Before introducing the use of signpost notes there are a number of concepts that need to be established. One of the first concepts I develop at the start, is the use of the musical alphabet. Pupils need to know the alphabet well, forwards and backwards in seconds and thirds. This concept then must be linked to the use of line and space notes and the alternation between the two. There may be some pupils who require help in recognising line and space notes. Some pupils find it hard to understand that a line note actually cuts the note in half, as it is not sitting on the line. In addition with the use of the alphabet, the pupil must understand how the notes are written playing higher and lower. Book A of the My First Piano Adventure covers this well with sets of notes moving up or down the page according to the pitch of the music. Also, another concept to reinforce is how seconds are notes side by side, in other words line to space or space to line. Thirds, are the same, in other words space to space or line to line.
Once these concepts have been reinforced and are well understood, it is time to start using signpost notes to work out starting notes. Start with the two middle Cs and the F in the bass clef and the G in the treble clef. Some pupils may require help in understanding that there are two ways of notating middle C. I begin by using with pupils, a white board with a grand stave on it. The ledger line for middle C is a small fence on which I place a cat.
In regards to signpost F, I reinforce its position by saying that the F sits where the big fat dot is of the clef. The signpost G can be referred to as curling around the G line. One tutor book I used in my early days of teaching showed how the two clefs had originated from the letters F and G.
I use the frog note cards by giving them one of these and asking the following -
what clef is this note in?
which signpost note is the closest to the one I am wishing to work out?
is the note that I am working out higher or lower than the signpost note that I have chosen?
how far is the note that I am working out from the signpost note? Reinforce the use of thirds and seconds.
now use the alphabet to work out what the note is by either going forwards or backwards.
this is very important - where is the note on the piano? Where is this note in relation to middle C? Many pupils can tell you the name of the note however they cannot tell you where it is exactly on the piano. They must have a sense of the geography of the position of the notes on the piano.
The frog clipart is a design I obtained from the Teachers Pay Teachers website. The rest of the artwork is mine.
Signpost notes
www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Jennifer-Hier