You are now entering the magical world of music. It is enjoyable to discover that this Music Mini Course also contributes to a vital cultural aspect of the world. This has been happening for hundreds of years. Did you know that pianos have existed in some form for more than 500 years? These instruments were first created in the late Medieval Period, and were known as clavichords. The small, hand-pounded “hammers” were made from very light metal-like material. This gave them a metallic sound. To create different pitches or tones, these hammers struck strings with different lengths. Cristofori, an Italian inventor of the clavichord, created the next-generation harpsichord in 1450 A.D. The plecktrum, a mechanism that ‘plucked” the strings and produced a stronger sound than the predecessor, was the next cousin to the clavichord. You can now participate in an ancient musical art form, whether you’re playing an acoustic keyboard that is the closest to the history mentioned or an electronic keyboard.
SOME PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS : PIANO OR KEYBOARD
Is it important if you use the information in this course on a keyboard or piano? It doesn’t matter. There is only one difference between a regular piano and a full-size piano. A full-size piano has 88 keys, which includes both white and black keys. There are many sizes of keyboards. Some keyboards have 60 keys while others have fewer. You can also find digital pianos with 88 keys and electronic keyboards that create very authentic acoustic sounds. No matter how large your instrument is, the ARRANGEMENT and ORDER OF the KEY NAMES are the same for both. You can learn the basics of music on either a keyboard or piano.
Music Terms
These are some of the most important terms in music.
BAR LINE- A vertical line that separates notes into groups.
DOUBLE BAR-LINE – A pair of vertical lines that represent the end of a piece or music.
REPEAT SIGN: Double bar with two dots at each end of a section of music or piece of music that indicates that the section will be repeated.
MEASURE – The distance between two bars lines.
TREBLE CLEF – This is the S-shaped symbol that stands for notes with the right hand. This symbol is also known as the G clef, since the inner curve rests on the G line.
BASS CLEF- This is the reversed C-shaped symbol that stands for notes played with left hand. This clef is also known as the F-clef because the dots that surround the F line are two.
STAFF – The five lines and four spaces in both the bass clef and the treble clef.
QUARTER NOTE – A musical symbol that has a solid note head and stem, which gives one count of sound.
QUARTERREST – A musical symbol resembling an upside down W that receives one count of silence.
HALF NOTE: Musical symbol that has a hollow note head and stem, which can produce two counts of sound.
HALF REST: Solid half block on the third line of staff, which receives two counts silence.
DOTTED HALF NOTE – A musical symbol that includes a hollow note head, dot, and stem. It can produce three sounds.
WHOLE NOTE – A musical symbol that looks like a circle on a staff, which receives four counts of sound.
WHOLE REST- A solid half block suspended from the second line of the staff, which receives four counts silence.
CHORD – Two or three notes are played simultaneously.
BLOCKED CHORD: Two or more notes of the same chord are played simultaneously.
BROKEN CHORD – Two or more notes of the same chord are played in succession.
INTERVAL – The distance between two notes of the musical staff.
FINGERING – This refers to the number of fingers used to play a specific note (See Chapter 2: Fingering).
CURVED FINGERS – This refers to the position of the fingers at the tips of each finger. This position is ideal for keyboard or piano playing because it builds finger strength and independence.
INTRODUCTION to THE WHITE KIES
Only seven (7) letters can be used on the piano. Two simple ways are available to remember and visualize the names of white keys on your keyboard and piano. The electronic keyboard’s note names are the same as the ones on an acoustic piano.
C D F E F A A B D E G A C C D F E G A A B D C E F GA A A B D E E F A A A B D E E F A A A B D C E F E G A A B D E E F A G A A B D E E F A G A A
The ‘CDE note groups are located underneath the two black note groups. The white key letter ‘D’ always locates the letter name ‘D” directly between the two black note groups. ANY TWO BLACK NOTE GROUPS ON THE PIANO HAVE THE LITTER NAME ‘D’ in the white key.
KEYBOARD EXERCISE
Start to use your keyboard NOW to play all the C-D–E groups, starting at the bottom (bottom left) and ending at the top (top right). As you press each key, say C – D-E – E. You will find the F -G -A -B note groups below each of the three black note groups on any keyboard or piano. Find any three black note groups on your keyboard or piano and you will see that the F-G – A – B white keys are directly below them. The three black note groups have ‘F’ and ‘B’ located on the left-hand side. You can just fill in the outer “F” and “B” with G and A, and you’re done!
KEYBOARD EXERCISE
Find all the F-G–A-G white keys beneath each black note group on your keyboard or piano NOW. Play the F-G–A-B groups slowly and steadily, starting at the bottom of your keyboard or piano (lower left hand) and ending at the top of your keyboard or piano (highest right hand). Congratulations! Congratulations!
NOTE NAMES FOR TREBLE & BASS CLEF
Each of the Treble and Bass Clefs have five lines and four spaces. It is easy to learn the line names and spaces (the spaces between them) of each note. The sentences below are for the Treble Clef Line & Space Notes: Treble Clef Line Line Notes (starting at the bottom and moving up) EGB B D F Every Good boy Does Fine (the first letter in each word helps you remember which order the notes are)
Treble Clef Space Notations (starting at the first space and moving up): F A E. Just remember that the treble spaces spell the word “FACE”.
The Bass Clef and Space Notes are: Bass Clef Notes: G D F A Great Big Dogs Fighting Animals Bass Clef Space Nots: A C G All Cars Eat Gas
You now know the names of all white keys on your keyboard or piano. You also know the letter names for each line and the space on the treble or bass clefs. Now you are ready to move on to the next stage of your piano education. You will soon be able to read and understand the music notation on the keyboard or piano.
