Activities in The Mighty Maestro
Note the Value
Learn about music notes.
Section 1 - Note the Value
We begin by learning about quarter notes, half notes and whole notes. What do they look like? What do they sound like? What do they mean?
1.1 – Note Names
Let's start gently. Name the music notes. Name the notes - quarter note, half note, whole note.
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1.2 – Note Values
Identify the music notes from the symbols and number of beats. Quarter note, half note, whole note.
1.3 – Value Race
Race against the clock. Quickly identify the music notes. Any mistakes will cost you.
1.4 – Listen Carefully
Listen to and identify the notes as they are played over a metronome. Great ear training.
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1.5 – Note Sums
Pitch This!
Section 2 - Pitch This!
We now move on to the note names, starting off with some fun games and races.
2.1 Sounds
Listen to and identify the notes of the staff. Ear pitch training.
2.2 Melodies
Play through the musical melodies and identify the correct nursery rhyme. This helps learn how the notes are set out in music theory.
2.3 Line Race
Race against the clock. Learn about then quickly identify the music notes on the lines of the staff.
2.4 Space Race
Race against the clock. Learn about the music notes between the lines of the staff.
2.5 Note Words
Identify the words from the notes shown. DAD, FEED and BAGGAGE etc.
2.6 Sound Sets
Further develop your ear training. Listen to the sets of notes and work out which pattern is being played. GAAD, for example, has four notes with the middle two the same.
What’s the Time?
Learn about the time signatures used in music theory.
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Section 3 - What's the Time?
We find out how notes are placed in measures and the order in which the measures should be played (it's not always obvious).
3.1 Made to Measure
Measures, bar-lines, and 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures
3.2 Completing Measures
Work out which music notes are required to complete the measures.
3.3 Repeats
Click on the measures of music in the order that they should be played. Watch out for the repeat signs.
3.4 Second Endings
Click on the measures of music in the order that they should be played. The second endings should be played the second time through the piece of music.
Be Dynamic
Dynamics make music more exciting.
Section 4 - Be Dynamic
We study some of those strange terms and symbols that tell you whether to play quickly or slowly, loudly or softly.
4.1 Dynamic Terms
Learn the meaning of the musical terms. Forte, piano, crescendo (cresc), diminuendo (dim), legato and staccato.
4.2 Dynamic Symbols
Identify the symbols for the dynamic terms. Forte, piano, crescendo (cresc), diminuendo (dim), legato and staccato.
4.3 Tempo Terms
There are a large number of terms describing the tempo that music should be played. Here, we look at Adagio, Andante, Moderato, Allegro, Presto, Accelerando (Accel), Rallentando (Rall) and A Temp.
Short Notes
Now for some of the more difficult music notes.
Section 4 - Short Notes
We return to the note values, but this time add the shorter notes, eighth note and sixteenth note.
5.1 – Short Names
Name the music notes. Semiquaver, quaver, crotchet, minim, semibreve. Sixteenth note, eighth note, quarter note, half note, whole note.
5.2 – Quick Values
Identify the music notes from the symbols and number of beats. Sixteenth note, eighth note, quarter note, half note, whole note.
5.3 – Fast Race
Race against the clock. Quickly identify the music notes. This time, you also have to find the difficult short notes.
5.4 – Easy Listening
Listen to and identify the long and short notes.
5.5 – More Note Sums
5.6 – Which Rhythm?
Listen to the rhythms and identify the correct pattern of notes from those shown. More fantastic ear training.
5.7 – Short Beats
Measures, bar-lines, and 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures. Now with eigth notes and sixteenth notes.
5.8 Filling Measures
Work out which music notes are required to complete the measures.
Little Steps, Big Steps
Sharps and Flat, Half Steps and Full Steps. What is this music theory all about?
Section 6 - Little Steps, Big Steps
We build up knowledge of intervals and how the scales are formed.
6.1 Sharps
Listen to and learn about sharp notes and naturals.
6.2 Half Steps
Investigate half steps on a piano keyboard.
6.3 Full Steps
Investigate full steps on a piano keyboard.
6.4 Flats
Flats? What on earth are they?
6.5 C Major Scale
The C major scale, scale degrees and the pattern of whole notes & half notes.
6.6 Other Major Scales
C, G, D and F major scales and middle C.
6.7 Intervals
Identify intervals above the tonic in each of the 4 scales studied.
6.8 Tonic Triads
Play the tonic triads in C, G, D and F major.
What Key are We In?
Section 7 - What Key are We In?
Looking at how key signatures dictate which notes to play. And when not to play them.
7.1 Sharps Played
Look at the sharp notes played in a number of simple key signatures.
7.2 G Major
Identify the notes that should be played when reading music in the key of G Major.
7.3 Accidentals
Accidental notes are not in the key signature. How many can you find and how are they cancelled?
7.4 D Major
Identify the notes that should be played when reading music in the key of D Major.
7.5 Flats Played
Look at the flats played in a number of simple key signatures.
7.6 F Major
Identify the notes that should be played when reading music in the key of F Major.
7.7 More Accidentals
Accidental notes are not in the key signature. Once one has been played, similar notes in the bar may also be accidentals.
7.8 Bb Major
Identify the notes that should be played when reading music in the key of Bb Major.
End Notes
Some other things to consider.
Section 8 - End Notes
We look at some of the other things that might crop up in your music, such as dotted notes and ties.
8.1 – Dotted Notes
Learn about and identify the dotted music notes. Dotted sixteenth note, dotted eighth note, dotted quarter note, dotted half note, dotted whole note.
8.2 Ties
Tied notes are used for a variety of reasons in music theory. Learn about them here.
8.3 – Note the Parts
Name the parts of the musical note, including stem, head, flag and beam.
8.4 Stem Direction
When should the stems point up and when should they point down? Find the mistakes in the music notes shown.
8.5 Race Below
Race against the clock. Learn the music notes below the lines of the staff.
8.6 Race Above
Race against the clock. Learn the music notes above the lines of the staff.
8.7 Rest Values
Learn about and identify the rests.
8.8 Completing Rests
Work out which musical rests are required to complete the bars.
It’s a Wrap!
How much music theory have you learned? Bass/Treble clef option.
9.1 Recap 1
A look at the music notes, music values (note names), key signatures, time signatures and dynamics.
9.2 Recap 2
A look at the music notes, music values (note names), key signatures, time signatures and dynamics.
9.3 Recap 3
A look at the music notes, music values (note names), key signatures, time signatures and dynamics.