Remember the music whiteboard I created using a plexiglass frame from IKEA? Here is my new digital version. 🙂
In the photo above, the staff paper is being used in the GoodNotes app. You can download a multi-page pdf containing the various types of staff paper by visiting the Printables > For iPad page.
These files will probably work just as well on non-iPad tablet devices with a similar app. If anyone tries it, please let me know!
Good morning! The “So, You Want To Be A Composer?” camp is ready to be listed in the Color In My Piano shop……but I’m just waiting to hear back from one more student to get permission to share their composition in the lesson plan as an example. I will post it as soon as I hear from them! UPDATE: The lessons plans are posted now!
For today though, I thought I would share a peek at a composition by one of my other students, and also share a FREEBIE from the camp lessons plans! Read on.
During camp, we spent a lot of time discussing how composers make music SOUND like the title or the subject they are describing. This student appropriately chose a minor key for his dragon piece. I helped him very little, other than approving his first few measures and then encouraging him to add a B section. Not bad for a first composition, is it?! 🙂 Once he had it worked out on the piano, we together figured out how to notate the piece. Later, I transcribed his piece into Finale, printed it out, and then asked him to add an illustration.
As promised, I’d like to share a freebie from “So, You Want To Be A Composer?” camp….. a pdf containing TEN different sizes of staff paper! I hope you can put it to good use. 🙂 Visit the Printables > Other Resources page and scroll down to the S’s for “Sheet Music A-J.”
Staff Paper - A-J (180.5 KiB, 22,486 hits)
With my Piano Readiness Class, we’ve been learning about staff notation. Last week, each student composed a mini-composition on the piano and then we together notated the piece. We used colorful markers to label the notes (A, B, C, etc) and also wrote in finger numbers, so they can continue playing their compositions at home. They loved the idea of being composers!
This is the sheet paper we used to notate our compositions. Young students tend to draw rather large notes 🙂 , so I left plenty of room between the lines of the staff.
To download, visit the Printables > Other Resources page and scroll down to “Staff Paper — Large Staff for Simple Compositions.”
Just thought I’d share a little tip today about where to find THE best free manuscript paper (in my humble opinion): Antonjazz.com
There are hundreds of sites out there that offer free manuscript paper (aka staff paper). But this is my absolute favorite.
Now, you must know, I do a little composing every now and then. And I have discovered that I am a very picky manuscript paper person. It has to be just right.
I always print the “Blank manuscript paper with 10 staves, no clefs” paper. It’s very economical and flexible. It’s professional and clean-looking.
Does this paper work for young students? Not so much. I’d recommend finding something bigger. With wider spaces. (Suggestions, anyone?)
But I love this manuscript paper for myself and my older students to use. It’s perfect for that.
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Do you have a favorite manuscript paper, as I do? Please let us know by commenting below.
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