It is very important that a student who plays an instrument that uses the Treble Clef range of notes has a way to learn these notes in the same way they appear in the music they will be playing. This Flash Card set has the Animal Note on one side of the card and the corresponding standard note on the reverse of the card. A list of suggested word clues to help the student learn each notes location on the Treble Clef staff is included with each set of cards.

This method of beginning music education is based on associative learning. Each note has a fun story that will help the student remember its location on the Grand Staff of music. As each note is introduced, the companion flash card should be used; repeat the word clue for that note showing first the Animal Note and then the standard note. Repeat the word clue for each note. This is so important as you want your student to be as comfortable seeing the standard note as they are the Animal note and the word clues are a firm association. These clues are the vital backup system for standard note reading in the future. If a standard note is forgotten, thinking about what the animal note would be doing on that location of the Grand Staff almost always brings quick recognition and smooth playing.

This book teaches the first nine notes of the keyboard. It gives word stories for each note’s location on the keyboard and the Grand Staff. These notes are the “mother notes of the Animal Note Family.” They are right in the middle of the Grand Staff, just as most mothers are the center of most family groups. Just seven letters of the alphabet are used to identify these notes in the United States, thus each animal name starts with the appropriate letter. Since there are two Fs and two Gs in the first nine notes learned, a different animal is used for each of these letters; a Fish and Frog for F and, a Goat and Giraffe for G. This helps the student decide which note is in the Treble Clef and which are in the Base Clef. If you are living in a part of the world that uses the Do, Re, Me system to identify your notes, simply give the animal the appropriate name. For instance, Cat becomes Do the Cat. As we all have names by which we are known, children love the fact that their Animal Notes also have given names.

The Animal Notes are easily read; there is no guessing what note is to be played next. When a student is beginning music with standard notation it is very easy to count a measure in 4/4 timing like this: 1--2------34, as the student works to identify the note in question. Since the “Timing Book” continues using the Animal Notes” the student is able to concentrate on even counting. There are enough songs to work on that the student has a chance to develop an ear for timing, a gift that will be of great value to them for all their lives. It is important to explain to your student the value of developing a good ear for timing, and that correct timing will help develop accuracy. Understanding timing not only helps play a musical piece correctly, but aids enjoyment to the person listening to music.

What a joy it is for a beginning student to be able to play Christmas songs as the holiday approaches. The favorite of course is “Jingle Bells.” The timing is relatively simple in this piece so some 4 year olds and most five year olds can play it. That is so exciting for them. Adding Christmas music to the lessons in October will give your student time to learn several of the pieces before Christmas

There are many instruments that have music written only in the Bass Clef, so it is important to learn to correctly read the notes in the Bass Clef including its common ledger line notes. This set of cards is designed for them. The note range is from the E (Grandpa Elephant) below the Base Clef to the G(Mama Giraffe) on the third ledger line above the Base Clef. Card size is 8 ½ by 11 inches.

Much Viola music is written in this clef. It is very old fashion, but someone studying this instrument should be familiar with this arrangement of notes on this clef so it does not throw them when they are playing in a group that uses this clef for this instrument. It contains all the notes of the Grand Staff, but middle C (Mama Cat) is on the center line of the staff with high B (little Bear), D (little Dog and F (tree frog) are on the ledger lines above the staff. The ledger lines below the clef are low D (Daddy Dog, B (Daddy Bear) and G (Daddy Goat). The size of this set of cards is 8 ½ by 11.

This set is exactly like the student size set. They are 8 ½ inches by 11 inches, a nice size to be seen from the front of a classroom, but not too large to be handled easily by the teacher. The oval of each note is darker so it will show up better in a large classroom situation. The note range is from the F (Daddy Fish) hiding out at the bottom of the Base Clef to the G (Baby Giraffe) that is setting safely on top of the Treble Clef.

Some instrument play mainly in the Treble Clef notes, and students need to learn only the notes appropriate for their instruments. This set of card is designed for them. The note range is from the F (Mommy Fish) that is on the third ledger line below middle C (Mama Cat) to the E (Baby Elephant) that is on the third ledger line above the Treble Staff. Card size is 8 ½ by 11 inches.

Most young children are taught guitar by having them memorize the chord positions first and then studying various ways to use them. However, this does not teach the individual notes. When I first started teaching Guitar I found this very unsatisfactory for both my students and myself, so I worked on the “Guitar Note Reading Book” which teaches the location of the notes used on the guitar. This is first of the books in this series. More are planned for the future.

This book is a sequel to the “Fun Song Book.” It continues to build on the knowledge the student has already gained. There is additional harmony in the Base Clef, and some simple elements of theory, some new and some already learned. It is always good to strengthen one’s ability while enjoying what you are playing. I sincerely recommend using this book. It is a great companion book to "Moving On in Music - Book One."

The “Moving On” books are designed to make the transition from the Animal Notes to Standard music notation smooth and fun. Each song is one page long; written first in the Animal Notes, then on the back of that page the song is repeated in standard music notation. “Moving On – Book One” has simpler songs so a child six years and older will be successful in making the transaction to level one in standard music. It will make the transition a pleasure for both you and your student.

The second book in this series is can follows “Moving On – Book One” to strengthen standard note reading for a younger student and is a must for the older students. It is designed in the same simple way of short pieces first in the Animal Notes, and the second page repeats the song in standard music notation. However, these songs are more advanced. They have more Base harmony, feature additional elements of the basic elements of theory which gives the student a chance to practice them first in the Animal Notes, thus making them easier to apply when playing standard music. This book introduces a variety of time signatures and rhythms.

After all “all work and no play,” makes for boring learning. Let your students enjoy their experience by playing some familiar songs while working through the book on timing. What in interesting about songs we already know, we have not always learned the correct timing. This can be a challenge for the teacher, but a terrific learning experience for the student.

This book was written at the request of a elementary school teacher I have worked with. I was explaining some basic elements of theory to her 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes. In my teaching I use associative learning as the bases of most of my explanations to our students. She appreciated the way her students understood the material as presented and asked me to write it in a book. It took over a year to complete the project. It is a reference book for your students and gives you, the teacher, additional ways to explain this important material to your students.

Note Reading for the Violin teaches the basic skills usually taught in many violin method book. However, the notes have the animal caraiactures used in the Animal Note method of beginning music education. The book includes the word clues necessary to teach the note location on the Treble Clef Staff and a discussion of timing since half, quarter as well as whole notes are used in these book in this book. Pictures that identify parts of the violin and bow, along with photos of the proper way to hold the violin, bow, and hand position are also included. All notes from the G below middle C to the high A are used in the book. Also some "Fun" songs have been added.