10/04/2025
Teaching Note Names and Notes on the Staff
How teachers introduce and teach note naming on the staff is one of the most critical aspects of teaching music, and is one of several things that can really make or break a student’s progress, satisfaction, and even health in learning music. (Yes, poor teaching of music notation can and does inflict deep anxieties and lifelong trauma on many students. We want to avoid that!)
The overarching principle of teaching music notation in a meaningful and healthy way is to teach recognizable patterns and sequences that make logical and real-world sense to students.
When we introduce the staff, we:
Learn the music alphabet first. Students should become proficient in understanding and using the music alphabet (the letter names), and how the letter-name notes relate to their instrument before they associate them with notes on the staff. Students should be able to recite the music alphabet forwards and backwards, with ease. Students should understand the musical alphabet on their instrument, and be able to play some scales and songs learned simply by the letter names, first.
Introduce the staff by starting with history. Where did the staff come from and how did it evolve over time to what it is today? Why is it what it is, and why does it work the way it works? Why 5 lines and 4 spaces? What are lines and spaces, and why? How do the letters of the music alphabet go up and down the staff, line to space to line to space, etc.
Learn the staff by using guide notes – not mnemonics. Avoid mnemonics! Mnemonics suggest and reinforce a sense of randomness, and chaos, which is the opposite of understanding patterns and sequences, which is what we want them to learn and visualize.
Students should get to know the treble (G) clef, the bass (F) clef, and for some instruments a (C) clef, such as alto or tenor clef. Then, they should understand that to find other notes, you go up and down the lines and spaces one letter name at a time, in alphabetical sequence, up or down (forward or backward).
We should not be using mnemonics such as FACE, Every Good Boy Does Fine, All Cows Eat Grass, and the rest. Instead, teach that the treble clef points to G, and the bass clef points to F, and we go up and down the alphabet from there.
Finally, as with all things, slow down. There is no rush to read music notation on the staff. There is no race. There is no problem with writing in note names next to the notes of music as they are learning. Take all the time you need!
(Some teachers dislike this writing-in of letter names next to the notes. Some teachers want their students to learn note reading on the staff as soon as possible, and worst case, rely on stressful, guilt-laden, force-feeding tactics and gimmicks in attempts to speed up learning and retention. This pressure was likely placed on them by other teachers in their own life. Please rid yourself of any negative feelings you might have about going more slowly, in a more relaxed manner, and using this writing-in of note names as part of your welcoming, nurturing, encouraging, and graceful teaching strategies. Allow students to learn and develop skills at the pace that is right for them, use flexible accommodations and scaffolding techniques, and let go of preconceived notions, concerns, or worries that others in the profession may have more aggressive expectations and might judge you negatively for your more student-friendly approaches.)
A brief history of the origin of the staff can be found in our Presto! curriculum (piano & guitar). This section of the book is also available in standalone format, and can be used for most instruments (G / F / Treble / Bass clef instruments), or altered slightly for C / Alto / Tenor clef instruments.
Here is a link to a web page that provides PDF documents containing an introduction to the staff/clefs that follows our studio philosophy that can be downloaded and printed. There are also many note naming worksheets that can be used that help to reinforce guide notes and the logical sequencing of the music alphabet.
https://www.prestoitsmusicmagicpublishing.com/music-note-reading
