INTRODUCING THEKEYBOARD

BYLIL TRAQUAIR

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the unit, learners will demonstrate knowledge of visual key placement on the piano.

Students will demonstrate an understanding of sharps and flats and their function in music.

Based on a visual understanding of the keyboard, students will begin to transfer pitch fundamentals to band instruments.

HOW NOTES ARE ARRANGED ON THE PIANO KEYBOARD

A B C D E F G A B C

The musical alphabet has 7 notes. The keyboard is named in alphabetical order,

then starts again. The higher the note is on the keyboard, the higher it sounds.

HOW NOTES ARE ARRANGED ON THE PIANO KEYBOARD

A B C D E F G A B C

The keyboard has groups of Two Black Keys…(the Dog House)

HOW NOTES ARE ARRANGED ON THE PIANO KEYBOARD

A B C D E F G A B C

…And Three Black Keys(the People House)

HOW NOTES ARE ARRANGED ON THE PIANO KEYBOARD

A B C D E F G A B C

The note “C” is always to the left Of the Two Black Keys.

TWO BLACK KEYS

Dog House

Animals live by the dog house. The doglives inside, he won’t let the cat in,

And the elephant is too big to fit inside.

CAT DOG ELEPHANT

C D E

HOW NOTES ARE ARRANGED ON THE PIANO KEYBOARD

People House

F G A BPeople live in the big house. Granny lives inside and Aunty stays home to help her with the house. Father is outside because he isusually at work and the Boy is usually at school or out playing.

(Mom and sister are far away on a holiday in the sun in MEXICO! So they are not here.)

FATHER GRANNY AUNTY BOY

SHARPS

A B C D E F G A B C

A# C# D# F# G# A# C#

Notes that are half a step higher than a White Key, but not the next white key are called Sharps. The sharp sign looks like #

FLATS

A B C D E F G A B C

A# C# D# F# G# A# C# Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db

Notes that are a half step lower, but not the next white key are called

Flats. The flat sign looks like b

Enharmonics

A B C D E F G A B C

A# C# D# F# G# A# C# Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db

The black keys have two different note names. One is sharp and one is flat. These are called

Enharmonics, Two different names for the same note.

Test Your Knowledge

http://www.funbrain.com/notes

Click the link below to test your knowledge

Note This!

It is important to learn to read notes. The link below will allow you to go to some fun drills to practice this

skill.

http://www.pedaplus.com

You will have to choose Games from the left hand menu.