![]() ![]() Instead of changing all the numbers so that A started with A1, we simply refer to the lowest A and B on the piano as A0 and B0 (A zero and B zero). As the piano keyboard was expanded, the A and B were added below. When piano keys were first numbered, C1 was the lowest note. The range of most modern pianos is now 7 1/3 octaves. The Piano Keyboard was expanded so that Beethoven wrote piano music for a keyboard of about 6 1/2 octaves. (Students start to learn about Mozart beginning in the Ultimate Music Theory LEVEL 2 Supplemental Workbook.) When Students ask me why the very bottom notes are A0 and B0, I explain that Mozart wrote his piano music for instruments of about 5 octaves. Have them discover what their Vocal Range is and identify it using the Piano Key Numbers. One of my favorite "new concept pages" that is introduced in the Ultimate Music Theory Supplemental Series is found on of the LEVEL 4 Supplemental Workbook.Įxplore this page with your Students. If you know who the first person to do/create this was, I would love to hear from you! In all my research, this concept was simply "done" (but I don't know who did it first). The Range of Pitch for Instruments (including the voice) was identified to match specific Piano Key Numbers. Over the years, Pitch Numbers were assigned to specific Piano Keys. Piano Key Numbers - Piano and Vocal Range When a Student can hear the pitch, say/sing the pitch and match their body to the pitch, it is easier for them to understand the concept of Low, Middle and High Pitches. When the Student finds that easy, have them turn around and play the game so that they cannot see the Keyboard! Start by playing this game so that the Student can SEE the Keyboard and SEE where you are playing the sounds. The Student "Batter" then "swings their pretend bat" at either a low, middle or high pitch and they say "low", "middle" or "high" as they pretend to hit the ball. I "pitch" them a ball by playing either low pitched notes, middle pitched notes or high pitched notes. ![]() I play a game where the Student pretends to be the Batter. To be more specific, the Catcher can tell the Pitcher to throw the ball either low, middle or high within this range. The Catcher can signal the Pitcher to throw the ball within the range of the strike zone. The Pitcher must throw the ball inside the Batter's strike zone. Each Batter has a "strike zone", a range from low to high where he/she is able to hit a ball that is thrown by the Pitcher. The Batter is the person hitting the ball. ![]() Stand on tippy toes reaching up to the sky and say "high" in a high squeaky voice.Īnother suggestion is to describe pitch as it relates to how a Baseball Pitcher would throw the ball to the Catcher. Play MIDDLE pitches standing, saying "middle" in a middle normal voice. Crouch the body down LOW to the ground and play LOW pitches on the Keyboard. When a Student struggles to understand Pitch, my suggestion is to move OFF of the piano bench. Piano Key Numbers - Supporting Students in Understanding Pitch ![]() An understanding of Pitch is NOT something that all children are born with! Young Students may not understand the concept of Pitch as they have never really been introduced to it. If you have ever taught young students, I bet that you have heard Students confuse a "low pitch" with being "loud" and a "high pitch" with being "soft". However, Step #1 to Understand Pitch is to understand Low, Middle and High. (So, whether your Student is practicing on a smaller keyboard or on a full sized keyboard, they will be able to relate to the concept of low, middle and high pitches.)Īs Students continue through the Beginner A, B and C Workbooks, then into the Prep 1 Rudiments and Prep 2 Rudiments Workbooks, the size of the keyboard is extended until all 88 keys are featured. This allows the Students to be able to think in terms of pitch being either low, middle or high. When writing the UMT Beginner A Workbook, we use a picture of a 3 octave keyboard. I'm sure that we ALL have stories about Parents calling to request piano lessons but they either do not have a piano or want to start on a tiny toy keyboard. When Pitch is first introduced in the Ultimate Music Theory Beginner A, B, C Workbooks, we start with 3 Pitch Range Levels - Low, Middle and High.Īt Ultimate Music Theory, we understand that not all beginner students are lucky enough to have a piano or a full sized digital keyboard to practice on. Piano Key Numbers - Understanding Pitch: Low, Middle and High ![]()
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