How to Catch a Musical Note and Keep it Correct

A musical note is represented by a picture onBut what is the technique for learning,
sheet music and a sound on a musical instrument.remembering and keeping your musical notes
The picture on sheet music tells the musician tocorrect?p r a c t I s e l o t s
play a certain pitch for a length of time on his /P lay your instrument. Leaving it around between
her musical instrument eg a woodwind player willlessons will not help the learning process.
read the note and then press down with fingerR epeat often it is better to do lots of little
pads on certain keys or holes which representamounts of playing eg 5 - 10 minutes, than one
that note, for a length of time as indicated. Hencebig play between lessons. You can pull out the
there are a number of things to think about whenharder sections and repeat them more.
catching a musical note and keeping it correct.A ct just do it and don;t procrastinate.
When you successfully catch a musical note, youC arefully it is best not to rush your playing as
know the note names or musical alphabet, notethis tends to create mistakes. Take the time to
lengths, positions of note names on the music orunderstand note lengths, rhythms, how to play
the five lines called a stave, and hence readingthe notes on your instrument.
notes, plus the production of these notes on aT unefully use your ears to listen for notes out of
musical instrument. You learn all this in atune or not sounding as you would like. Learn how
systematic way when learning your chosento improve sound with a teacher and work on it.
musical instrument. You can learn your instrumentA teacher can give helpful advice for
by taking lessons with a teacher or by yourselfimprovement.
with the aid of a tutor book or online musicI n time ways to help keep in time are to write
course.the counts underneath the music, count out loud,
In the your learning process you will discover:if you can or tap your foot whilst playing, listen to
1. That the musical alphabet uses the first sevensomeone else play especially the trickier bits, and
letters of the alphabet, namely a b c d e f g, toplay with someone else. A good process to follow
show pitch, where pitch is the highness oris to clap and say ( counting ) finger or find notes
lowness of a note.and play
2. That note lengths vary in names and picturesS lowly this gives you time to think about your
depending on how long you need a sound for.musical notes ( note lengths and rhythm, pitch
Eg a crotchet is 1 beat and looks like a filled inand sounds on instrument ) and keep a flow going
circle with a stem going up or down from thefrom start to finish.
sides.E venly make sure you count a steady beat
A minim is 2 beats or counts and looks like athroughout ie 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 etc. Do not
circle with a stem.rush your counting especially on the easier
A semibreve is 4 beats or counts and looks like asections. Think of marching girls or dancers, who
circle.have to move to music.
You are most likely to learn these note lengthsL isten to it is a great help to hear good musicians
first. There are other ones which will be learntplay. Find a recording of the piece
gradually.O thers you are working on from an expert on
3. The position of the notes on the stave andyour instrument. Listen carefully and
hence reading of notesT hat follow your part. It could help you in your
4. How to produce each note or pitch on yourprocess of catching a note and
musical instrument.S hine inspire you to play your instrument lots in
The outcome of learning steps 1 to 4 enables youorder to keep your notes correct.
to read your sheet music and produce theTo help catch a musical note and keep it correct,
sound(s) on your instrument at the correct pitchtake up lessons and learn the basics of the
and length of time required.musical note.