13 Note Reading Strategies to Recover from Grand Staff Confusion

Have you ever had a piano student who just didn’t get the grand staff? Whether it’s misinformation or misunderstanding, some kids seem to view music notation as an unsolvable mystery.

Chances are you have at least a couple of students in your music studio right now who are in desperate need of some new note reading strategies.

Maybe you received transfer students who were taught using questionable methods. Or you might have long-term students who still get that deer in the headlights look when it comes to note names and reading.

Help your students recover from grand staff bafflement with these note name teaching ideas.

(And if the first one doesn’t work…come back and give one of the other 12 a try.)

Note Reading Immersion

When you need to push your students over the note name hill, what you want is grand staff immersion. Blanket them in note names with these gameified note reading strategies.

Note Reading Strategy No. 1: 60 Second Challenge

The 60 Second Challenge is a favourite in my piano studio. Students name the notes as fast as they can to gain bronze, silver or gold levels. Get all the info on how I run the challenge, and grab the free printables for the 60 Second Challenge here.

Note Reading Strategy No. 2: iPad apps

With so many iPad apps out there these days, it can be hard to choose which ones to recommend to my students. My current favourites, however, are:

• NinGenius
• Flashnote Derby
• Note Rush

Let me know your favourite note naming apps in the comments. I’m always looking for new ones to try!

Note Reading Strategy No. 3: Note Naming Blitz

This is just a cheeky, fun name for asking your student to name every single note in her piece before she plays it. This step is included in several of the practice step stickers that you can find here.

Stick at this strategy and it will pay off in the end.

Note Reading Strategy No. 4: Theory Workbooks

My own Thinking Theory workbooks take the landmark approach to note names. For students who are having a hard time with the grand staff, I also supplement with the Thinking Theory Plus books for extra review.

Grand Staff Perspectives

There are many different angles to view the staff from, and your weak note reader is probably seeing it from a funny direction. Change their outlook to flip the switch on their grand staff confusion.

Note Reading Strategy No. 5: Landmark Notes

If your student started out using a different note reading method, introduce her to the landmark notes and help her find her way around using them. Review the landmark notes using the free Landmark Xs and Os game here.

It might also be helpful for your student to view this Thinking Theory video explaining landmark notes.

Note Reading Strategy No. 6: Mnemonics

I know, I know. We’re all moving away from mnemonics these days. But if your student isn’t catching on using other methods, it could be worth a try.

After all, ultimately we want instant recognition anyway so sometimes needs must. I learned using mnemonics myself  – and I think I turned out OK. 😉

Note Reading Strategy No. 7: Grand Staff Navigation

You might be surprised by what your student is NOT seeing the way you think they are. Review the difference between lines and spaces using this free worksheet here or using the Thinking Theory Prep Book and Thinking Theory Prep Book Plus.

Note Reading Strategy No. 8: Whiteboard

The whiteboard can open up so many possibilities for exploring the grand staff. If you don’t have one already, just pick up a mini one at a dollar store and start quizzing and exploring at a mile a minute.

If you don’t want to draw the grand staff yourself, you could purchase one of the pre-printed grand staff whiteboards available here.

Note Reading Strategy No. 9: Floor Staff

Setting up a floor staff is a wonderful way to get inside the grand staff. Plus the kids love it, especially at group lessons. Get ideas for games and see what my floor staff looks like here.

If you don’t have a floor staff, you can purchase one of my Blanket Grand Staffs here.

Note Reading Strategy No. 10: Piano Puzzle

These piano puzzle cards are one of my most popular resources. And with good reason! Making that direct connection between the staff and the piano keys is so important for confused music students.

Seeing all the notes laid out like this can be just the ticket for kids to see the internal logic of the grand staff and understand how it works.

Click here to download the piano puzzle cards and see how I use them.

Sleuth-Style Note Naming

With a resistant note reader, you may need to go incognito. Disguise note reading strategies and music theory in shrouds of fun and creativity – and you might break through the bewilderment to find note name clarity.

Note Reading Strategy No. 11: Composing

If you get students composing (and don’t act as their amanuensis) then they’ll have to write down their own compositions. And when they’re writing down the notes for themselves, they’ll have to work out where to put them.

Use the Animal Menagerie composing project to incorporate some undercover music theory in your studio. Your students won’t have any idea of your secret agenda.

Note Reading Strategy No. 12: Quick Studies

Sometimes what students need to become better readers and note namers is just more reading. Start assigning your students quick studies alongside their regular repertoire.

Ideally, quick studies should be a few levels below your student’s current repertoire. Aim to have them completed in just one week of practice.

Note Reading Strategy No. 13: Note Naming Games

Music theory games are the ultimate in covert note reading strategies. Find the perfect music theory game for your student’s reading level in my Vibrant Music Teaching library. 

The library is all about games that really work. They take the hard job of drilling with a struggling student and guides them to truly understand the staff – all while having FUN.

Join today and see what games could do for you.

What’s your favourite way to approach the grand staff with a struggling reader?

I’d love to hear what you do when a piano student just doesn’t catch on to note reading.