- Definition
Standard notation is the common way music is written down, using symbols like notes on a five-line staff to show how a song should sound and be played.
A dot on a specific line of the staff is a symbol in standard notation that tells a musician exactly which piano key to press.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Standard notation is like the instruction manual for a Lego set, showing you exactly which pieces to use and where to put them to build a song.
Ask your child: What do you think these lines and dots are telling the musician?
Common mix-up: Kids might think musicians just make it all up as they go. Standard notation is a shared language that lets musicians everywhere read and play the exact same music.
Examples
- The numbers at the start of the music, like 4/4, are a time signature telling the musician how to count the beat.
- A symbol like a 'p' under a section of notes is an instruction to play that part softly.
- A sharp sign (#) is a symbol that tells the musician to play a slightly higher pitch.
standard notation 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 ↗
