The Note D
The note D is written in the space below the staff.
The following examples use the note D along with the note C. 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. If there are no breath marks or you need to breathe in between breath marks, anywhere a rest occurs is a good place to breathe.
The Note E
The note E is written on the first line of the staff.
Here are some examples which make use of the notes C, D and E. Once you can play a melody, try playing it from memory with your eyes closed. This will help you learn the fingerings of the notes and also make you more aware of your tone.
The Whole Note
This is a whole note. It lasts for four beats. There is one whole note in one bar of * time.
The Whole Rest
This symbol is called a whole rest. It indicates four beats or one whole bar of silence.
This example features both the whole note and the whole rest. Remember to keep counting regardless of whether you see notes or rests in the music.
