- Definition
A note is a single musical sound, or the symbol written on a page that tells you to play that sound.
When you press one key on a piano, you are playing a single musical note.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A musical note is like one specific building block you use to build a whole song.
Ask your child: Can you sing a high note, then a low note?
Common mix-up: Kids might think a 'note' is a letter you write to a friend. In music, a note is a single sound, or the symbol we draw to represent that sound.
Examples
- Singing the first sound of 'Happy Birthday' is singing a note.
- Each 'ding' from a xylophone is a different note.
note is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
