Understanding music
Notation
Music notation is a graphic way of representing sounds and silences. Musicians use notation to write (make a record of) their ideas, to read music and to communicate with other musicians. There are many forms of notation, and musicians are continually adapting notation conventions. The choice of which notation to use is usually linked to the style, genre or cultural tradition of the music that will be written.
Think about
How important is notation to music making?
What are the advantages to a musician in being able to read and write music notation? What percentage of the world’s musicians use notation? Why or why not? Just how accurate is notation? Can notation tell the whole story about how a piece of music should sound?
Do you give the same answers to the questions above as a musician and as a music educator? Ask students to respond to the questions; hold a class debate; create a chart showing advantages and disadvantages of using notation or different notation systems.
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