The Note A
The note A is written in the second space of the staff.
The following example combines the note A with the note B. Listen carefully to the notes as you play them and try to produce a strong, even tone. Pay attention to the breath marks and get in the habit of breathing each time you see one.
The Quarter Rest
This symbol is a quarter rest. It indicates one beat of silence. Do not play any note. Remember that small counting numbers are placed under rests.
This example makes frequent use of the quarter rest and once again moves between the notes B and A. Be sure to count mentally as you play. There are no breath marks written above the notes in this example. You are free to breathe anywhere a rest appears.
The Note G
This note is a G note. It is written on the second line of the staff.
This traditional children’s song uses the note G along with the other two notes you have learned.
Here are three more tunes which make use of the notes B, A and G.
Notes written below the middle line of a staff usually have their stems going up. The stem for the note B can go up or down. Notice the two possible directions for the stems of the note B in this example. The stem direction makes no difference to the way the note is played.
Once again there are no breath marks written here. Breathe anywhere a rest appears and be sure to take a good breath in bar 8, as there are no more rests until bar 12.
