February 2000: Building An Unfamiliar New Piece:

Unit 2: Correct Notes

First, try to play the melody which most often occurs in the right hand line. If possible, work your way through the entire piece, if not possible then build it in a series of short sections . If there are phrases, work on one phrase at a time. If there are none, then play up to the first or second long note which often occurs at the end of a musical idea.

Finding correct notes is everyone's first line of attack. But it is very common for people who are sight reading to mix up notes that occur on the internal lines (2, 3, 4) or spaces (2 , 3) of the staff. It is far easier to discern notes on the top or bottom lines or spaces. Therefore, step one is to be thoroughly familiar with the line and space notes of the treble and bass clefs. For the sake of consistency, the musical world has determined that the bottom line of the staff shall be designated as Line 1 and the bottom space as Space 1. We then count the lines upward from 1 to 5 and the spaces upward from 1 to 4. Following is a chart of the line and space notes . Create little sayings to help yourself remember them.

A good way to work with the line and space notes is to get some flash cards from your local music store, or make them yourself using index cards and drawing on each one a single staff with either a treble or bass clef and one note. The set should include cards that have one of each of the line and space notes on each of the clefs (18 cards). To use them, shuffle the set and name each note as it comes up saying the following:

• Name the clef
• State the position of the note, e.g., 2nd line, 4th space, 1st line, etc.
• Recite the sequence of notes for the proper clef
• Match the position to the sequence
• Name the note

Admittedly, this seems silly when you might be able to simply name the note, but a common problem of reading line and space notes is that people often confuse the treble and bass clef notes, or their mnemonic devices, substituting one for the other. By saying each step aloud you are forcing yourself to pay attention to all the elements that will help you to avoid errors of perception. Try it.

See you next month.

Stephanie

*January and February lessons were posted at the same time... find the January lesson in the Archive...Webmaster

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