Music is the universal language
of mankind”
(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Unit 1
Contents:
INSTRUCTIONS
SECTION 1-THE GRAND STAFF
Lesson 1Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 -
The Staff, Lines & Spaces
Treble Clef and Staff
Bass Clef and Staff
The Grand Staff
SECTION 2: RHYTHM NOTATION
Lesson 1 - Note Values and Rest Values
Lesson 2- Dotted Notes
Lesson 3 - Measures, Bar Lines and
Double Bar Lines
Lesson 4 - Common Time Signatures
SECTION 3 - TIES, SLURS, & REPEATS
Lesson 1- Ties & Slurs
Lesson 2 - Repeat Sign, 1st & 2nd Endings,
D.C., D.S., Coda, & Fine
SECTION 4 - OTHER SCORE MARKINGS
Lesson 1 - Tempo Markings
Lesson 2 - Dynamic Markings
Lesson 3 - Common Articulations
Lesson 4 - Sharps, Flats, & Naturals
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Unit 1
INSTRUCTIONS
This unit will help you learn basic music symbols, elements, and terms. Run the slide show and follow
the links. There are four common types of links.
•Instruction: Videos, illustrations, and examples of key concepts.
•Practice: Interactive activities, videos that can be paused while you are asked to answer questions or
test your knowledge, or games that require you to answer questions about music topics.
•Self Check: Quiz style games. You may be asked to print out the score page or the score certificate for
each of these quizzes or games and give them your teacher in order to track your progress through the
unit.
•Review: Music instructions sites that can be read for review. These are not required, but may be
helpful if you find that you are having trouble with certain sections.
.
You are responsible for all of the information in this unit. View the videos and complete the activities as many
times as you need to in order to gain the understanding necessary to use the information. If you have questions
about any topic or section after you have viewed all resources and completed the activities or if you have
trouble with any of the links, please ask your teacher for help
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Section 1: The Grand Staff
Lesson 1: The Music Staff
Objective
You should be able to identify how many lines are in a music staff & proper note placement on the
lines and spaces.
Instruction/Practice
Watch the following video to 4:50:
•The Music Staff: Getting Ready to Read Music (pianoguyluke)
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Section 1: The Grand Staff
Lesson 2: Treble Clef & Staff
Objective
You should be able to identify the treble clef sign and be proficient at naming notes in the treble
clef.
Instruction
Watch the following video:
Music Theory-Treble Clef (The Music Theory Guy)
Practice
Complete the following activities:
•Note Trainer (8 Notes) Go to Settings and enable treble clef only. Click Settings again to begin
naming correct notes)
•Treble Clef Note Story (Music Tech Teacher)
Self Check
Play the following games:
•Travel through Treble Space (Music Tech Teacher)
•Treble Clef Leger Line Warrior (Music Tech Teacher)
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Section 1: The Grand Staff
Lesson 3: Bass Clef & Staff
Objective
Be able to identify the bass clef sign and be proficient at naming notes in the bass clef.
Instruction
Watch this video: Music theory-Bass Clef (The Music Theory Guy)
Practice
Complete these two activities:
Note Trainer (8 Notes) Click Settings and enable bass clef only. Click Settings again to begin.
Bass Clef Sports Blaster (Music Tech Teacher)
Self Check
Play these games:
Bass Clef Word Warrior (Music Tech Teacher)
Bass Clef Leger Lines (Music Tech Teacher)
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Section 1: The Grand Staff
Lesson 4: The Grand Staff
Objective
You should be able to identify middle C and the relationship between the treble and bass clefs as
they form the grand staff.
Instruction
Watch :
•The Importance of Middle C (themusictheoryguy)
Review-Section 1
If needed, you can review the information in Section 1 by reading the following lesson:
•The Staff, Clefs, and Leger Lines (8 Notes)
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Section 2: Rhythm Notation
Lesson 1: Note and Rest Values
Objective
You should be able to identify whole, half, quarter, eighth and sixteenth notes and rests, as well as the
number of beats each receives in common time.
Instruction
Watch :
•WHOLE, HALF & QUARTER NOTE VALUES: Music Notation Rhythm part 1 (The Piano Chord Book)
•EIGHTH & SIXTEENTH NOTE VALUES: Music Notation Rhythm part 2 (The Piano Chord Book)
•REST VALUES: Music Notation Rhythm part 3 (The Piano Chord Book)
Self Check
Play the following game.
Rhythm Math-Fling the Teacher (Music Tech Teacher)
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Section 2: Rhythm Notation
Lesson 1: Note and Rest Values (cont.)
Check Understanding/Ear Training Games
•Listen To The Rhythm (Music Tech Teacher)
•Rhythm Sound Match (Music Tech Teacher
Review-section 2 lesson 1
If needed, you can review the information in Section 2
Lesson 1 by reading the following slides:
•Note Duration (8 Notes)
•Rest Duration (8 Notes)
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Section 2: Rhythm Notation
Lesson 2: Dotted Notes
Objective
You should be able to identify notes, including dotted half and quarter notes, as well as the number
of each receives in common time.
Instruction
Watch the following videos:
•Reading Music- Dotted Notes(daveconservatoire)
Practice/Self Check
Play the following games:
•Rhythmic Term Scramble (Music Tech Teacher)
•Add It Up Rhythms (Music Tech Teacher)
•Rhythm Billionaire (Music Tech Teacher)
:
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Section 2: Rhythm Notation
Lesson 3: Measures, Bar Lines, & Double Bar Lines
Objective
You should be able to identify bar lines, double bar lines, and measures in music and be able to place
the correct type and number of notes in a measure in common time.
Instruction
Watch the following video:
•Bars and Measures Explained (lyungling88)
Practice/Self Check
Play the following games.
•Find the Correct Measure (Music Tech Teacher)
•Fill In the Measure (Music Tech Teacher)
•How's Your Timing? (Music Tech Teacher)
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Section 2: Rhythm Notation
Lesson 4: Common Time Signatures
Objective
You should know the correct placement of the time signature on a staff, be able to explain the
meaning of both numbers in a time signature, and identify how many and which type of notes
and/or rests will fill a measure in common time signatures.
Instruction
Watch the following video:
Simple and Compound Time Signatures (SpeedyMusicReading)
Self Check
Play the following game:
Going Nuts over Time Signatures (Music Tech Teacher)
Review-section 2 lesson 4
If needed, you can review the information in Section 2, Lesson 3 & 4 by reading through
the following slides at 8notes.com:
Measures and Time Signatures
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Section 3: Ties, Slurs, & Repeats
Lesson 1: Ties & Slurs
Objective
You should be able to identify the difference between ties and slurs, and understand the function of
each.
Instruction
Watch the following video:
•Slurs and Ties Explained (The Music Theory Guy)
Practice
Watch the following video:
Slurs, Ties, and Dotted Notes (SonicFitCom)
Self Check
Play the following games.
Ties & Slurs Game (Music Tech Teacher)
Review-section 3 lesson 1
If needed you can review the information in Section 3, Lessons 1, by reading through
the slides at 8notes.com on : Dots & Ties
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Section 3: Ties, Slurs, & Repeats
Lesson 2: Repeat Sign, 1st & 2nd Endings,
D.C., D.S., Coda, & Fine
Objective
You should be able to identify the various repeat and related signs and understand their use in a
score.
Instruction
Watch the following video:
•Repeats Part 1: Repeat Bar & Multiple Endings (Somerset Academy of Music)
•Repeats Part 2: Italian Phrases (Somerset Academy of Music)
Applications
Watch the following video from 3:08 to 13:10:
•Repeat Signs used in Music Charts(creativeguitarstudio)
Review-Section 3, Lesson 2
If needed you can review the information in Section 3, Lesson 2, by reading through slides 5 and 6
at About.com Musical Symbols of Piano Music: Part Two:
Musical Repeat Signs
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Section 4: Other Score Markings
Lesson 1: Tempo Markings
Objective
You should be able to identify tempo markings in music, know their Italian names, and describe their
function.
Instruction
Watch the following video:
•Music Theory - Tempo markings (Showme App)
Examples/Practice
Watch the following video:
•How to Read Tempo Markings in Sheet Music (expertvilliage)
Self Check
Play the following games.
•Tempo Word Search (Music Tech Teacher)
•Tempo Walk (Music Tech Teacher)
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Section 4: Other Score Markings
Lesson 2: Dynamic Markings
Objective
You should be able to identify dynamic markings in music, know their Italian names, and describe
their function.
Instruction
Watch the following video:
Symbols and Definitions: Dynamics ( Jennifer Castro)
Examples/Practice
Watch the following video:
Dynamic Dynamics! (Susana Quinteros)
Self Check
Take the following quiz:
•Travis Choir Dynamics Quiz (ProProfs Quiz Maker)
Review –Section 4, Lesson 2
If needed you can review the information in Section 4, Lesson 2, by reading
through the following slides at treblis.com:
Dynamic Marks, and the first three icons here.
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Section 4: Other Score Markings
Objective
Lesson 3: Common Articulations
You should be able to identify common articulation markings in music, know their Italian names,
and describe their function.
Instruction
Watch the following video:
• Musical Articulations (Club Academia)
•Articulation in Music (Craig Ward)
Lesson 4: Sharps, Flats, & Naturals
Objective
You should be able to identify sharp, flat, and natural signs in music and describe their
function.
Instruction
•Sharps, Flats and Naturals (Anne Crosby Gaudet)
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
Section 4: Rhythm Notation
Lessons 1-4 Review
Self Check
•Music Definitions Match Game (Music Tech Teacher)
•Music Term/Expression Match (Music Tech Teacher)
•Music Term Hangman (Music Tech Teacher)
Note: To review music terms click "Music Terms"
button at the bottom of this game.
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)
You have completed
Unit 1
This box for assessment instruction or other information for completing unit.
(Used with permission from http://www.signology.org/music-symbols/index.htm)