ASSIGNMENT

The class project is for you to download, print out and complete the short series of written exercises on music notation that I have created for you. Then scan or shoot a high-resolution photo of your completed work and upload your file to Dropbox or Google Drive and post the link to it in the Project Gallery.

STEPS

1. I’ve uploaded the class notes and your assignment exercises to the Attached Files section of this class. Please download those materials and print out the sheets with the eight exercises on it and grab a pencil and eraser. Please note that when you print the Basics of Notation Exercises sheets you might need to tell your printer to "fit the page" in the Page Sizing options.

In the class notes I’ve included note and rest value charts. You'll want to keep these charts nearby for reference.

2. For Exercise I I’ve placed several notes in the treble clef staff. Your assignment is to use the space provided and write the letter names of these notes. To help you with this exercise keep in the mind the phrase “Every Good Boy Does Fine” for the notes on the lines of the staff and the word “FACE” to help you remember the notes of the spaces.

3. Exercise II is similar to Exercise I except that now we’re in the bass clef staff. Again you’re going to write in the letter name in the space provided below the staff. To help you memorize the lines of the bass staff think of the phrase “Good Boys Do Fine Always”. And a saying that you can use to remember the spaces of the bass clef staff is “All Cows Eat Grass”.

4. For Exercise III you're working in the grand staff. You have a treble clef staff at the top and a bass clef staff on the bottom. For this exercise you’re going to draw the correct note above each letter name given. Please note that you’ll need to add ledger lines for some of these notes. And please add in only the first two instances of the note given and use whole notes when drawing the notes.

For example the first note given is C. So you would add the ledger line for middle C, draw that note on the line and then look for the next higher instance of C, which is the third space in the treble clef staff and draw that note in. At that point you’ve drawn in two instances of the note C, so now you can move on to the next note in the exercise, which is G.

5. For Exercise IV you’re practicing drawing your clefs. You should be able to draw at least two of each clef symbol in the space provided. Feel free to revisit the video lesson on Clefs in this class if you need to review what each clef symbol looks like.

6. For Exercise V you’re identifying the notes and rests that I’ve provided and writing the names of each underneath.

7. For Exercise VI you're practicing dotted notes. Add up the dotted note values that I’ve provided and write the counts for each example in the space provided. Remember, a dotted note adds half to the value of that note. Use simple math to figure out each example.

For example to figure out the value of a dotted whole note you start out with the knowledge that a whole note equals four counts. And half of a whole note is two counts; so four counts plus two counts equals six counts. So for that example you would write “six” in the space provided.

8. For Exercise VII you’re practicing tying notes together. Remember you’re tying the notes, not the rests. Also, remember that when you tie notes they have to be two notes of the same pitch and also be aware that you can tie notes across a bar line.

9. For Exercise VIII there are four measures and you’re to complete each measure using eighth-note triplets. Each measure should add up to a total of four beats. The first measure has three quarter notes, so you only need one set of eighth note triplets for that measure.

10. Once you’ve completed all eight exercises either scan or take a high-resolution photo of your exercise worksheet and upload the file to Dropbox or Google Drive and post the link to your file in the project gallery. I’m happy to check your work and give you notes on your assignment.

As you are working on these exercises it might be helpful for you to go back and review the previous video lessons in this class. Also, while filling in these exercises it might be helpful to have your instrument in front of you.

Remember the goal of these exercises is to start building your practical know-how in regards to music notation and then sharing your results with your classmates so that we learn together as a community.

I'm looking forward to seeing your work!

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Luis Bernabe Peña

“Art is never finished.”

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