| When a musical instrument is played we can hear | | | | What happens is that the pressed down key or |
| sounds in the form of music. Musical instruments | | | | keys cause small hammer or hammers to hit |
| have unique sounds which are formed by playing | | | | tuned strings which cause vibrations and produce |
| notes, in varying ways. So what is a note? What | | | | a sound. The lower the key the thicker the string. |
| is a Recorder and Piano? What are recorder notes | | | | The black keys repeat themselves in groups of 2 |
| in relation to piano notes? Let us explore. | | | | and 3 for the entire length of the keyboard. The |
| A note is a sign in music. It tells the musician to | | | | note names of A B C D E F G are positioned on |
| do something on his or her musical instrument to | | | | the white keys in relation to the black keys eg all |
| produce a sound of the note name and note | | | | C's are directly to the left of the group of two |
| length as indicated on the sheet of music. The | | | | black keys, hence when you press this key down, |
| names of the musical notes are A B C D E F G | | | | the sound of C is produced.. A piano usually has |
| which are the first seven letters of the alphabet | | | | around seven repetitions of A to G, called |
| and called the musical alphabet. The musical | | | | octaves. Music is written on a grand staff |
| alphabet repeats itself for the note range of the | | | | consisting of a treble staff joined to the bass |
| musical instrument. Each of the note names are | | | | staff below, by a line. |
| associated with flats and sharps eg A sharp and | | | | Let's look at the recorder notes in relation to the |
| A flat, B sharp and B flat etc. Notes are given | | | | piano notes. |
| specific positions on a set of five lines called a | | | | 1. Note names and note lengths are the same for |
| stave to indicate which A or B or C etc to play. | | | | both instruments. |
| Notes vary in the length of time they are | | | | 2. Musical notes are written on the treble staff for |
| sounded. They are given names which correspond | | | | most recorder types and piano. The piano also |
| to a number of beats or counts and they have | | | | has notes written on the bass stave. And so the |
| different pictures. The first few note lengths | | | | notes from most recorder types are equivalent |
| which people learn and play are the crotchet ( 1 | | | | to the notes played with the right hand on the |
| beat ), minim ( 2 beats ) and semibreve ( 4 beats | | | | piano. Hence most recorders use the treble clef |
| ). And so if a two beat A is required then the | | | | and the piano uses the treble clef and bass clef. |
| picture of the minim will be placed on the stave in | | | | 3. The recorder has a smaller note range than the |
| position of the A required. | | | | piano which is > 2 octaves compared to 7 |
| Musicians learn the positions and note lengths | | | | octaves. And so all notes you play on the |
| whilst learning their instrument. | | | | recorder can be played on the piano. |
| Now you need to understand what a recorder | | | | 4. Both instruments are completely different in |
| and piano are to understand the recorder notes in | | | | looks, size, production of sound and the actual |
| relation to piano notes. A recorder is a wind | | | | sound you hear. Recorder sounds are produced |
| instrument in varying sizes made from wood or | | | | when air vibrates down a recorder tube. You play |
| plastic. It is like a tube in two or three sections | | | | different notes by pressing your finger tips on the |
| with a headpiece and shaped mouth hole at one | | | | holes in various configurations. Piano sounds are |
| end, a round open hole at the other end and | | | | made when pressed down keys cause a hammer |
| holes. A recorder player creates a sound by | | | | to strike a tuned string which vibrates. You play |
| closing their lips over the mouth hole and blowing | | | | different notes by pressing down different keys |
| air down the tube. Different sounds are made by | | | | with your finger tips |
| pressing the finger tips or pads on the holes in | | | | 5. Loud and soft notes are formed differently |
| various configurations called fingering, so that no | | | | between the two instruments. A loud sound is |
| air escapes from the required holes. For example, | | | | produced by blowing harder on the recorder or |
| if a musician wants to play an A, then the | | | | pressing more firmly on the keys of the piano. A |
| fingering for one of the A's is to place your left | | | | soft sound is produced by blowing more gently on |
| hand thumb on the thumb hole which is | | | | the recorder or pressing less firmly on the keys |
| underneath, and the first two fingers on the top | | | | of the piano. However the markings on sheet |
| two holes on the upper side. The range of notes | | | | music for loud and soft notes are the same for |
| on a recorder is greater than two octaves. Music | | | | both instruments. |
| is written on the treble clef stave for most of | | | | You now have an understanding of what a note |
| the recorder sizes. | | | | is, what a recorder and piano is and that the |
| A piano is a keyboard instrument with black and | | | | notes on the recorder in relation to the piano |
| white keys. A pianist produces a sound by | | | | have features which are the same and different. |
| pressing down on the keys in varying numbers. | | | | |