Mnemonic devices are tricks that we can use to help us remember things more easily.
Rhyming is a great memorization tool. If you can make anything rhyme, you'll recall it much faster simply by reciting the rhyme.
Acronyms are another great way to remember difficult bits of information. We'll use both these memorization techniques to help you read music faster!
Instructions for the treble and bass clef reading
The top staff is called the Treble Clef. Use these Mnemonic devices for the Treble (top) lines and spaces:
FACE is for the Space
Every Good Boy Does Fine is for the lines
The bottom staff is called the Bass Clef. Use the following memory tricks for the bass cleff lines and spaces (bottom):
Lines = Good Burritos Dont Fall Apart
Spaces = All Cows Eat Grass
Use the memorization tricks, we talked about! You'll get faster at reading the grand staff (both clefs in piano music). Counting up each note works, but its a slower method than saying to yourself Every Good Boy Does Fine.
Rhyming and Reading Music
Notice that if you say it this way, "FACE is for the space" it rhymes.
"Every Good Boy Does Fine is for the lines," rhymes as well.
This will help with the hardest part for students, which is keeping the memory tools for the lines and spaces straighten out in your head. Also keep in mind that there are 4 spaces on each staff and 5 lines. So that helps narrow down the options.
Musical Scale to help Read Music
To be extra clear how the piano's keyboard relates to the grand staff (music notation). I have added a picture of a scale. Its helpful for young kids to see that as the keys go from left to right on the piano, the notes on the scale get higher.
Feel free to print it off and keep it by your piano!
