 + 1/4 +___+1/4 = 1 2. 1/2 + 1/4 +___= 1 3. 1/2 +___+1/8 + 1/8 = 1

4
4

4. 1/16 + 1/16 + 1/2 + 1/4 + ____ = 1 5. What single note will fill this measure?

6. On the following staff, draw the measure bars to separate the notes in to 4/4 measures.

4
4

7. 7. On the following staff, make your own pattern of notes in 4/4 time. Use at least two, but not more than
four measures. Be sure to use several different notes.
4
4

8. 8. How many quarter notes does it take to make a complete measure in 4/4 time?______

9. 9. How many whole notes does it take to make a complete measure in 4/4 time? ______

10.10. How many eighth notes does it take to make a complete measure in 4/4 time? ______
 Understanding Musical Notation: Pitch

Name___________________________

Directions: Following the instructor, place the note names on the Grand Staff and on the keyboard. You can use
this for reference when writing music of your own for your final project.