Activity 3

ACTIVITY 3: MOVING UP AND DOWN THE STAFF

This activity has been designed exclusively for work on pitch. Pupils often confuse the concepts of sharp and flat with strong and weak, especially if they have been talking about high and low sounds.

The object of these exercises is to teach notes in relation to pitch, the scale of C major, differentiation of sharp and flat sounds, the concept of the octave, the relationship between frequency and pitch, introduction to leger lines, etc. We have left the study of the relationship between intervals until later, as a second level of the study of the quality of pitch.

At the beginning of the session, having started up the program, they will insert a pre-formatted floppy disk and be taught a few procedures, such as how to save information on disk. Before storing it is recommendable to give the exercise or piece a name (if the program allows it). Then, using the command to save the loaded file, the piece is stored on disk. Check that the process is carried out properly by watching to see if the disk drive's indicator light comes on. In the same way, if you want to reopen the file, you can check to see that the file created appears on screen.

As for the editor, it will be necessary to explain how the processes of saving and modifying the information being produced are carried out.

It will then be necessary to explain in some detail how this process is carried out in the program Music for those who do not know the program.
On starting the session, once the program is up and running, insert a ready formatted floppy disk and press the key R; on the screen a box appears with the title Load file C:/MUSIC/. By placing the cursor on A: and pressing Enter the drive A: is activated, where pupils will store their information. Another box entitled Load file A: appears. If you press Esc you return to the editing screen and it is ready to store information on disk. Before storing it is a good idea to give the piece or exercise a name (key P). Then, with the save piece command (key D) the work is stored on disk.
Check that the process is carried out properly by watching to see if the disk drive's indicator light comes on. In the same way, if you press the key R, you can check to see that the file created appears on the screen.

Some instructions in exercise eight are specific to programs incorporating a virtual keyboard or which are connected to a MIDI keyboard. The exercise is for practice with the computer keyboard as if it was a miniature piano keyboard or for entering notes in real time with any MIDI controller.

Exercise 9 is specifically designed for use with the random music feature incorporated into the Music program.

Student's worksheets