Now that we’ve seen the notes on the staff, let’s take a look at which piano keys correspond to these notes. Middle C on the piano is the white key to the left of the set of two black keys that is closest to the middle of the piano. The other keys go in the order of the music alphabet. When the notes go higher on the staff, you move to the right on the piano. When the notes go lower on the staff, you move to the left on the piano.
You may have noticed in yesterday’s post that one of the notes was not on a regular line. Instead, it was on it’s own little line. This little line is called a ledger line. Middle C is the note on the first ledger line from the top of the bass clef or the bottom of the treble clef.
It’s the end of the day here at SpinningSilk Music. Some things I’ve been thinking about lately–publishing a set of SpinningSilk Music flashcards; writing/compiling a song book/lesson book for voice students.
The flashcards would have musical symbols on one side and the answer on the other. They would be useful in studying note names and other symbols–treble clef, bass clef, forte, piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, staff, grand staff, etc.
The song book/lesson book for voice students will likely contain a collection of folk songs and hymns. The lesson part of it would have instruction on reading the notes that one is singing.
If you have any suggestions that you would like considered in the development of these two products, please send me an e-mail or use the contact form and let me know.
Thanks.
Happy New Year! 
Once again, lessons have started back now that the holidays are behind us. I hope you all enjoyed your holidays. Thank you to all who participated in December’s recital! We had a full house.
The bass clef works just like the treble clef when it comes to finding the rest of the notes. Just work your way from the key note–F, which is between the dots of the bass clef sign–and use the music alphabet. See the picture below:
Some people prefer to use acrostics to remember the names of the notes. For the bass clef line notes you could use “Good Boys Do Fine Always” and for the space notes you could use “All Cows Eat Grass”. Either way you want to learn the notes is fine, just remember that F is the line between the dots.
Now, let’s take a look at the bass clef. The notes that the left hand plays on the piano are in the bass clef. The bass clef symbol came from the letter F–it shows us where the note F is on the staff. See the picture below:
The bass clef is also read by bass and tenor singers.
We now have a new music store online for you. As an Amazon associate, we can provide many musical supplies right here at SpinningSilk Music! Check out the store and let us know if there are any additional items that you would like to see in stock.
Update on the book Musical Prodigies by Claude Kenneson.
Niccolo Paganini lived from 1782-1840. He was a violinist, but before he learned violin, he learned to play the mandolin at the age of five. At age seven, he started studying the violin and began composing. By the time he was eight years old, he had written his first sonata. Typically, when he composed music, he did not use any instrument. He was a member of the Jacobins. He enjoyed imitating other instruments with his violin. The famous piece by Rachmaninov, Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, was based on Paganini’s Caprices.
“My great rule in art is complete unity within diversity.”–Niccolo Paganini (pg. 75, Musical Prodigies by Claude Kenneson)
Update on the book Musical Prodigies by Claude Kenneson.
The first major musical prodigy covered in this book is on of the most admired and celebrated classical composers of all time–Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart was undeniably a child prodigy. The book mentions that he started his lessons at age 3 because his sister (age 7) was starting hers. He soon began to compose little pieces and even made up a way to write down his musical thoughts at age 4. He and his sister, Nannerl, performed in a variety of venues at the direction of their father, Leopold Mozart. People were amazed at how well these two children could play music.
We see that the treble clef shows us where the note G is located on the staff. From here, we can figure out all the other notes by using the music alphabet.
Look at the picture below–
See how the letters are in alphabetical order? When going up the staff, you go forward in the alphabet. When you reach G, you start over again at A and keep going. The higher up the staff you go, the higher the pitch becomes. All the notes in the treble clef are generally played with the right hand on the piano. This is also the clef from which sopranos and altos sing.
If you prefer, you can use acrostics to remember the notes. For the treble clef line notes, you could use “Every Good Boy Does Fine” and for the space notes you just spell out the word “FACE”. Just remember, G is always the line that the treble clef circles.
Coming next –the bass clef.
