(MF) Music Notation Lesson

Music Notation Lesson

Music notation is any system that represents aurally perceived music through the use of written symbols. The earliest form of musical notation can be found on a tablet that was created in Iraq in about 2000 B.C. The tablet represents fragmentary instructions for performing music, that the music was composed in harmonies of thirds, and that it was written using a diatonic scale.

A tablet from about 1250 B.C. shows a more developed form of notation. Although the interpretation of the notation system is still controversial, it is clear that the notation indicates the names of strings on a lyre, the tuning of which is described in other tablets. Although they are fragmentary, these tablets represent the earliest notated melodies found anywhere in the world.

Modern music notation originated in European classical music and is now used by musicians of many different genres throughout the world.

The system uses a five-line, 4-space staff. Pitch is shown by placement of notes on the staff (sometimes modified by accidentals), and duration is shown with different note values and additional symbols such as dots and ties. Notation is read from left to right.

 

Be sure to watch the video on Music Notation below before moving forward in the module.

 

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