Note Recognition

Up until now I have spoke mostly about the rhythmic component of Sight Reading Studio. Now I will concentrate on the melodic aspect. To use this program effectively you must choose a workable note range. To select the notes that will be included in your sample measure use the “Range” sliders. There are two sliders located above and below the on screen piano keyboard. The top slider is for selecting the upper range limit and the bottom slider is for selecting the lower range limit. Notice the small button with the right arrow. This is the upper slider. Just click and drag the slider to select the upper note. You can also click above the piano key and the slider will follow.

(Minimum Not Range)

(Maximum Note Range)

To select the lower range limit just drag the small slider with the left arrow icon. You can also just click below the lower most piano white key and the slider will follow. The sliders cannot cross each other. The screen shots above show the minimum and maximum range of the note sliders. This is a lot of control and if used correctly can really maximize your learning experience. You can zoom in on and practice any special area where the student’s note recognition is weak.

As in keeping with my piano methodology, I suggest learning one clef at a time. This means that if you are a beginner just concentrate on the treble clef. This approach to note learning is a much more effective. Since the same note on one clef means something entirely different in the other clef, learning both clefs simultaneously is counter-productive. It is like learning Spanish and Russian before learning English. You should set up Sight Reading Studio to follow this premise. For example if it is a student’s first lesson you should just teach middle C, D and E. This is more then enough for one lesson. Practice these notes over and over again until they are thoroughly mastered then introduce F and G. Work your way up through the treble clef gradually, one note at a time until these notes are completely memorized. After the student is comfortable playing with two hands in the treble clef, you can proceed to learn the bass clef. My “First Lesson’s” book contains songs arranged for two hands that are written entirely for the treble clef. From the results that I have had from teaching many beginner students, there is no faster way to learn the piano. In most of the traditional piano method books, you will find that they teach middle C-D-E in the treble clef and A-B-C of the bass clef at the same time. Unless you are a Mozart this is just too much for most beginners to take in.

(Recommend Beginner Note Range)