Handout
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Note Duration

For Students 9th - 10th
A fabulous resource for beginners in music theory! Gives examples and explanations of the sixteenth note, eighth note, quarter note, half note, and whole note. The last page on this site provides a chart showing the relationship of each...
Website
Other

Basic Music Theory: History of Notation

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an excellent site for any area of basic music theory. It is easy to read with hypertext links and graphics to enhance understanding.
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Note Trainer

For Students 9th - 10th
A fabulous tool for music teachers and students! This online quiz tests students knowledge of the various musical notes. (Click on "toggle" to check your answers along the way.)
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Key Signature Calculation

For Students 9th - 10th
An explanation of key signature calculation for advanced music students. Discusses the use of sharps and flats in music composition, with illustrated examples. (You may need to download Flash player to view this site.)
eBook
Other

Ruby Cliff Computing: Elements of Music Notation

For Students 9th - 10th
Fine site that focuses on music notation and on learning how to read it with a focus on the guitar. Includes charts, tips, and other useful information.
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Key Trainer

For Students 9th - 10th
A terrific tool for music teachers and students! Test students' knowledge of key signatures with this online quiz. Click "toggle" to check answers along the way, or click "setting" to customize the quiz.
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Introduction to Chords

For Students 9th - 10th
A thorough description of chords, roots, and triads. Provides illustrated examples as well as audio clips to supplement this lesson.(You may need to download Flash Player to view this site.)
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Dots and Ties

For Students 9th - 10th
A terrific resource for beginners! Gives examples of dots and ties, and explains how they are used. Simple illustrations and explanations make this animated site easy to follow. By MusicTheory.net.
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Diatonic Triads

For Students 9th - 10th
Descriptions of diatonic triads: major, natural minor, and harmonic minor. Provides animated illustrations, and a printable chart at the end of the lesson.
Handout
Music Education

Learning to Read Music: Types of Notes

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about the different types of notes in music--the whole note, half note, quarter notes, eighth note, and sixteenth note--and listen to midi files of music samples.
Website
Other

The Basics of Reading Music

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is an overview of how to read music. The basics of notation such as note and rest values, the names of lines and spaces of both treble and bass clefs, etc. are covered. Includes downloadable audio files.
Website
Other

Tomas Howie Drumming Web: Reading Music

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is provided for by Tomas Howie and Drumming Web. Although originally written for the drummer, any aspiring musician could benefit from the explanation of how to read music and the examples it contains. Drummers will want to...
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Odd Meter

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives a brief definition of an odd meter. Use the arrows at the bottom to navigate. Provides illustrations and a printable chart.
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Simple and Compound Meter

For Students 9th - 10th
Examples of simple and compound meters, as well as explanations of the terms duple, triple, and quadruple. Plenty of illustrations accompany this terrific resource. By MusicTheory.net.
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.com: Introduction to Chords

For Students 9th - 10th
A description of augmented and diminished triads/ chords. Provides illustrated examples with highlighted vocabulary words,a printable chart, and audio clips to supplement the lesson.
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Steps and Accidentals

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides an explanation of half steps, whole steps, flats, and sharps. Illustrated examples accompany these definitions.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: How to Read Music

For Students 9th - 10th
Like an actor's script, a sheet of music instructs a musician on what to play (the pitch) and when to play it (the rhythm). Sheet music may look complicated, but once you've gotten the hang of a few simple elements like notes, bars and...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Classical Music: What Is Classical Music?

For Teachers 5th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] A biographical text explaining what classical music is. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Handout
Music Education

Learning to Read Music: Types of Rests

For Students 3rd - 8th
This tutorial teaches students the different kinds and values of rests in music notation.
Handout
Music Education

Learning to Read Music: Basic Counting

For Students 3rd - 8th
Apply basic knowledge of reading music by counting beats and reading notes. Here are some simple lines of music which incorporate different types of notes and patterns in common time.
Handout
Music Education

Learning to Read Music: Basic Counting, Part 2

For Students 3rd - 8th
Beginning musicians can practice reading notes and counting beats using this resource that also provides several lines of music with different types of notes, rests, and time signatures.
Article
Other

Music Theory First Aid for Struggling Students

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides music theory information on such topics as rhythm, intervals, scales, chords, etc. Also, there is a fine section which describes the basic concepts of form and structure.
Website
Music Theory

Music theory.net

For Students 9th - 10th
An online beginning music theory and ear training site. This site is for students to use at home to reinforce what they learn in class.
Handout
Music Education

Learning to Read Music: Symbols in Music

For Students 3rd - 8th
This introductory tutorial teaches students basic musical notation for compressed rests and sharps and flats. Further lessons are linked to this page.