Introduction to Notation Systems
| This lesson is part of the Fundamentals of Sound & Music module. |
Objectives
- Students will be familiar with and understand the basic concepts of guitar tablature, lead sheet notation, braille music notation, and electronic notation formats such as Standard MIDI File and MusicXML.
Resources
Readings
Notation Explained
- Handout on Prescriptive vs. Descriptive music notation
- A. Granade, "Cracking the Code: What Notation Can Tell Us About Our Musical Values" (Open Access Musicology, forthcoming)
- C. Rowbury, "Music Notation: What is it good for and why does it matter?" (From the Front of the Choir Blog, 2011)
- C. Rowbury, "The song is not the sheet music!" (From the Front of the Choir Blog, 2010)
- C. Rowbury, "Using sheet music to teach and learn songs: the Pros and Cons" (From the Front of the Choir Blog, 2011)
Types of Notations
- J. Bennett. "How was musical notation invented? A brief history." (How To Classical Blog, 2017)
- V. Williams. "The Evolution of music notation." (My Music Theory Blog)
- "Guitar Tab Explained." (Music Notes Now Blog)
- "Nashville Number System." (Guitar Thinker)
- "How to read jazz chords and lead sheets." (Jazz Guitar Online)
- "Drum Notation." (Drum Book 2013)
- Shaffer et al. "Protonotation" (Open Music Theory)
- D. Hall, "The Art of Visualizing Music."
Tools
Class Activities
- Discussion and demonstration of different notation systems and their individual purposes, strengths and weaknesses
- Transcription of a simple melody in guitar tablature (given fretboard diagrams) and braille music notation
- Demonstration of the creation of various electronic notation formats
Assignments
- Notating short melodies in different notation systems