Music Literacy

How to read music:

Music literacy is the ability to read and write music. Just like spoken languages, music is expressed through singing and creating rhythms and playing instruments, all of which can be done without written notation.

Reading other people’s notation and sharing your own ideas through notation is the primary reason to read music. Secondarily, ensemble playing and accompanying also require music literacy.

These exercises will aid in building literacy skills. Each one can be practiced multiple times for mastery. The videos and charts are designed to help with understanding. 🙂

Special thanks to musictheory.net for their very handy and thoroughly excellent exercise generator!

Links to videos and exercises are in red. 🙂

Keyboard Note Identification Exercise 1

• Click the link above and do the exercise until you have done 21. It will say__/21 (How many you got right goes on the left.) 
• If you got less than a 90% redo the exercise. 🙂

Video on Grand Staff Landmarks

Staff Note Identification Exercise 1

• Click the link above and do the exercise until you have done 20. It will say__/20 (How many you got right goes on the left.) 
• If you got less than a 90% please redo the exercise. 🙂

Video on Sharps, Flats, and Naturals

Keyboard Note Identification Exercise 2

• Click the link above and do the exercise until you have done 40. It will say__/40 (How many you got right goes on the left.) You may use the chart below if you need it.
• If you got less than 90%, please redo the exercise.

Video on How to Read Notes that Are off the Staff

Staff Note Identification Exercise 2

• Click the link and do the exercise until you have done 40. It will say__/40 (How many you got right goes on the left.) You may use the chart below if you need it.
• If you got less than 90%, please redo the exercise.

 Printable Key Signature Guide

Video on how to name a note when there is a key signature

Staff Note Identification Exercise 3

• Click the link and do the exercise until you have done 40. It will say__/40 (How many you got right goes on the left.) You may use the chart below if you need it.
• If you got less than 90%, please redo the exercise.