How to Read Music Hand Book

7/30/2019 How to Read Music Hand Book

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Student Manual: How to Read Music in 10 EASY Lessons

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Outcomes of this Course:

Reading music is a skill

Learning the fundamentals of music helps

singing PLUS:

Improves your appreciation of music

Improves your listening skills

Improves your response to the composers,

conductors or directors directions

In short, youll be a better musician!


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Course Overview

1. Note naming

2. Rhythm

3. Sharps, Flats and Naturals

4. Major Keys

5. Review

6. Intervals

7. Minor Keys

8. Bass Clef

9. Sight Reading

10. Review and Test

Heres the schedule for the next 10 weeks.

The test is a simple written test, only to help you treat the work were going

to do together seriously.


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Each Lesson Has 3 Parts

Review homework

Review last weeks material

New material

Exercise

Conclusion

Homework assignment

10 minutes

15 minutes

5 minutes

A

B

C

To make this easier and to improve recall of the material, its a structured

program including review, new material, practice, and homework that will

be reviewed the previous week.

Lesson 5 and 10 will be reviews of the entire content covered in lessons 1-4

and 6-9.


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1 - Note

Naming

Peter Brockmann

2003 www.brockmann.com

This course is designed for teaching church choir members how to read

music.

Assumes 10 lessons, about once per week, for about 30 minutes of class

time.

Each week has a homework assignment that will take 10 minutes tocomplete and reinforces the material covered in the lesson.


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By the End of Lesson 1

You will Know: Octaves

Note names

Basics of the Treble Clef

1 - Note Naming

Every lesson begins with a statement of the learning objective.


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Whats An Octave?

Latin, octofor eight

Notes an octave apart share same note name

Notes an octave apart sound the same because

of the Physics of Music:

A note an octave higher is 2 x the frequency

On a string bass, or guitar a note an octave higher is

1/2 the length

On a pipe organ, a note an octave higher is 1/2 thepipe length

1 - Note Naming

MUSIC MATH:

If the A above middle C has frequency of 440 Hz, and the lowest

note of the piano is four octaves lower, what is the frequency of the

lowest note of the piano?

(HINT: Dont divide by 4) 1 octave below A is _______ Hz

2 octaves below A is _______ Hz




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There Are Only 8 Notes

In An OctaveA B C D E F G

C D E F G

E F A E

1

2 3 4

5 6 7 8

1 - Note Naming

Fill in the names of the notes in the boxes.

F G __ B __ D __ F G __ __

9 10 11 12 13

G __ __ __ __ __ __ G __ __ __

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22


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Pianos Have Octaves Too

Octaves are 8 white keys apart

Groups of 2 and 3 provide landmarks to

indicate note names, note relationships

A

1 - Note Naming

Write the name on each key of the piano.

Review together with the class.


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The Staff and Treble Clef Staff:

Music notation for pitch

Perfected > 1000 years agoby the Catholic church

Five horizontal lines

Note names correspond torelative location on spaceor line of staff

Treble clef

Shaped like a G

Indicates G note, usually

the second line

VG

1 - Note Naming

Write your own Treble Clef, again and again on this staff.

1. Start with a vertical line (top to bottom).

2. Go back to top and draw the top bubble

3. Cross the vertical line at the 4th line.

4. Draw the bottom bulb between the 1st line and the 3rd line, make

sure it coils around the 2nd line.

5. Draw the tail of the clef off the bottom of the vertical line.


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Notes on the Treble Clef Bottom to top:

Spaces: FACE

Lines: Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge

V FACE

VEGB

FD

1 - Note Naming

Memorize these two rules.

Cover the top part and label these lines and these spaces below:

BONUS: What is the name of the note above the top line?

VV

Spaces:

Lines:


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Above & Below the Staff:

Ledger Lines Count down from G:

Space = F

Line = E

Space = D

Ledger line = C

Middle C is 1ledger line below the

treble clef

VC

Ledger lines specify notes near the edges of the clef. Many songs we sing

include notes on ledger lines, usually below the treble clef.


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In Lesson 1 We Covered:

Octaves

Note names

Basics of the Treble Clef

1 - Note Naming

Every lesson ends with a re-statement of the learning objective.


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Lesson 1 Homework

1. Name the white keys of the piano:

2. Name these notes:

V __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20w w w w w w w w ww w w w w w w w w w w

1 - Note Naming

3. Name the note then write in the octave

above, below, above, below, above.

Bring your homework to the next session.

V w w w w w wwF __ __ __ ___ __21 22 23 24 25


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2 - Rhythm

Peter Brockmann



music.


time.


This is lesson 2.

Name:____________

___


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Course Overview

1. Note naming DONE

2. Rhythm


4. Major Keys

5. Review

6. Intervals

7. Minor Keys

8. Bass Clef

9. Sight Reading

10. Review and Test

2 - Rhythm

Heres the schedule for the remaining 9 weeks




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You will Know: Rhythmic notation

Rests

Dotted notes

Time signatures

2 - Rhythm



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Review of Lesson 1:

Review the homework assignment

What is an octave?

Note names:

Spaces of the treble clef?

Lines of the treble clef?

BONUS: What is the name of the note higher

than the top line of the treble clef?

2 - Rhythm


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Rhythmic Notation

Whole Notes

Half Notes

Quarter Notes

Eighth Notes

Sixteen Notes

2 - Rhythm

wH h

QQQQ

E e ee ee eeX xxx xxxx xxxx xxxx

Often times, musicians describe each of these units of rhythm as beats or

fractions of a beat, where a beat is the time of a quarter note.

Whole note = four quarter notes.

Two half notes equal one whole note.

One half note = ___ quarter notes.

Four eighth notes = ___ half notes.

Sixteen sixteenth notes = ___ quarter notes.

NOTE:

Whole notes have no stem.

Half notes are hollow and have a stem.

Quarter notes have a solid note and a stem.

Eighth notes have a solid note, a stem and a tail.

Sixteenth notes have a solid note, a stem and a double tail.

No doubt your experience with music notation reminds you that some

times the stems are up, and sometimes theyre down.

RULE: Stems are usually up for notes below the middle line, and down for

notes above the middle line.


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Clap These Rhythms (Together)

1. H Q e e e e ee Q Q H H w

2. Eeh xxxx qqq e e Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

3. H Q H Q e e H H e e ee Q Q

2 - Rhythm


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Rests

Whole Rest

Half Rests

Quarter Rests

Eighth Rests

Sixteen Rests

2 - Rhythm

r

g g g gr r

Often times, musicians describe each of these units of rhythm as beats or

fractions of a beat, where a beat is the time of a quarter note.

Whole rest = four quarter rests.

Two half rests equal one whole rest.

One half rest = ___ quarter rests.

Four eighth rests = ___ half rests.

Sixteen sixteenth rests = ___ quarter rests.

NOTE:

Whole rests are fuller, so they hang below the line.

Half rests are lighter so they float above the line.

Quarter rests are squiggly.

Eighth rests are like backwards 7s.

Sixteenth rests have double tails.


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1. H Q e e e e g Q Q H w2. Eeh xx x qqq e Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q3. H Q H Q e e H H e e ee Q Q

r

2 - Rhythm


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Dotted Notes

Adding a dot to the end of a note adds 50%

more time to it

Adding a dot to the end of a rest adds 50%

more time to it

Adding a second dot to the end of a note or

rest, adds 50% of the dots value

2 - Rhythm

h. = Q Q Q

h.. = Q Q QE


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Dotted Note Math

Dotted whole Notes

Dotted half Notes

Dotted Quarter Notes

Dotted Eighth Notes

w.h..Q

E .

2 - Rhythm

xxx

=

=

=

=

E E EQ Q Q

h h h


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Time Signatures

Common time = , march

Cut time = , march

Three-quarter time, waltz

Six-eight time, 2 dotted quarters

2 - Rhythm

Cc 44

22

Specify how many beats in a bar.

3468


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Rhythmic notation

Dotted notes

Time signatures

2 - Rhythm



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Lesson 2 Homework

Name the note and how many quarter note

beats it is worth:

w H Q EName: ____ ____ ____ ____

1 2 3 4

Quarter note beats:

__ __ __ __

5 6 7 8

Bring your homework to the next lesson.


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3 - Sharps,

Flats and

Naturals

Peter Brockmann



music.


time.


This is lesson 3.

Name:____________

___


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Course Overview

1. Note naming DONE

2. Rhythm DONE


4. Major Keys

5. Review

6. Intervals

7. Minor Keys

8. Bass Clef

9. Sight Reading

10. Review and Test

3 - Sharps, Flats and Naturals

Heres the schedule for the remaining 8 weeks




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1/2 Steps

Octaves are divided into 12 - 1/2 steps

Immediately adjacent notes (white-black) or

(white-white) on a piano are 1/2 step apart



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Flat

Lowers a note one 1/2 stepb



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Natural

Raises a flat one 1/2 step

Lowers a sharp one 1/2 stepn



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Popular Sharps and Flats

F#

C#

G#

D#

Bb

Eb

Ab

Db

m b


Any note can be sharp or flat.

There are even double sharps (marked as x) or double flats (marked as bb).

Some sharps and some flats have more exposure in practice. Here are the

most popular.

In lesson 4 we will discover how these sharps are formed into major keys.We will also learn how these flats are formed into major keys.

BONUS: Can you think of a memory phrase to help remember the sharps?

BONUS: Can you think of a memory phrase to help remember the flats?


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Sharps

Flats

Natural




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Lesson 3 Homework:

Which symbol is a sharp?

a flat? a natural?

Name the four popular

sharps: __ __ __ __

Name the four popular

flats: __ __ __ __

m

n

b


BONUS: Can you think of a memory phrase to help remember the

popular sharps?

BONUS: Can you think of a memory phrase to help remember thepopular flats?


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4 - Major

Keys

Peter Brockmann



music.


time.


This is lesson 4.

Name:____________

___


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Course Overview

1. Note naming DONE

2. Rhythm DONE

3. Sharps, Flats and Naturals DONE

4. Major Keys

5. Review

6. Intervals

7. Minor Keys

8. Bass Clef

9. Sight Reading

10. Review and Test

4 - Major Keys





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You will Know: Mode

Scale

Key signatures

C, G and F Major keys

4 - Major Keys



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C Major

Label the scale

(WWH, W,

WWH)

Label the note

names

V w w w ww www4 - Major Keys

______ ______

______

______

______

____________

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

C Major has no sharps and no flats.


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G Major

Label the scale

(WWH, W,

WWH)

Label the note

names

V w w w ww wwwm

4 - Major Keys

______ ______

______

______

______

____________

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

G major has one sharp - F# - which is the 7th note in the scale.


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Mode

Scale

Key signatures

C, G and F Major keys

4 - Major Keys



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Lesson 4 Homework

Find twelve songs from your hymnal:

Four that have C Major key signature;

Four that have G Major key signature; and,

Four that have F Major key signature.

Whats the rule for sharp key signatures?

Whats the rule for flat key signatures?

4 - Major Keys

C Major Songs:

# Name

1.

2.

3.

4.

G Major songs:

# Name

1.

2.

3.

4.

F Major songs:

# Name

1.

2.

3.

4.


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5 - Review

Peter Brockmann



music.


time.


This is lesson 5.

Name:____________

___


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Course Overview

1. Note naming DONE

2. Rhythm DONE


4. Major Keys DONE

5. Review

6. Intervals

7. Minor Keys

8. Bass Clef

9. Sight Reading

10. Review and Test

5 - Review





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Note Naming

1. Name the white keys of the piano:


V __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20w w w w w w w w ww w w w w w w w w w w

5 - Review


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Note Naming

3. What is an octave?

4. Note names:



BONUS: What is the name of the note higherthan the top line of the treble clef?

5 - Review


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Rhythm


beats it is worth:

w H Q EName: ____ ____ ____ ____

8 9 10 11

Quarter note beats:

__ __ __ __

12 13 14 15

5 - Review


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Key Signatures

Whats the rule for sharp key signatures?

49.

Whats the rule for flat key signatures?

50.

5 - Review

Add up your correct responses (or add up your mistakes and subtract it

from 50) and multiply by 2 to get % correct. (Add your BONUS points as

regular points too if you got them).

If you scored:

94% + = Excellent! You have real music potential. 80% -93% - Very Good! Hang in there. It gets easier from here.

< 79% - You were careless or did not work hard enough to become

familiar with the material. You should redo lesson 1 in particular.


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In Lessons 1-5 You Mastered:

Note Names

Rhythm

Sharps, Flats and Naturals

Major Keys

5 - Review



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6 - Intervals

Peter Brockmann



music.


time.


This is lesson 7.

Name:____________

___


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Course Overview

1. Note naming DONE

2. Rhythm DONE


4. Major Keys DONE

5. Review DONE

6. Intervals

7. Minor Keys

8. Bass Clef

9. Sight Reading

10. Review and Test

6 - Intervals





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Seconds

Seconds are

adjacent

notes.

Circle all the

seconds in

this scale.

V w w w ww www

6 - Intervals

Hint: there are 7 seconds.

Some are whole steps; some are half steps.

BONUS: Which ones are half steps?


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Perfect Fourth

Perfect fourth is 4notes, 2 whole stepsand 1 half step.

Circle the 4 perfectfourths in this scale.

Draw them on thepiano keyboard too.V w w w ww www

6 - Intervals

Whole

Whole

Half

Only octaves, fourths and fifths can be perfect.

MUSIC HISTORY SIDEBAR: before ~ 600 AD, there was no music in church. Then the

Catholic Church began to recognize the spiritual value in the pitched human voice. The first songs

were chants sung by men (monks, boys and priests), or the liturgy sung aloud by the celebrant.

Unison and octaves were the norm. Later, harmony began as fourths or fifths above the melody of

the chant. These were given the nickname perfect because of the contentment, completeness andserenity these harmonic intervals inspire in the mind.

These fourths are called Perfect because they sound so complete and

stable.

NOTE: You can always sing a perfect fourth by thinking of the opening of

O Christmas Tree.


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Lesson 6 Homework

What are these

intervals?

V ww ww ww ww

6 - Intervals

V ww w wwww w

ww____ ____ ____ ____ ____

1 2 3 4 5

____ ____ ____ ____ ____

6 7 8 9 10

ww


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Course Overview

1. Note naming DONE

2. Rhythm DONE


4. Major Keys DONE

5. Review DONE

6. Intervals DONE

7. Minor Keys

8. Bass Clef

9. Sight Reading

10. Review and Test

7 - Minor Keys





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Recall from Lesson 4:

Mode and Scale Mode, Scale = sequence of whole and half

steps between octaves

Major and Minor modes are the most

popular in western music

7 - Minor Keys

Whole step = 2 x 1/2 steps


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E Minor

Label the scale

(WHW, W, H,

W+, H)

Label the note

names

Note the

accidental. Whatnote is that?V w w w ww www

m

7 - Minor Keys

______ ______

_____

______

______

____________

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

m

V

Key Signaturem

G major has one sharp - F# - which is the 7th note in the major scale. E

minor has the same key signature, but we add in the accidental of the 7th

whenever we need a D#.

This makes the interval between the C and the D# a WHOLE + HALF,

(W+) also known as an AUGMENTED SECOND.


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Key Signatures for Sharp Keys1. The last sharp is the 7th of the scale.

2. Find the Major key.

3. Relative minor key is the 6th of the scale.

V V V V Vm mm mm mm mm mLast sharp: __ __ C# __ __

Major key: __ __ D __ __

Minor key: __ __ B __ __

7 - Minor Keys


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Minor Third

Relative Minor Keys

7 - Minor Keys



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8 - Bass Clef

Peter Brockmann



music.


time.


This is lesson 8.

Name:____________

___


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Course Overview

1. Note naming DONE

2. Rhythm DONE


4. Major Keys DONE

5. Review DONE

6. Intervals DONE

7. Minor Keys DONE

8. Bass Clef

9. Sight Reading

10. Review and Test

8 - Bass Clef





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t

t

Lesson 8 Homework


__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

w w w w w ww w ww w w w

w w w ww w w

8 - Bass Clef



Bring your homework to the next session.

w w w w w wwA __ __ __ ___ __21 22 23 24 25


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10 - Review

Peter Brockmann



music.


time.


This is lesson 10.

Name:____________

___


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Note Naming

3. What is an octave?

4. Note names:



BONUS: What is the name of the note higherthan the top line of the treble clef?

10 - Review


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5 H Q e e e e g Q Q H w6 Eeh xx x qqq e Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q7 H Q H Q e e H H e e ee Q Q

r

10 - Review


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Rhythm


beats it is worth:

w H Q EName: ____ ____ ____ ____

8 9 10 11

Quarter note beats:

__ __ __ __

12 13 14 15

10 - Review


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t t t t t

Key Signatures for Sharp Keys1. The last sharp is the 7th of the scale.

2. Find the Major key.

3. Relative minor key is the 6th of the scale.

m mm mm m

m mm m

Last sharp: __ __ C# __ __

Major key: __ __ D __ __

Minor key: __ __ B __ __

10 - Review


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t

t

Bass Clef


__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86

w w w w w ww w ww w w w

w w w ww w w

10 - Review



w w w w w wwA __ __ __ ___ __87 88 89 90 91


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In This Course You Mastered:

Note Names

Rhythm

Sharps, Flats and Naturals

Major Keys

Intervals

Minor Keys

Bass Clef Sight Reading

10 - Review


How to Read Music Hand Book

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