Five Free Music Websites to Improve Note Reading

A guide to some free music websites available on the Internet to help music students improve their note reading skills.

Two common challenges faced by beginning music students are note learning and identifying a note's location on their instrument (geography). Until note reading fluency is achieved, this can lead to some frustrating practice sessions at home.

It is important to develop note fluency at an early stage. The process of learning new music will become easier. Sight-reading and sight-playing will be less stressful. Students will be able to read through music more quickly and play more expressively.

Online Note Reading Websites & Note Reading Games

The following list is a compilation of some of the sites available on the Internet to help with practicing and improve note reading.

musictheory.net

Musictheory.net has quite a few music drills. Under the "Trainer" section, click on "Note Trainer". Users can specify whether to be drilled on reading in the treble clef, bass clef, tenor clef and alto clef. Hints are available and Note Trainer keeps score. Users can also do ear training drills, watch flash presentations of various topics of music theory and print off blank manuscript paper. Note that the Note Trainer may be too advanced for young beginners as it tests students' reading of the entire Grand Staff plus ledger lines.

Funbrain.com – The Piano Player

Students drill their note reading and keyboard geography in this online game. Four levels of play are available: Beginner (one octave with labels), Intermediate (one octave, no labels), Expert (four octaves with labels) and Virtuoso (four octaves, no labels).  The Piano Player is best suited for younger piano students (12 and under).

musicards.net

Eight sets of online flashcards are available on Musiccards.net: Note Names, Key Signatures, Intervals, Triads, Piano Note Names, Reading Piano Notes, Guitar Note Names and Reading Guitar Notes. Reading Piano Notes and Reading Guitar Notes are instrument location/geography drills. Students try to identify the note. To get the correct answer, scroll over the card. Several "decks" are available – no ledger lines, staff and ledger lines, naturals and accidentals.

Piano Pedagogy Plus

Online flash games are available on the Games page. Users can practice note reading on all four clefs. The games are timed and points are deducted for each incorrect answer. Students can also practice their interval reading.

emusictheory.com

Five note naming games are available on emusictheory.com: Note Names, Paced Note Names, C-Clef Note Names, Piano Keys and Guitar Frets. The first three are straight note identification exercises while the last two are instrument geography drills.

Online Note Reading Resources – Just the Tip of the Iceberg

Each of these websites listed contain a variety of drills and tools to help music students improve their note reading. There are other sites out there. Explore the many sites available and choose what sites work best for the student and his music practice needs.

For more information on practicing music, read Five Free Music Websites to Improve Ear Training, Free Websites to Help with Music Theory or Rudiments, and Reasons to Practice Daily.

Originally published on Suite101.com on November 22, 2009. Updated March 24, 2013. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

A Look at Alfred's Basic Keyboard Chart

Alfred's Basic Keyboard Chart can help music students learn how to play the piano when they are unable to be near their instrument.

I picked up one of these for the fun of it. However, it has proven to be a handy practice aid not just for my piano students, but for me as well. If you're going away on a trip, or need extra work on your keyboard geography, this music aid is worth checking out.

What is Alfred's Basic Keyboard Chart?

It's a simple fold-out piano keyboard made out of card-stock. One side has Alfred's Basic Keyboard Chart. If you're struggling a bit with note reading or keyboard geography, this really breaks it down for you: The note on the staff is printed right on the matching note on the keyboard.

Flip it over and you get Alfred's Basic Practice Keyboard. It's just the piano keys, all 88 of them. Full-sized too.

Ideas on How to Use Alfred's Basic Keyboard Chart

The first time I used this keyboard chart was when I was on a trip. I wasn't sure if I would have access to a piano and couldn't afford to not practice.

It was a true test to how well I knew my pieces by taking away one of my senses (hearing). I had to rely more on muscle memory and analytical memory.

Since then, I've picked up two or three "cardboard keyboards" for my students to borrow when they are away. Their biggest complaint is that they can't hear anything. I usually respond by telling them about some of the great Russian pianists who practiced mostly on a cardboard keyboard. If they can do it, then they can too.

This year, I started using it with my students who need to work on their keyboard geography. On the keyboard chart side, I labeled the notes by their keyboard number, e.g. Low C is C2. Middle C is C4.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly About Alfred's Keyboard Chart

The good: Alfred's Keyboard Chart is compact. The four panels fold up so that it's approximately 5-1/2 inches by 12 inches. Perfect to stuff in a binder or a suitcase.

The bad: It doesn't show how notes are notated two lines above or below the staff. Nor does it show bass clef ledger line notes above Middle C or treble clef ledger line notes below middle C.

The ugly: Why are the note names and notes on the staff written upside down on the keys? Wouldn't be easier for visual learners if they were printed facing the same direction?

Alternatives to Alfred's Basic Keyboard Chart

Alfred's Basic Keyboard Chart is not the only cardboard keyboard on the block. You could also buy Hal Leonard's Keyboard Chart (approx. $1.99 USD), which tops the Amazon Best Seller List for keyboard charts. There is also Willis Music Reference and Keyboard Chart (approx. $1.76 USD). At $3.95 USD, Alfred's is the most expensive in the market.

If you want to go more high-tech, there are roll-up rubber practice keyboards, like this one:

Some are battery operated and/or come with a power adaptor. Others plug into your computer or tablet via USB.

Where to Buy Alfred's Basic Keyboard Chart

You can buy Alfred's Basic Keyboard Chart online from Amazon or Sheet Music Plus (below):

look inside

Alfred's Basic Keyboard Chart Composed by Willard A. Palmer and Bill Hughes. Piano - Teaching Supplement; Posters/Charts; Resources. Other. Alfred Music #00-196. Published by Alfred Music (AP.196).

Most local music stores carry this keyboard chart as well. In Canada, music students can check out Long & McQuade, Empire Music and Tom Lee Music.

Alfred's Basic Keyboard Chart - The Verdict

It's simple. It's compact. It's relatively inexpensive. In short, it does the trick when you are away and need to practice piano. It can help you study your note-reading and keyboard geography, if you're OK with having the keyboard upside down in relation to the note names and staff.