Learning Objectives This section of the course prepares you to: This section of the course prepares you to: Perform music with a new key signature

Flat In language, every letter indicates a specific sound. Words are put together based on how those sounds fit together. Sometimes, however, letters can take on a different sound based on the other letters around them. For example, most of the time, the letter “s” sounds like “ssss” as in "snake.” But, when it is paired with the letter “h,” the two letters join to make the sound “shhh,” as in “sheep.” In music, we have a few special symbols that are often paired with notes in order to create a slightly different sound. One of these special symbols is called a flat. Notice that the flat symbol looks a lot like a lower case “b” which has been squished.

Flat Now let’s see how a flat sign looks when it is paired with a note. The flat sign will always be to the left of the note; the round part of the flat sign will be directly in line with the note. The job of the flat symbol is to lower the pitch of the note one half-step. On the next page, we will take a look at a piano keyboard to further understand the job of the flat sign.

Flat Notice how all of the white keys on the keyboard are named without extra symbols. White keys on the piano keyboard are named “A, B, C, D, E, F, or G.” Now look at the black keys on the keyboard. All of the black keys need a special symbol to complete their name. For instance, the key named “B-flat” is just to the left of the “B” key. “B Flat” is one half-step lower than “B.“ The flat symbol shows musicians that they are to play “B Flat” instead of regular “B.”

Flat You can use a piano or an electric keyboard to hear the difference between “regular” (natural) notes and notes with “flat” names. Use the picture of the keyboard below to find some notes with flat names. Play a white key. Then play a black key (flat key) with the same letter name that corresponds to the picture of the piano keyboard. Listen to the differences in sound.

Flat One rule to remember about the flat sign: The flat sign carries through the measure for all identical notes. Let’s see how this rule can be applied in music. Because the following B’s are all sitting within the same measure, the flat sign connected to the first one is assumed to be connected to all of them. When you reach the bar line, the flat sign will automatically be cancelled.

Flat One rule to remember about the flat sign: The flat sign carries through the measure for all identical notes. Let’s see how this rule can be applied in music. Because the following B’s are all sitting within the same measure, the flat sign connected to the first one is assumed to be connected to all of them. When you reach the bar line, the flat sign will automatically be cancelled.

Time to learn a new note on your instrument. The new note is shown below. Be sure to learn the name of the new note as well as the new fingering. New Note Page In your book 33

Practice Assignment Focus Points Time to practice! Time to practice! Turn to page 33 in your book. Practice exercise #130 “Mixin’ It Up.” Check the new note fingering at the top of the page. Play it several times to become comfortable with the new note. Look at the Key Signature and Time Signature. This song has 2 beats per measure. Accents at the end add a dramatic effect. Notice a powerful difference when you play these last 5 notes.

Key Signature: F Remember that in music we have something called a key. The key in music helps musicians speak the correct way with one another. In essence, the key indicates which notes musicians should play within a piece of music. The key signature is the musician’s code to knowing which notes should be made either sharp notes or flat notes within the music ahead.

Key Signature: F Let’s learn a new key signature. Recall how to play a B flat on your instrument. Also, review how to play an E natural. If you need to refer to your instrument’s fingering chart, you may do that now.

Key Signature: F Let’s learn a new key signature. Recall how to play a B flat on your instrument. Also, review how to play an E natural. If you need to refer to your instrument’s fingering chart, you may do that now.

Key Signature: F Now play a few of these notes in a row while looking at the staff below. Remember the rule that we use with flats, sharps or natural signs: The flat, sharp or natural carries through the measure for all identical notes.

Key Signature: F Now play a few of these notes in a row while looking at the staff below. Remember the rule that we use with flats, sharps or natural signs: The flat, sharp or natural carries through the measure for all identical notes.

Key Signature: F Notice that the staff below contains only one flat sign. It is sitting on the line where a "B" pitch would be found in the staff. This is called the key of F. The single flat sign tells musicians that they should automatically play a "Bb" whenever they come to a "B" in the music. Now play the following notes. They will all be B flats due to the key of F.

Key Signature: F Notice that the staff below contains only one flat sign. It is sitting on the line where a "B" pitch would be found in the staff. This is called the key of F. The single flat sign tells musicians that they should automatically play a "Bb" whenever they come to a "B" in the music. Now play the following notes. They will all be B flats due to the key of F.

Practice Assignment Focus Points Time to practice! Time to practice! Turn to page 33 in your book. Practice exercise #131 “On Top of Old Smoky.” Notice the new Key Signature. Mark the notes that are changed by this new Key Signature. Take a deep breath and aim for the breath marks for proper phrasing. Count carefully on the long Tied notes.

ACCENT ON ACHIEVEMENT, BOOK 1* By JOHN O’REILLY and MARK WILLIAMS © 1997 ALFRED PUBLISHING CO., INC. All Rights Reserved Used by Permission A larger, high bandwidth version of this video can be found on the next page. Practice Partner Video

ACCENT ON ACHIEVEMENT, BOOK 1* By JOHN O’REILLY and MARK WILLIAMS © 1997 ALFRED PUBLISHING CO., INC. All Rights Reserved Used by Permission Practice Partner Video

Practice Assignment Focus Points Time to practice! Time to practice! Turn to page 33 in your book. Practice exercises #132 “March Slav” and #133 “Las Mañanitas.” Watch for the accidentals in many of the measures. In #132, Largo-very slow will help make this a dramatic song. Dynamics will help keep the musical interest driving forward. Notice the very long Cresc. and Decresc. in #133. Each note will get gradually louder until F-loud is reached, then gradually softer until the MP-medium soft. This will add musical excitement. Make sure to play at a Moderato-medium Tempo.

SmartMusic Assignment Focus Points Time to practice! Time to practice! For help using the SmartMusic application, please refer to the SmartMusic Help file found in your course. Turn to page 33 in your book. Practice exercise #134 “Pomp and Circumstance.” Using SmartMusic, make a recording of your performance and submit the assessment results to your teacher. Play with a full sound, making diminuendos and crescendos within your beautiful tone. Notice the rhythmic syncopation in several places in this song. Count them carefully. You may choose whether to play the upper or lower note of the divisi in the last measure. You've almost graduated!

ACCENT ON ACHIEVEMENT, BOOK 1* By JOHN O’REILLY and MARK WILLIAMS © 1997 ALFRED PUBLISHING CO., INC. All Rights Reserved Used by Permission A larger, high bandwidth version of this video can be found on the next page. Practice Partner Video

ACCENT ON ACHIEVEMENT, BOOK 1* By JOHN O’REILLY and MARK WILLIAMS © 1997 ALFRED PUBLISHING CO., INC. All Rights Reserved Used by Permission Practice Partner Video

Practice Assignment Focus Points Time to practice! Time to practice! Turn to page 43 in your book. Practice exercise #10 “Accent on Alto Saxophone.” Look at the Key Signature and Time Signature. Check fingering chart on page 33 for Bb. Mark the notes affected by the Key Signature. Be careful to observe all the slurs for a smooth musical line.