Lesson 13: Intro to instruments part II: Keyboards

Reading sheet music is like reading a foreign language. There are rules and patterns that must be followed for the music to sound pleasing to the ear and so the musician can interpret the music correctly in order to perform it.

Before we get to the music, we must first know how to write it correctly, understand the notes, and know how to organize it.

To learn about how to correctly label a note, head to: http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-is-c4.html

To learn about clefs, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2012/12/lesson-2-staffs-clefs-and-lines-oh-my.html

To learn about the major scale and whole and half steps, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-3-major-and-minor-scale.html

To learn about key signatures, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-4-key-signatures.html

To learn about notes and their rhythms in simple meter, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-5-notes-and-rhythm-part-i.html

To learn about simple time signatures, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-6-simple-time-signatures.html

To learn about rests in simple time, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-7-rests.html

To learn about ties and slurs, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-8-ties-and-slurs.html

To learn about dotted notes and rests: head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-9-dotty-good-time.html

To learn about compound time, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-10-notes-and-rhythms-part-ii.html

To learn about the basics of sound, head to:http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/02/lesson-11-science-behind-sound.html

To learn about string instruments, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/02/lesson-12-intro-to-instruments-part-i.html

Now we will learn about the keyboard family. Keyboards encompass other types of instruments, because the characteristics defining this group do not include how the instrument makes sound, but how different sounds are made. Harps, pianos, and accordians fall into this category.

Pianos are the basis for the keyboard family. They have a different key for each note in their range. The ivory keys are for natural notes, and the ebony keys are for the accidentals (sharps and flats) The top picture shows what a piano might look like, and the bottom shows the different keys on the piano (and a very nice looking white rose).

A harp is also a string instrument like the piano, however it is also a keyboard instrument because each string on the harp coresponds to a particular note being played. The strings are longer for the lower notes and shorter for the higher notes, and all can be tuned by changing the tension on the strings.

An accordian is also considered a keyboard instrument. It produces sound by pumping it and drawing in and forcing out air through folded flaps of material called bellows. (It is from these bellows that the "accordian fold" got its name). The notes come from pushing keys on one side that are in a keyboard formation.

This concludes our lesson for today.