Reading Music Notes on the Staff
Do you play music, but have wanted to learn how to read music? Here is a lens with resources and materials about reading pitches and rhythms for my students, anyone who wants to read music, and anyone who teaches music. My hope is that the resources will help and encourage you in your studies!
Playing by ear is fun to do and takes much talent, but only playing by ear can place limits on your musicianship. What if you want to share your song with others, or write it down to remember it? What if you wanted to play a song that you have never heard, or one that you can only remember a part of? Reading and writing the notes isn't any harder than reading words, and it can broaden your playing in many ways.
If you can already read music, but want to improve on your listening and reading skills, try these to help you grow into a more accomplished musician! There are several places for "reading" musicians to practice and improve listening / auditory skills of intervals, chord and chord progressions, and improvisation.
This Reading Music lens is joyfully dedicated to the current and past music students of J.O.Y. Music Studio! :D I hope this information helps you become the best musician you can be!
Steven - Try these, and have fun learning your notes!
Bass Clef Practice
Printable Note Name Flashcards ~ More Note Name Flashcards
Eek! Shark! Game
Musical Notes Game (Harder! There are more in the games section below!)
Playing by ear is fun to do and takes much talent, but only playing by ear can place limits on your musicianship. What if you want to share your song with others, or write it down to remember it? What if you wanted to play a song that you have never heard, or one that you can only remember a part of? Reading and writing the notes isn't any harder than reading words, and it can broaden your playing in many ways.
If you can already read music, but want to improve on your listening and reading skills, try these to help you grow into a more accomplished musician! There are several places for "reading" musicians to practice and improve listening / auditory skills of intervals, chord and chord progressions, and improvisation.
This Reading Music lens is joyfully dedicated to the current and past music students of J.O.Y. Music Studio! :D I hope this information helps you become the best musician you can be!
Steven - Try these, and have fun learning your notes!
Bass Clef Practice
Printable Note Name Flashcards ~ More Note Name Flashcards
Eek! Shark! Game
Musical Notes Game (Harder! There are more in the games section below!)
Contents at a Glance
Music Student & Teacher Resources
Joyful Songs' Musical Notes
Join my Facebook page for a daily musical "note" about various aspects of music!
- Joyful Songs
- My music education blog contains music units, lesson plans, lapbooks, worksheets, and games!
I try to add a few new things each month, so please feel free to stop by frequently. :D - J.O.Y. Music Studio
- If you are a parent or student of JOY Music Studio, please feel free to join my studio's private yahoo group. We will also be able to communicate easier to one another. Information sheets that I have given to the students, schedules for ensemble practices, recital information, and TONS of additional resources are there just for you to study and have fun with!
- Thomas J. West Music
- Mr. West has some very nice articles offering student musicians tips about their playing and practicing including the Theta Music Trainer (Free Online Music Ear Training Games).
Searching for Sheet Music Online?
Do you love to play new music you've heard or seen the sheet music for? I know I do! It's really exciting to play a fresh piece, especially when it is something you have enjoyed listening to and want to play yourself. Some people like to play by ear, but if you want something written either in chords alone, entire manscript writing, or multiple arrangements, sheet music gives you a boost. The question is then, where are great places to find sheet music online which are legal, well written, easy to use, and economical?
As a result of a constant quest for quality online music for myself and my music students, I have created a collection of places I thought were helpful. I have listed free sheet music, downloadable sheet music for instant usage, places to order traditional music books from well known publishers, and other lists which will assist you in finding the style and instrumentation that you want.
As a result of a constant quest for quality online music for myself and my music students, I have created a collection of places I thought were helpful. I have listed free sheet music, downloadable sheet music for instant usage, places to order traditional music books from well known publishers, and other lists which will assist you in finding the style and instrumentation that you want.
Learning Music Theory
Music theory involves many different things besides reading notes on a staff. Melody, harmony, pitch, rhythm, expression, dynamics, tone color are just some of the things you can learn about. These web sites contain activities and lessons on more than one aspect of music. The * ones are the most fun and thorough, although a little more difficult. A few of them have adjustable setting to make them easier for children up to advanced! I hope you will find one or more of these useful!
- *Music Theory by Ricci Adam
- Fantastic Online Tutorials! If you are serious about your musical studies, check this one out. The written text is simple and well written but thorough. The trainers are fabulous for helping beginners through advanced. Notice that you can change the settings in each one to fit what you want to concentrate on. May be translated into several languages if you are studying one of them. All activities may be done in an online interactive program with sound, or you may download an offline edition for free.
~ Theory Lessons (37) ~ From note reading to a variety of chord structures.
~ Trainer Programs (10) ~ Notes, Keys, Intervals, Triads, Keyboard, Guitar, Brass, Interval Ear Trainer, Scale
~ Ear Trainer, Chord Ear Trainer
~ Utilities ~ Chord Calculator, Staff Paper Generator, Matrix Generator - *Music Theory Web @ teoria
- A great interactive site for learning and practicing music theory. It contains several pages of tutorials and games where you can adapt the settings to your preference and need.
~ Tutorials ~ Reading Music, Intervals, Scales, Chords, Harmonic Function, & Musical Forms
~ Ear Training Exercises ~ Notes, Rhythms, Intervals, Scales, Key Signatures, Chords, Harmonic Functions
~ Jazz Reference ~ an alphabetical glossary of musical terms. Instead of just giving you a worded definition, it shows you examples to look at and hear.
~ Articles ~ several interesting articles about music theory analysis, composers, instruments, and music history. - *Online Music Theory Helper
- Another one of my favorites! Definitely give this one a try if you want to improve your music theory and auditory skills!
~ Contains: Step by step music theory instruction from note reading through chord progressions
~ Fun Games: notes, keys, intervals (written and auditory), triads, keyboard, scale & chord ear trainers
~ Chord Calculator
~ Staff Music Generators - *Music Theory @ Music Notes
- ~ Note Reading: Pitch, Values, Meter
~ Intervals & Scales: Intervals, Scales, Keys
~ Chords & Symbols: Triads, Inversions, Figured Bass
~ Expression Marks: Tempo, Dynamics, Style - *Music Theory Drills
- ~ Free Music Theory Drills: These are great practices for mastering note reading!
~ Name Drills ~ Piano Keys ~ Guitar Frets ~ String Fingerings ~ Rhythms
~ Key Signatures ~ Intervals ~ Scales ~ Chords ~ Counterpoint - Introduction to Reading Music
- A nice place to start - contains the basic information to get going in your studies.
- Free Music Theory Workbooks
- These contain quite a bit of information. The 19 chapters may be read online, printed out, or saved on your PC. You can also find virtual flashcards and other worksheets.
- Wilbur's Music Tutorial ~ Theory & Practice Tips
- ~ Music Basics
~ Notes
~ Rhythm & Tempo
~ Putting It All Together
~ Advanced Rhythm - Music Theory Lessons
- 26 Theory Lessons, Quiz and Answer Key for each lesson - middle / high school
- How Music Works
- ~ 9 free tutorials plus software you can download for purchase ~ Senior High+
~ This would be easier for someone who already plays an instrument. - Basic Music Theory
- 436 page download (That's because this is just the basic course, wait until you get to advanced. Ahhhhh! Just kidding.) I didn't have time to look carefully, but it looks like tons of mini quizzes to use with the thorough textbook they have for purchase. I think parts of it would be nice review quizzes with any theory program.
- Flash Cards for Music
- Notes on the staff, rhythmic values, and other musical symbols.
- Basic Music Theory Elements
- Several good articles to teach you music theory in the categories of: rhythm, notes, intervals, key signatures, scales, chords, and staff.
- The Music Lab with the San Francisco Symphony Kids
- Follow this colorful fun flash tutorial and games to learn and review numerous musical theory concepts.
~ Basics: staff, clefs, measures, time signature, beat, notes, pitch, duration, note values
~ Tempo: speed, pulse, Italian tempo terms (adagio, andante, moderato, allegro, presto)
~ Rhythm: sounds & silences, repeated patterns, stronger & weaker beats
~ Pitch: high & low, musical alphabet, staff, click on the keyboard and hear the pitches
~ Symbols: notes, staff, dynamics, What's the Symbol? Game
~ Instrumentation: choose different matches of instruments with parts to create
~ Performalator: read the notes on the staff and play on the keyboard according to color
~ Composerizer: click and drag random measures onto a staff to create a new song
~ Harmony: melody, texture, mood, major & minor; harmonizer - listen to melodies and choose different harmonies to change the mood - Music Theory Blog
- Wonderful resources for beginners through advanced music theory!
- Learn Music
- "The Place where you can read about Music and Learn to Read Music" ~ This delightful site created by another music educator has simple articles that will be beneficial to those learning music theory.
Alfred Music Publisher - Music Theory
Thorough, easy to use workbooks!
The Alfred Theory book lay a solid foundation no matter what instrument a student plays. The computer version in interactive and allows students to review concepts as many times as necessary to gain mastership. The print books on the right contain almost exactly the same as the computer version, but is in print. Some editions are one level at a time; some editions contains all three levels in one; and finally other editions come with a CD to use for aural training. Wonderful resources for beginners - intermediate students of music theory.
Reading Pitches on the Staff
The two most important aspects of reading music are the pitches and durations of the notes. There is more, of course, but those two are good to start with. ~ This section has information to learn which notes to play when they are on those sweet little lines and spaces!
- Treble Spaces & Lines, Bass Spaces & Lines
- Click on the pages you are interested in . This is very easy to see and hear the treble clef notes. A fun simple song helps to remember the notes. This can be read and heard online; or you may print or save a pdf of the info.
- Treble Clef Virtual Flashcards
- Read the note on the staff and check your answer.
- Bass Clef Virtual Flashcards
- Read the note on the staff and check your answer.
- Above the Staff Virtual Flashcards
- Read the note on the staff and check your answer.
- Below the Staff Virtual Flashcards
- Read the note on the staff and check your answer.
- Above & Below the Staff
- Read the note on the staff and check your answer.
- Note Names Online Flashcards
- Choose the clef (treble, alto, tenor, or bass), whether or not you want ledger line notes, and if you want flats and sharps to appear on the notes. Then study away! ~ Look on the left of the page at "Music Theory Flashcards" to find other aspects of music to study: key signatures, intervals, triads, piano note names, reading piano notes, guitar note names, and reading guitar notes.
- Sheet Music
- ~ Note Reading Worksheets
~ Tests
~ Lots of free and to purchase sheet music - Learn to Read Music
- Learn about basic note reading skills at ArtsyFartsy.
- Note Reading Games by Piano Pedagogy Plus
- Simple but thorough flash games to practice reading notes on the treble, bass, and c clefs!
Piano & Music Theory
Music theory is easier to learn while learning the piano than other instruments. Piano is recommended as a starting instrument for everyone, even if only for a stepping block to other instruments. Most of my piano students have used the Alfred music theory books along with their lesson books. Alfred has matching level theory books, note reading books, and ear training books to correlate with each lesson level book. Very helpful to reinforce the theory concept you are working on in the songs. The children versions are colorful, creative, and fun!! Students usually ask me when they can do more!
Music Theory for Guitarists
EASY GUITAR THEORY DVD - Play, Write and Understand Music Theory for Guitar
Amazon Price: $11.25 (as of 02/14/2012)
Music theory is an important topic for musicians of all levels, abilities, and styles - including rock, jazz, blues, etcetera, along with classical! What I like about the following series for guitar players is that the lesson is on DVD for multiple viewings until the concepts are well learned. This one is specifically for guitar music theory, but the series contains cool recordings for chords, common rhythms and progressions, and theory materials for bass guitar, also.
Music Theory Lenses
These wonderful pages by fellow Squidoo lensmasters will take you step by step on beginning music theory!
Reading Rhythms on the Staff
The duration of each note you play is pretty important! To see what I mean, sing an easy song you know. Now sing it holding some notes out longer, or making some notes shorter, or a combo of both. Although the same pitches are used, a different pattern of note values (called rhythm) can totally change a piece of music.
Try these links to learn more about types of notes and their values, how they make patterns, and how to count rhythms.
Try these links to learn more about types of notes and their values, how they make patterns, and how to count rhythms.
- Music Press Distress!
- Fun game for kids! After showing you notes and values, you may help the octopus sort the falling notes into the appropriate bins - yes, I said 'octopus'!
- Note & Rest Duration Flashcards
- Answer the questions about note values.
- Fill The Measure Note Durations Game and Cards
- A game to print and play to help reinforce note values and time signatures.
Fun for Kids!!
When children are having fun doing something, they are learning! The information is more likely to 'stick' with them when it has been an enjoyable experience. Here are a few more books students have liked to use!
Jazz Music Theory
Blues Scales, Jazz Chords, & More
Music theory for classical and jazz music are basically the same ~ with a few twists for jazz, blues, and rock! Try these to learn more about jazz foundational chords, scales, and progressions.
- Jazz Resource Center
- *Jazz Theory ~ Chord Symbols, Dominants & Subdominants, Scales - A Simple Approach
*Jazz Tools ~ Piano Voicings A Systematic Approach, Transcription Series
*Jazz Masters ~ McCoy Tyner, CD Reviews - The World of Jazz Improvisation
- "The series of articles below is part of the syllabus for Jazz Improvisation courses MUS 331,332 and 530 at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Instructor: Prof. Joan Wildman"
- Learn Jazz Piano
- Yes, I know it is for jazz piano, but I think all types of instrumentalists will benefit from the information presented!
- Outside Shore Online Music School
- The "Jazz Improvisation Primer" is free to study jazz online.
- Michael Furstner's Jazclass Courses
- Numerous free lessons about music theory and history are found here along with ones for purchase.
Your Favorite Music Resources!
Please list any music theory resources that you have found to be useful in learning music!
1
Circle of 5ths Chart
Wheel for key signature identification.5 points
2
Free Rhythm Flashcards
Beat Boppers.com offers free music rhythm flashcar more...3 points
3
Learn Piano Online
Affordable easy piano lessons2 points
4
Music Theory Worksheets
A free download of music theory worksheets from th more...2 points
5
Teaching Kids to Sing. com
TeachingKidsToSing.com have a range of downloadabl more...1 point
6
How To Read Guitar Tab
How to Read Guitar Tab Chords. To tab a chord the more...1 point
7
Free Guitar Software
You can download these Learn Guitar programs, eboo more...1 point
8
Learn Guitar Theory & Guidelines 903
Since building and naming guitar chords may at tim more...1 point
9
Free Itunes Gift Card - Itunes Gift Certificate
Get Free Itunes Gift Card Codes, Updated Weekly!! more...0 points
10
Sheet Music World
Guide to search free sheet music. A very easy-to-u more...0 points
Ear Training
Improving Your Aural Skills!
Now, what do you do if you read music, but want to improve your listening skills to play by ear? Perfect pitch is a blessed talent only few seem to possess, but most people can train themselves to have better listening skills.
A great many of the websites under "Learning Music Theory" have ear training programs to practice your listening skills that you may want to take a look at! :)
A great many of the websites under "Learning Music Theory" have ear training programs to practice your listening skills that you may want to take a look at! :)
- Interval Identification
- Click to listen to two notes, then identify the intervals or distances between the pitches. See the music theory section above to learn what M2, P5, etc. mean.
- Big Ears: The Original Online Ear Trainer
- Listen to drills and identify them.
- Harmonic Dictation
- Advanced students ~ listen to chord progression and write down what you hear identifying tonic, dominant, and other chords plus writing down alto and tenor parts of the harmony. College music majors need this!
- Contextual Listening
- Advanced ~ Listen to samples to determine the meters, scales and modes, harmonic chordal progressions, and more. Lesson plans are included
- Interval Training
- Listen and identify 25 intervals (timed or untimed, your choice) at this site from Victor Wooten. (I was having fun listening to the comments after each answer!)
Flashcards & Bingo Make Learning Fun!!!
Playing games is a great way to have fun, learn, and review what you know!! These are all games which are fabulous in a general music classroom, music studio, or home.
Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory: Note Naming Flash Cards
Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 02/14/2012)
Essentials of Music Theory: Note Naming Double Bingo
Amazon Price: $12.04 (as of 02/14/2012)
Learn by Playing!
Music Theory Games by Janice Tuck!
Music Reading Games
Free Online & Printable Games!
Some of the below sites have online music games, others have materials for you to print out. They are all free as far as I know. If you are a music teacher or parent who has created other games you would like to share, just let me know in the comment box, or the list above.
- Joyful Songs
- Check out my little place on the web for music games, lessons, and resources.
"Count the Beats" Game
Music Math
Time Signature Game
Woodwind Board Game and Card Games
Music Soccer - game for reading notes - Eek! Shark!
- Choose to play this fun game with treble or bass clef. Three note names must be collected quickly to match the notes on the staff or you will be caught by sharks!
- Music Press Distress!
- Help Oliver the Octopus collect whole notes, half notes, quarter notes and more from the crazy music printing press, and put him put the notes into their correct places!
- Mystery Message Game
- A gameboard and lesson plan are found here.
- Music Manipulatives
- Click on 'Games & Resources" ~ There are so many cool things that I don't know where to start. My favorites are all the flashcards and printable games for music education! Mrs. Layton has very creative and fun ideas!
- Very Cool Flashcards & Games!!
- Mrs. Paradis has numerous songs and sheet music for beginning pianists that she composed to print for free. There are also gorgeous worksheet pages, games, and teaching aids for music theory. Activities and materials to encourage composition are found here also. ~ Look for the sections of her site for flashcards, theory aids, picture scales, staff paper, rhythm, and miscellaneous other materials. Kids will love the appealing designs and variety of games!
- Music Notation Bingo Cards
- They have a trial version of free printable cards, or you can make your own.
- Musical Notes
- Earn 100 points for every note you identify correctly and match with it's piano key. The notes are written in both treble and bass clef and include sharps and flats. It starts easy and becomes harder on each level. The player gets 5 "lives" marked by pianos before the end of the game.
- Music Match Game
- Match notes on the staff to the keys on a piano keyboard with the cute mouse! :)
Computer Software for Learning
Fun Printable Worksheets and More!
- Note Name Worksheets
- These are from a wonderful music education website called "Making Music Fun". The title says it all!
Worksheets:
Color That Note with Charlie the Shark - Don't worry, he looks friendly!
Ready! Set! Go! - Speed Tests - 4 versions - Pick the clef you want to study.
"I Thought That I Was Crazy" - (My dear students, I wanted you to know that I put the worksheet title in quotations so that you would know I wasn't just talking about my sometimes state of mind ~ although some of you may think the title fits me well! :D LOL)
Let's Crossword! Note Names with Scooter and Junior!
Note Code Maker with Oliver Octopus!
Code Breaker with Oliver!
Name That Tune! Worksheet - Free Manuscript Paper
- Several varieties of staff paper to print out for practicing reading and writing notes, or for composing your own piece of music!
- Music Interval Worksheets
- Knowing intervals and patterns make it easier to read music! Practice reading intervals (distances between notes) with these worksheets.
- Making Music Fun Songbook!
- Free printable sheet music in many styles ~ these simple songs can be used to practice reading notes, to sing, or to play on your instrument.
- Music Images
- So many beautiful resources! These are some of the nicest music flashcards I've seen on the web.
For reading music:
~ Music Notation Symbols
~ Free Printable Music Flashcards & Handouts ~ treble and bass clef notes, note values, dynamics, major vs. minor, key signatures, circle of 5th, rests, tempo, and time signature.
Other music materials:
~ Music Icons and Website Sets
~ Instruments Graphics
~ Miscellaneous Music Graphics
~ Printable Guitar Tablature Staff Paper
~ Music Manuscript Paper
~ Links to other music graphics - Rhythm & Note Flashcards
- Currently under construction ~ I'll let you know when it comes back on. ~ Great stuff!
- Montessori Music Materials
- ~ Instrument Cards: Brass, Percussion, String, Woodwind, World Instruments
~ Composer Cards
~ Music Notation Cards: All types of music theory symbols.
~ Music Manipulatives: Staff board and notes to place on it.
~ Music Timeline Demo
Music Units
There are many more, too! Please check my bio page for others.
Music Theory Fun for Classroom & Home!
Music Theory Learning Wrap-Ups: Keys & Notes (new key shape)
"Learning Wrap-Ups is a proven way to motivate students to learn music fundamentals. With the new cool key shape, which holds ten keys together, a single string is used to wrap the key around the right side of the board in order to match the correct answer to a question on the left side. The different wrap-up key sets available are: Keys & Notes, Signs & Symbols, and Rhythm & Vocabulary."
Elementary Music Theory Wall Chart for All Instruments
"Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc - This wall chart gives a complete, easy-to-understand graphical overview of the most important elements of music: note names, intervals, note and rest values and counting, clefs, and other elements of notation as well as the notes on the staff and their location on the keyboard."
Music History & Appreciation
Other music units I wrote for my children, students, and fellow educators. :)
- Teaching Music with Artistic Combinations
- Music is related to every school subject which is why I try to include many different topics along with the musical aspects. This article gives suggestions how to connect music concepts into the other arts.
- Musical Dancing Elephants!
- A musical unit using "The Elephant" from Carnival of the Animals by Camille St. Saens! You will also see a link to an entire "Elephant" unit for science, math, language arts, art, character, and more that I wrote for Homeschool Share.
- Mozart Unit Study ~ Lapbook & Notebook Materials
- Based around Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, this unit study at Homeschool Share contains activities, notebooking and lapbooking materials, and more for almost every subject:
Language Arts (reading, grammar, verbs, prepositions, synonyms and antonyms, and idioms, vocabulary & spelling)
Science (animals - birds)
Bible and Character Studies
Art (Classical Art, music and art)
Social Studies (country - Austria and its ruling leaders, time period information, culture, cooking)
Mathematics (connections to reading rhythmic note values and time signatures)
Links to other Mozart and music sites
Music! (Mozart's life and music, other Austrian composers, Classical Music, styles of music, music theory, instruments and other tone colors,)
Mozart Boardgame to print and play!! - Christmas Music!
- Tons of links to Christmas music resources along with other curricula areas: math, science, social studies, art, language arts, Bible, and many fun activities!
More Music Theory Study Resources
Thirty Days to Music Theory (Classroom Resource)
Ready-To-Use Lessons and Reproducible Activities. By Ellen Wilmeth. (teacher edition). Expressive Art (Choral). 64 pages. Published by Hal Leonard ~ "Here's a fantastic resource for busy music teachers everywhere - a curriculum teaching the basics of music theory in a practical, easy-to-use reproducible kit that's ideal for choirs, bands, general music classes and orchestras. Each of the thirty lessons includes basic music concepts presented in a logical sequence with explanation, vocabulary, activity and practice, all correlated to the National Standards. There are even games and extension activities to encourage creativity and composition. Can be used for whole group, small group or individual study. For Gr. 4-8."
Hal Leonard Pocket Music Theory
A Comprehensive and Convenient Source for All Musicians. By Carl Schroeder, Keith Wyatt. Book (not sheet music). Softcover. 176 pages. Published by Hal Leonard.
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Have fun in your music studies and practice, practice, practice!
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Edutopia
Jan 30, 2012 @ 7:26 pm | delete
- Great lens. Everyone should learn how to read music at some point.
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asteroid
Jan 25, 2012 @ 8:43 pm | delete
- Great comprehensive list for guiding novices. You seem to know a lot about them.
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booklover2
Jan 25, 2012 @ 8:17 am | delete
- I especially liked the guitar parts. Thanks!
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Richard3331
Jan 23, 2012 @ 5:49 pm | delete
- Thank you Lovely useful lens
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jimmyworldstar
Jan 20, 2012 @ 2:35 pm | delete
- Reading music looks like gibberish since I never really learned beyond the basics. It's essential for classical musicians but a lot of people who play guitars simply stick to tabs.
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