Musical Literacy - Contents! The Treble Clef Page 1! The Stave Page 2! Writing notes Page 3! Note Naming Page 4! Octaves Page 8! Crotchet/Minim/Semibreve Pages 9! Time Signature Page 11! Rests Page 13! Bar Numbers Page 15! Steps and Leaps Page 17! Tones and Semitones Page 18! Quavers Page 20! Accidentals Page 21! Legato and Staccato Page 23! Major and Minor Page 25! Ostinato Page 26! Repeats Page 27! Dynamics Page 28! Dotted notes Page 30! Tied Notes Page 31! Tempo Page 32! Dotted Rhythms Page 34! Semiquaver Page 35! Quaver and Semiquaver Rests Page 36!
The Treble Clef Page 1 The treble clef is a symbol that tells us that we will be using high pitches. On a keyboard or piano, this usually tells us to use our right hand. 1. Write on the dotted lines to make treble clefs. Draw them as one continuous line. Some have been partially drawn. 2. Draw six treble clefs on each stave below.
The Stave Page 2 Music is usually written on a set of five lines called a stave. The note-heads can be placed on either lines, see below: Or in a space, see below: 1. Write a note-head on every line. (Oval in shape) 2. Write a note-head in every space. 3. Write a note-head on every line and in every space.
Writing Notes Page 3 Notes on or below the middle line are drawn as stems up (on the right) Notes on or above the middle line are drawn as stems down (on the left) 1. Add the correct stem to each of the note-heads. 2. Add the correct stem to each of the note-heads. With single notes, the stem should be 8 notes apart in length. This is known as an octave.
Note Naming Page 4 Here are the treble clef pitches you will learn in this unit. Middle B C D E F G A B C D E F G A way to remember lines is to use words. For example.! Every Green Bus Drives Fast. Take the first letter of each word and that will give you the corresponding note name. Every Glasgow Bus Drives Fast When it s in a space - use FACE. F A C E
Note Naming (Cont.) Page 5 1. Name these notes: 2. Name these notes: 3. Draw two different Bs: 4. Draw two different Gs
Note Naming (Cont.) Page 6 5. Name the notes to reveal the hidden words:
Note Naming (Cont.) Page 7 6. Write notes to match the note names: B E A D D E E D F A C E
Octaves Page 8 Octave: 8 notes above or below the starting note. e.g C - C F -F etc. 1. This is the note. Write this note 1 octave higher. 2. This is the note. Write this note 1 octave higher.
Note Values (numeracy) Page 9 When we read music, we need to know how long to play the notes for: Crotchet Duration = 1 crotchet beat Appearance = Full head with a stem Minim Semibreve Duration = 2 crotchet beats Appearance = Empty head with a stem Duration = 4 crotchet beats Appearance = Empty head without a stem
Note Values (continued) " 11 Page 10 1. Complete the following musical sums: + + = 5 crotchet beats + + = + + + = x = x - = x x = + + =
Time Signature Page 11 The time signature tells us how many beats there are before we have to draw a bar line. In this example, the 4 means crotchets. The 3 tells us how many crotchets there should be before we draw a bar line. 1. Circle the time signature! 2. Circle a bar line! 3. Completely fill the two empty bars below with crotchets. You may use any pitch. Make sure each bar adds up to 3 crotchet beats. 1. Completely fill the two empty bars with minims and crotchets. You may use any pitch.
Time Signature (cont.) " 13 Page 12 1. Draw a bar line in the correct place
Rests Page 13 When we don t play a note, we call the silence a rest Crotchet Rest Duration = 1 crotchet beat Minim Rest Bar rest Duration = 2 crotchet beats Duration = 1 full bar (any time signature) The minim rest appears just above the middle line.! The bar rest appears just below the second last line
Rests Page 14 1. Trace and complete these crotchet rests 2. Trace the minim rest 3. Draw 8 crotchet rests 4. Draw 8 minim rests 5. Complete the bars using the appropriate rests
Bar Rests Numbers (cont.) Page 15 6. Complete the following bars using the appropriate rests In 3 time, use crotchet rests instead of minim 4 rests
Bar Numbers Page 16 Most of the music played consists of bars. It is important to understand how many bars are in a piece of music. To identify this, look for the bar lines as these mark the start of a new bar. 1. Write the correct bar number at the start of bar 4 and bar 5 (1 and 2 have been done for you). 2. Circle bar 12. 3. Write the correct bar number at the start of bar 15. 1 2
Steps and Leaps Page 17 When notes are next door to each other, we call them steps. When they are 2 or more notes away. We call them leaps. Leap Step These examples are moving in either step or leaps. Circle the correct answer Step or Leaps Step or Leaps Step or Leaps
Tones and Semitones Page 18 If you play all the white notes from C to C on a piano, you will be playing the scale of C Major: The distances between the white and black notes are not always the same.! If two notes are immediately next to each other, then it is called a semitone.! If two notes have 1 note between them, then it is called a tone (2 semitones).
Tones and Semitones (cont.) Page 19 1. Name the black keys with arrows above them C# or or or or or 2. Using tones and semitones, name the distance between the following notes e.g. C to D= tone C to C# = E to F# = A to A# = E to F =! B to C# = G to A = C to Eb = C to E =
Note Values (numeracy) Page 20 Quaver 2 Quavers Duration = 1/2 crotchet beat Duration = 1 crotchet beat 1. Complete the following musical sums: + = 1 + + = + + + = + + - =
Accidentals Page 21 Accidentals are signs that are put just before a note to tell musicians to change pitch (how high or low a sound is).! On a piano, the note to the immediate right is called a sharp and uses this sign: #! F Sharp! The immediate note to the left (1 semitone) is called a flat and uses this sign: If an accidental is to be cancelled, then a natural sign is used to tell us to return to the original (white) note. F natural!
Accidentals (cont.) Page 22 1. Trace then copy 2 next to each sign 2. Trace then add Sharp signs to each note 3. Trace then add Flat signs to each note 2. Trace then add Natural signs to each note
Legato & Staccato Page 23 Music can be played in different ways to give the music contrast. Legato = Smoothly (no gaps) Staccato = Short and Bouncy
Legato & Staccato Page 24 1. This music is to be played smoothly. Draw the appropriate markings. Tip: When it is stems down, the line (phrase mark) is drawn above the stave. 2. This music is to be played staccato. Draw the appropriate markings. 3. This music is to be played staccato. Draw the appropriate markings.
Tonality Major and Minor Page 25 1. Think back to tones and semitones. The distance from C (root note) to E is 2 tones. What is the distance from E to G?! Answer: You can build Major sounding chords using the formula:! Root note - 2 tones - 1 1/2 tones You can build Minor sounding chords using the formula:! Root note - 1 1/2 tones - 2 tones 2. Write the 3 notes for the following chords: If you get stuck, use a keyboard to help with the note names.! 1. F Major = F A C 2. G Major= 3. C Major =! 4. A Minor = 5. E Minor = 6. D minor =
Ostinato Page 26 An ostinato is a repeating rhythm or pattern and is used in many songs and tunes. 1. Write three consecutive bars of ostanati using the following. You will need to draw bar lines.
Repeats Page 27 To avoid copying bars, we can save time by repeating. commands the musician to go back to and play everything again. Once repeated, we skip the 1st time bar and take the 2nd time bar. 1. Bar 8 repeats. Write the bar number of the bar we repeat back from 2. After we have repeated, what happens when we! reach the start of bar 8?!
Dynamics Page 28 Dynamic markings and symbols are used to inform the musician what volume the music should be played. Dynamics Explained = = = = = = = =
Dynamics (cont.) Page 29 Dynamics Explained = Gradually getting louder or = Gradually getting softer 1. The music begins loudly, draw the appropriate symbol (always below the bar).! 2. Bar 8 gradually gets softer, draw the appropriate symbol (always below the bar)! 3. Bar 9 begins medium soft, draw the appropriate symbol.! 4. In the second last bar, the music gets gradually louder. Draw the appropriate symbol.! 5. The last bar begins loudly, draw the appropriate symbol.
Dotted Notes (numeracy) Page 30 Dotted Minim Dotted Crotchet Duration = 3 crotchet beats Duration = 1 & crotchet beats When a dot is placed next to any note, we add on half of its value. E.g Minim (2) plus half of its value (1) = 3 crotchet beats. The dot can be added to any type of note, including crotchets and quavers. 1. Complete the following musical sums: + + = + + = x + =
Tied Notes Page 31 Sometimes musicians play notes that are not a standard length. To do this, we can tie (join) two of the same pitch together to make one note. 3 + 3 = 6 crotchet beats 1. How many crotchet beats are in the following? This note is played once and lasts for crotchet beats. This note is played once and lasts for crotchet beats. This note is played once and lasts for crotchet beats.
Tempo Page 32 Composers usually write in Italian when they want to indicate a tempo (speed) for the performer to play. Allegro rit. Allegro Fast Andante At a walking pace Adagio Slow Rit. Accel. Ritardando = Gradually getting slower (written below the bar) Accelerando = Gradually getting faster (written below the bar)
Tempo (cont.) Page 33 1. This piece of music is to be played at a walking pace. Write the appropriate tempo in the correct place. 2. This piece of music is to be played at a fast pace. Write the appropriate tempo in the correct place. 3. In bar 3, the music is to speed up. Write the appropriate marking to show this (always below the bar).
Note Values Page 34 Dotted Rhythm! Scotch Snap Dotted Rhythm Duration = 1 crotchet beat Duration = 1 crotchet beat 1. Observe the time signature, then fill each bar with a mixture of dotted rhythms. Make all the notes move in step.
Note Values (numeracy) Page 35 Semiquaver 4 Semiquavers Duration = 1/4 crotchet beat Duration = 1 crotchet beat 1. Draw 4 semiquavers using the notes C,D,E and F (all joined together (beamed). 2. Complete the following musical sums (in crotchet beats) + = + + = + + =
Rests Page 36 Quaver Rest Semiquaver Rest Duration = 1/2 crotchet beat Duration = 1/4 crotchet beat 1. Complete the following musical sums. + + = 2 crotchet beats + + = + + = + =