Unit 1: Introduction to Playing, C Position, & The Grand Staff

Question 1

What are the characteristics of good posture?

Answer 1

1. Lean slightly forward
2. Let arms hang loosely from shoulders
3. Elbows slightly higher than keys
4. Bench must face the keyboard squarely
5. Knees should be slightly under the keyboard
6. Feet flat on the floor

Question 2

What are good reasons for playing with curved fingers?

Answer 2

1. When fingers are curved each finger is the same length
2. Curved fingers bring the thumb into the correct playing position
3. With curved fingers keys respond instantly
4. Curved fingers make an arch possible for crossing over and under the thumb

Question 3

What are the finger numbers?

Answer 3

LEFT AND RIGHT HAND
Thumb -1, Pointer -2, Middle -3, Ring -4, Pinky -5

Question 4

What’s a Half note?

Answer 4

Rhythm worth 2 beats of sound

Question 5

What’s a Quarter note?

Answer 5

Rhythm worth one beat of sound

Question 6

What are the treble & bass note names?

Answer 6

ABCDEFG
Treble clef lines- EGBDF, spaces- FACE
Bass clef- GBDFA, spaces- ACEG

Question 7

What’s a Bar line?

Answer 7

Bar lines divide the music into measures of equal duration

Question 8

What’s a Measure?

Answer 8

Measures are sections of music divided by bar lines into segments of equal duration

Question 9

What’s a Double Bar line?

Answer 9

Symbol that indicates the end of a piece

Question 10

What’s Treble Clef?

Answer 10

Clef for the right hand notes on the piano/clef for higher pitches

Question 11

What’s a Bracket / Brace?

Answer 11

Symbol that connects a treble and bass clef to form a grand staff.

Question 12

What’s the Grand Staff?

Answer 12

Treble and Bass clef connected by a brace or bracket. Instructs the musician to play both clefs at the same time.

Question 12

What’s a Whole Note?

Answer 12

A rhythm worth four beats of sound

Question 13

What’s Bass Clef?

Answer 13

Clef for left hand notes/Clef for lower pitches