Notey Noteheads – Cards for Beginning Readers

Notey Noteheads

I  decided to make a new set of notehead cards, a set that both teachers and parents can use. With that in mind, I made them the size of playing cards with only 3 pages to cut out. There is one page each for steps, skips, and repeats. I also included a very detailed parent/new teacher instruction guide that took me a lot of time to write, so I really hope it helps. Trust me, if you only show these cards to parents, they make no sense. Once parents see how they work, they are delighted to know they do not need to know how to read music to help their child! I loan these cards to parents, but you can also email parents the link for them to print. Remind them they are free!

Parents Guide Included in Notey Noteheads

There are 5 pages included in this printable. The first 3 pages are the cards. The 4th page is the colorful back to the cards, which seems really important to my students, because it makes it more fun. Children are very visual and are attracted to colorful images. The 5th page is the guide for parents. For those of you who have no idea how to print on the back of cards, or how to print only the first 3 pages,  I posted a tutorial on my FAQ page. Scroll down to read it. When cutting out the cards with printed backs, use the colorful side as your cutting guide.

There are notehead flash cards like these on my website, but they are larger, and I don’t think as user-friendly for parents or as enjoyable for students. Daily use of these cards when students are learning notes that move up, down, and repeat can make a big difference in their music reading abilities.

They can help both the precocious child, and the child who needs lots of extra help.

One more thing. Start with the stepping cards. If students have not been introduced to skipping notes, save them for later. Be sure to tell your parents which cards to use.

I Can Count Rests

I Can Count Rests

As a teacher or parent, you already know that children vary greatly in the ages they learn cognitive skills. I tried today’s I Can Count Rests  and its companion,  I Can Count Rhythm, with preschool children and they had no trouble writing the number of beats the notes/rests received, but had trouble drawing the notes. They also drew a blank when it came to the last section, counting the notes. So I am not recommending these rhythm worksheets for children who cannot add and subtract. The part where they have to cross out the extra rest is too complex, and it is a lot harder than the math they are doing in school.

On the other hand, a 7-year-old loved the last section the best and thought it was so much fun she asked me to make her some more examples just like it.

[I have a silly poster that helps them learn the difference between whole and half rests. If your students get mixed up, try using this printable. It really helps.]

In my last post, I listed some easy rhythm games. To keep you from having to go back,  here are the links again for simple  games to review rests and notes: Quarter Note Hunt, Fish Rhythm Matching Cards,  Rhythm Round About, Counting Up the Mountain, and the black ink Rhythm Memory Game.

I hope you find just the right age for these worksheets. They are large enough to use on an iPad or some tablet of that size. Click on the title link under the picture to print them, and be sure you are using the latest version of Adobe Reader.

Some teachers in places I would love to visit have asked about a version using the UK names for notes and rests. I don’t have time to post it, but for a limited time if you will send me your email address,  I will be happy to email it to you.

I Can Count Rhythm – a Beginning Worksheet

I Can Count Rhythm

Today I am posting the second worksheet in my “I Can” series for young beginners. My last post was I Can Write the Music Alphabet. The one I am posting today reviews rhythm. I think that it is also big enough to use on the iPad.

As with all of my worksheets, this is free for personal use. In order to print, click on the picture or the link below the picture. That will take you to another page, where you will select “download”.

I am working on a worksheet like this for rests, so hold on and I’ll post it this week. Meanwhile, don’t forget these fun rhythm games for the younger set: Quarter Note Hunt, Fish Rhythm Matching Cards,  Rhythm Round About, and Counting Up the Mountain. Average age beginners will learn rhythm values quickly with the black ink Rhythm Memory Game.

If you use all of these games with your beginning students, they will probably learn rhythm note values very easily!

I Can Write the Music Alphabet Worksheet

I Can Write the Music Alphabet

I love to make theory worksheets for my students! Just a little bit of color makes them so much more fun for students.

This worksheet is for beginning students who are learning the music alphabet. I made it with large, easy to read print for younger children. The larger print also makes it possible to use this on your iPad with older beginners who can write smaller. You will have to experiment because pre-children vary a lot in their ability to write on the iPad.

All my printables are free for personal use. In order to print, click on the picture or the link below the picture. That will take you to another page, where you will select “download”.

I am making a series of these larger worksheets for my younger students. I will post more as I have time. I hope you enjoy them!

Robot Practice Chart

Robot Practice Chart

One of my piano parents asked if I had a practice chart for her son. Actually I did, since I seem to have all kinds of things sitting in my files from years past but it wasn’t very appealing.  So I drew some robots, a favorite with boys, and added a piano border. I’m sharing with you today.

If you want a chart for young girls who are just not into robots, hold on. In the next few days I will post a very “girly” practice chart with lots of pink and purple!

Some Valentine Games, Music, and Activities

Here are some Valentine’s Day music and activities that I’ve posted over the years. First I list 7 elementary piano solos, and then some worksheets and games. Click on the link below the picture to download this Valentine’s Day Material.

Roses Are Red- for the first few weeks of lessons

Chocolate Valentines pre-reading

Chocolate Valentines on-the-staff

Love Somebody Pre-reading

Love Somebody Primer (on-the-staff)

Love Somebody Level 2 (8th notes and some hands together)

There’s a Little Wheel a-Turning in my Heart (late elementary)

Write a Valentine’s Song (a composing activity)

Valentine Notes (a worksheet to write notes on a grand staff)

Valentine Note  worksheet  (draw lines to connect notes to the staff)

Rhythm Heart Beats (for dictation) You can put this one on your IPad and save paper!

More Rhythm Heart Beats

Valentine Note Hunt – a student favorite!

Hearts and Clubs – Notes

Hearts and Clubs – Intervals

Hearts and Clubs – Keyboard Flash Cards (use these instead of note flash cards with the Hearts and Clubs Notes board game.

Steal a Heart – a board game for group lessons. This is good for reviewing ledger lines with your older students. My middle school students love this game in group lessons.

Cards for Steal a Heart – the PDF contains many ledger line cards.

If you want to keep up with other Valentine’s Day material I may post, you can subscribe to this Word Press blog at the top. It is completely private and you can unsubscribe any time.

Chasing the Turkey Board Game

Chasing the Turkey

After we finish taking the state theory test, I give my students a theory break. I don’t assign formal theory work to complete at home and bring back. This makes everyone happy, including me, because by now we’re all kind of “theory weary.” But there is the problem of forgetting everything we carefully learned. So I like to play theory games to keep everything fresh in my students’ minds. They don’t mind reviewing theory in a game. In fact, they like it!

If you’re looking for a Thanksgiving game, I hope your students love this one as much as my students did. I don’t know if it was the farmer with his ax, using dice, or if it was the fact that they all beat me. (I must be the most unlucky person in the world!)  This game meets my criteria for a music lesson game. It is fast and over quickly, so it doesn’t take much lesson time.

There are several levels of cards included in this printable. Look at all seven pages in this PDF, and only print what you need. If you don’t know how to do that, see my last post for instructions. The last page in this set is an optional back to the cards, but I didn’t use it!

The nice thing about this game board is that you don’t have to print out the cards I made. I also played this game using note flash cards to review note names, and for beginners, keyboard flash cards. If you want to review all the major and minor key signatures, check out my key signature flash cards on my website.

Objective

• To review previously learned musical symbols, intervals, key signatures, and vocabulary.
• To enjoy a seasonal game.

Ages

• Grades 1-5, using the appropriate cards for the concepts students have learned.

Materials

• Game board.
• Cards with musical symbols and terms, or use your own cards.
• One die.
• Tokens. (I used milk carton tops.)

Directions

• The game can be played with two or more players
• Print the game board and cut out the cards or use your own cards.
• Each player puts his token on the game board. The first player draws a card and answers the question.
• Then he rolls the die and moves the number of spaces on the die. If he lands on a circle with instructions, he follows the instructions, such as taking a short cut, or moving back to Start.
• The game continues in the same way with the other players.
• The first player to reach Safe is the winner.
• Optional: Write the instructions on the back of the game board for future use.

Why I like this game

• My students loved it and didn’t want to stop playing.
• It really helped them remember their theory vocabulary and terms.
• By using flash cards I already have, I can modify the game for all ages.

Nine Keys – a Key Signature Board Game

Nine Keys

If your students take a standardized theory test like mine do, you know how hard it is for some students to learn key signatures. My fifth grade students need to know nine key signatures for the TMTA theory test, so I created a fun board game that they enjoy.

I find that if I make something colorful and kind of silly, they all want to play. And as they play, they learn, even if I have to help them at first. Like we all do, I teach students how to figure out key signatures by themselves using the circle of 5ths. But  it is a good idea to learn to identify them quickly, because it gives students confidence. As time goes by, they realize the benefits of knowing key signatures quickly, just as knowing multiplication tables quickly gives them confidence in math.

How To Print

Read this section before you print all 4 pages. To download, click the link under the image above. This printable PDF includes 4 pages.The first page is the game board. The next two pages are the calling cards. I made the calling cards to fit on business card templates that are perforated for easy separation so that I don’t have to cut them. If you don’t have business card templates, there are some hash marks for you to draw a few lines to help you cut out the cards. The last page is the optional back to the cards.

Under the Pages to Print instructions in the pop-up box, select “Pages”, and then type 1-3.  In order to print on the back, insert pages 2 and 3 into your printer and type 4  in the Pages selection box. You will need to know which side of the paper your printer prints on, so test that out before you waste paper.

Materials

• Nine Keys, the free printable game board from my website
• The cards, cut or separated, and (optional) printed on the back
• Two game tokens, such as old car keys or key charms from a craft store

Directions

• Students should have a basic understand of key signatures in order to play. They might need help with the answers at first, and that is how they will learn.
• Student and teacher take turns drawing a calling card and moving to the correct key signature or following the directions on the card. The player who lands on the last key wins. My students really love the card that says, “If you know the definition of Key Signature, move up 8 spaces. If you are the teacher, lose a turn.” Every time I draw that card I moan and groan, saying, “Who made the rules to this game, anyway?” and my students love it!

Objectives

• To learn to quickly identify the major key signatures of C, G, D, A, E, F, B flat, E flat, and A flat.

Ages

• Elementary to early middle school

Why I like this activity

• I used business card templates for the cards, so there is nothing to cut out!
• It is colorful and students like color.
• Students had fun when they played the game. They love it when I lose and I make sure I lose a lot!

Please let me know if you can use more key signature games or worksheets.

Strawberry Notes

Strawberry Notes

The TMTA convention was  last week, and I really enjoyed myself. I saw so many old friends and made some new ones.  I talked to many publishing representatives as well as authors of the excellent piano teaching material available to us. I hope that I will find time to review some of the new music resources I learned about.

Today I am posting a worksheet to coordinate with this summer’s ladybug theme. It often takes students several years to learn to identify note names, and a little color on the page is a lot more fun. I like to work on lines and spaces separately at first, so I grouped them together.

A lot of teachers have told me their students are enjoying the “Summer Treat” set of worksheets I posted last year. If you are a new reader, the links are below.

Summer Treat Note Story 

Orange Popsicle Notes

Frozen Yogurt Rhythms

Snow Cones Signs and Symbols

Thank you for all your kind comments. It is really wonderful to be appreciated!

Ladybug Board Game

Ladybug Board Game

Every year I have a different “theme” for summer activities. This is the year of the ladybug. Besides, I have some cute ladybug and dragonfly erasers that I want to use as game tokens!

The Game Board

Print the one page game board in landscape orientation. I printed my game board on very inexpensive photo paper from Dollar Tree and then laminated it. Children love how vibrant the colors look and really want to play. To download, click the heading under the picture above.

The Game Cards

The game cards are in portrait orientation, so remember to change the setting. There are 5 pages to this game card file. The cards with notes on the staff are on pages 1-3. The keyboard cards are page 4. The optional backs to the game cards are on page 5. Do not print page 5 when you are printing pages 1-4.  If you want to print on the backs of pages 1-4, print out those pages first and then re-insert (according to your printer’s instructions) and select page 5 only.  As a friendly reminder, If you don’t want the backs, don’t print page 5.

Game cards for Ladybug Board Game

The above graphic shows the optional back. It really makes the cards look good and makes the game “happier”.

Directions

This game can be played with students or teacher and student. The players take turns drawing cards and moving to the correct alphabet name. There are some instruction cards to make the game more fun. The optional card that says “move up 3 skips” is a quick way to teach alphabet skips, or to play a more speedy game. The game is over when someone draws a card after G at the end of the path. It is such a quick game you can play more than once. If you are playing with beginners using the keyboard cards, be sure to have the student say the alphabet letters out loud. This really helps them learn the music alphabet. There are so many games you can play with this game board. For example, you can start and G and move backwards. Use your own ideas and I hope you have fun!

Objectives

• To learn the music alphabet
• To learn to recognize notes on the grand staff or keys on a piano keyboard
• To learn the meaning of a skip in the music alphabet
• To play a fast (under 3 minutes) music board game

Ages

• Early childhood to grade 2 or 3

 I’m not going to be posting very much this summer, but if I make anything I think other teachers might enjoy, I’ll post it. At the top of the page you can subscribe to receive an email when I post something new. It is completely anonymous and you can easily unsubscribe.

One Minute Club Certificate

One Minute Club Certificate

It’s the end of the year and time to pass out certificates to our students. I am posting an 8 1/2 /x 11 size certificate you can give to your students if they were able to join the “club” this year. This is the same graphic theme that I used all year, and the certificate looks just like this year’s (2012) membership card.

If you want to read more about how I use the One Minute Club in my studio, (the idea is not original to me) check out my posts here, and here, as well as posts with a different card each year. (I have been making these cards for many years, long before the internet! Unfortunately I can’t find them all, lost to time I guess.) You can type in One Minute Club in the search engine at the top left of the page, and when the results show up, scroll down and click “Older Posts” at the bottom to see the past posts. You can look at how I change the card each year as my graphic ideas evolve.

LaDona, over at LaDona’s Music Studio, writes about the One Minute Club today. LaDona asked if I had a certificate, and I am happy she reminded me to post this one. I follow her always interesting blog on Flipboard. (Thank you PianoAnne for telling me about Flipboard a few years ago!)

Click on the link under the picture to download this free printable. Be sure to set your printer to landscape. There is a 1/4 inch white border around the edges. The watermark will not show in your copy. It uses a fair amount of ink, but it is still cheaper than buying color certificates! I do not have a black and white version available, but I am working on that for the future.

Colorful Key Signature Chart

Major and Minor Key Signature Chart

I’ve been too busy to post lately. I’m working on a lot of things for my students, but none are ready for the internet. I did manage to finish this keyboard chart that I started a long time ago. I have made several others, but I wanted something with colors my older students would like to see as a poster in my studio.

This was a very time-consuming and tedious poster that I made in Photoshop. I wish I knew a fast and easy way to make these kinds of things, but I don’t. Even the back ground was a piece of crumpled paper from my desk, believe it or not!

Click the link under the picture to go to my website where you can get your own copy of this free printable, without the watermark at the top. The watermark is for Pinterest, which I have been gradually adding things. You can get a lot of great music teaching ideas there.

For those of you who would like a black and white version that students can color themselves, leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to email it to you as soon as possible.

I have started some other printables using this same theme. If you want to subscribe to my website so you can know when I post them, click on the subscription on the top right. You will remain anonymous and it is very easy to unsubscribe if you wish. Thank you to all my supporters from around the globe. You are very much appreciated!

Colorful Rhythm Review Worksheets – Elementary Level

Rhythm Review (page 1 of 3)

Today I am posting some worksheets to review rhythm concepts. There are three pages in this set, with more to come later. Each page increases slightly in difficulty. At the top left hand corner, there is a tiny code to help keep the levels straight, L1, L2, or L3. To help sort the pages when I get in a hurry, each level is a different color. To download these free printables, click on the title above, which will take you to the page where you can print them.

I’ve noticed that my students enjoy worksheets a lot more if I add a little color, so that is how I made these. They are fast enough to do in the lesson.

While the levels are compatible with the Texas Music Teachers Association’s theory program, these worksheets contain rhythm concepts that every music student should know. The first level (that I use with my first graders) reviews quarter notes and rests, half notes and rests, and whole notes and rests. The second level that I made for my second grade students adds a dotted half note. The third level uses the same rhythm values, but the questions are slightly more difficult.

We have to constantly review concepts in piano lessons or students will forget what we carefully taught them. In addition to being a good review, these are excellent worksheets to discover what a transfer student knows about rhythm.

These sheets are meant to be reviews, so you can teach the concepts however you feel comfortable. If you see any typos, let me know right away! I don’t have the best eyes and sometimes I see what I want to see!

Check back soon for the next set, which will review eighth notes and dotted quarter notes. At the top of this page, you can subscribe to the Word Press email which will let you know when something new is posted here.

Objective

• To reinforce elementary rhythm concepts
• To determine what concepts a transfer student has learned

Ages

• These sheets were made for school grades 1 -3. However, they may be used by all beginning students.

Material

• Worksheet
• Pencil

An Easier Version of Easter Bunny

Easter Bunny

I promised yesterday that I would post a shorter version of Easter Bunny. This version came about when I realized that I wrote the original too difficult for my preschool student. While the version I posted yesterday was great for another student, teaching preschool children often requires short songs that repeat. She was so happy to get this, just in time for the Easter bunny!

Be sure to set your printer orientation to landscape when you print this version.

One of the reasons I wrote this tune was to give students a little extra practice with the 4th finger. Beginners often get the 2nd and 4th fingers mixed up. It takes even longer for preschool children to get the concept. I have a bag of plastic rings in all kinds of cute shapes that I bought from the dollar store. She chose a color and put a ring on each 4th finger. That made the biggest difference in her ability to enjoy playing this little song. Here is a picture of the rings on finger 3. You can see how it helps to put the rings on finger 4 as they play this piece.

If you want some even easier seasonal music on the black keys that can be used at a student’s first lessons, check out my left and right hand versions of Hot Cross Buns. The left hand version is here. Children who celebrate Easter enjoy learning about the tradition of  hot cross buns. I have also posted some sacred pre-reading and level 1 versions of hymns suitable for the Easter season. You can look at them in the music section of my website, www.susanparadis.com.

A Fun Pre-Reading Easter Bunny Song

Easter Bunny

I wrote a little song about the Easter Bunny in several different levels of difficulty. This is the first version. It is suitable for young beginners who are comfortable with the thumbs on the white keys. I have an 8-measure version in landscape orientation and I will post that tomorrow. I also have an on-the-staff version for students in their 2nd method book (Level 1 in most methods, Level 2 in Hal Leonard)  that I am working on. This is the reason I like to self publish. I can customize music for different levels.

To help students who get their hands mixed up, I like to highlight the right and left hands with 2 different colored highlighters. If you have never done this in their lesson book you will be surprised how helpful it is. Students enjoy picking out the colors and that adds a little motivation. (Try to find a set with purple. It’s very hard to come by!) We all have students who focus on one hand and need some extra help to get them together. Some students always get the left and right hands mixed up, as well as some adults, such as me! Simple songs like this can really help that problem before they move on to reading on the staff.

Blogging is a spare time activity for me, and I have not had time to post all the spring time material I’ve made. Sometimes things sit in my files for years before I have time to modernize, revise, and post it. Thank you for all your suggestions, and thanks for understanding! I really appreciate and have learned so much from my readers and the blogging community.

Do you find it helpful for me to highlight the hands like this? Leave a comment if you do. You may remain anonymous!

Color the Egg Puzzle

Color the Egg Puzzle

Today I am posting a black and white puzzle to identify notes around middle C. I plan to use it as a coloring sheet to send home in their binder because I don’t have time to do this at a lesson. However, I think students might enjoy cutting it out after they color it. With Mom or Dad’s help they can put the pieces back together as they name the notes.

Another way to use this printable is to make it a game for a group lesson. Cut out enough puzzles for the students who are playing and put the puzzle pieces in a bowl. Students draw puzzle pieces one at a time and try to be the first one to put the egg back together. If they draw a note they already have, they have to put it back. Students can stick the piece down with double-sided tape. This game requires the teacher to do a lot of fine cutting, which my hands doesn’t seem to like nowadays! But it would reinforce matching skills that would be helpful for beginners. If you want to do this, email me and I’ll send you a color version you can cut out.

I use inexpensive double-sided tape that is a lot less messier than glue, so you might want to pick some up.

Objectives

• To reinforce note names around middle C
• To enjoy a seasonal activity

Ages

• All elementary age children who have learned the notes around middle C

Material

• Worksheet
• Crayons (brown can be substituted for pink)

If cutting out and using as a puzzle, you need these materials:

• Double sided tape or glue
• Scissors
• Colored construction paper as the background to stick down the puzzle

I have received so many nice emails and comments lately. Thank you so much! Sometimes my readers find mistakes and let me know about them. I appreciate that, too, because I am not a very good proof-reader!

Coming up soon are several new Easter bunny songs for primer and elementary students. Subscribe to this blog if you want to be notified when I post new material. Simple click on the subscribe button above. You will remain anonymous.

Bunny to Color Piano Keys

Bunny Keys

The younger the beginning student, the more they need reinforcement on concepts they have learned. Just because they know it today doesn’t mean they will remember it tomorrow! This is why some piano teachers get frustrated teaching younger children. You have to set your frustration meter very high!

With that in mind, I created a little puzzle for students to color in order to reinforce the names of the keys. One of my students loves bunnies, and around the Easter season is a good time for coloring bunnies.

This worksheet is in black and white for those of you without access to a color printer, or if you want to save ink. (The green watermark is not on the copy you will print.) I hope your young students enjoy coloring this. I know I have one who will!

Objectives

• To reinforce the names of piano keys
• To practice fine motor skills and writing letter names
• To enjoy a seasonal activity

Ages

• Preschool and elementary age children to about 3rd grade

Material

• Worksheet
• Crayons (brown can be substituted for pink)
• Pencil

Bunny Basics

Bunny Basics

One of my students has a pet bunny, so I made a music note story worksheet for her. I am sharing it with you in case you are looking for something for the Easter season. You can use it at a group lesson or give it to an individual student.

I learned some new facts about rabbits while I worked on this and maybe you will, too!

List of St. Patrick’s Day Material

Some teachers asked for a list of my St. Patrick’s Day material. I’m listing it today in case you need something quick for next week. This material is designed for elementary age children.

To use these printables do not click on the picture. Click on the link below the picture and when a new window opens, click on the download link. Make sure you have the latest (free) version of Adobe Reader.

Shamrock composing activity   I recently put new graphics on this because I like the softer look. Let’s Go Marching is a pre-reading activity that even beginners can do. Use either finger numbers or note names.

Let’s All Go Marching, a composing activity on-the-staff  Young students write notes in the staff for this composing activity. It is suitable for students who have learned a five-finger position.

Shamrock Keyboard Game   This is the one I posted recently. It is teacher vs. student in this fun game on the piano keys!

Shamrock Notes for St. Patrick’s Day    This is good way to review all the notes on the grand staff.

Shamrock Rhythms Game   I recently completely re-made the graphics on this game to save a lot of green ink. Students draw cards to find missing rhythm values in a measure. There are some circle shaped cards to cut out. It is game for older elementary students who are comfortable with note values. It can be used as a theory class game. Print on cardstock and laminate for durability.

Clover Full of Notes Rhythm Worksheet    I posted this a few days ago, but here it is again! You can print one copy of this and either laminate it or place it inside a sheet protector and use dry or wet erase pens. I made this as a review for students who have already learned rhythm values.

St. Patrick’s Day Card for your students   I’ve been passing these out to my elementary students and I they really like them. (I tell them a little leprechaun dropped them off!) I ask them to guess what the card turns into when they open it. They also like the little chocolate coin!

Have Fun!

Find the Starting Notes (With Accidentals)

Find the Starting Notes

Do you remember when I posted a easier version of this worksheet back in June? It has been a very popular worksheet because students actually have to figure out how to place their hand so they can start a piece. [The easy version uses only fingers 1,2, 3 and does not contain accidentals.] Sometimes students get a little lazy in trying to work out music on their own and need some help in learning how to get started.

Teachers asked if I would make a more difficult version, so I am posting it today. Click on the link under the picture to print it. This version is a lot more challenging, but I’ve tried it with my students and it is very helpful. It is also a good diagnostic tool, so I like to have the student work on it at the lesson.  I made it short, because we all have limited lesson time.

Simple things like having them wiggle their starting finger and fly it around in the air before landing on the key is very helpful with students who never seem to bother with finger numbers. This is especially true of students with small learning disabilities.

It is important to not only write the finger numbers on the worksheet, but to find and play it in the correct position on the keyboard. I encourage students to try this on the little keyboard that is printed on their assignment sheet. In the past students who had perception difficulties dropped out of formal music study, but now we know a lot more about how to modify our teaching to reach all children.

There are two pages in this document, one for the right hand one for the left hand.

Objective

To identify and play several different starting positions containing accidentals on the keyboard.

Level

Students who are familiar with and can identify notes on the grand staff containing accidentals. Students should be comfortable with chromatic signs.