LESSON THREE

The Half Note

This is a half note.
It lasts for two beats.
There are two half notes in one bar of * time.

This example contains the notes A and B played as half notes. Remember to alternate your bow strokes as you play each note.

Notice the counting numbers underneath the staff. The bigger bold numbers tell you to play a note and the smaller numbers tell you to sustain it until the next note.

This example uses both half notes and quarter notes. Play it once, naming the notes out loud as you play, and then play it again and count out loud as you play. This will help both your note recognition and your timing.

Even though there are different note values here, it is important to alternate your bow strokes strictly as you play the notes.

The Note C Sharp

This symbol is a sharp sign.

The Note C Sharp

When a sharp note is written on the staff, a sharp sign is placed before the note.

Play the note C# with your 2nd finger on the A string.

The Half Rest

A rest indicates a specific period of silence in music.
A half rest indicates two beats of silence.
Count for two beats without playing.
Small counting numbers are used under rests.

Merrily We Roll Along

This piece ends with a half rest. The letters and numbers above the notation (A and E7) are chord symbols which refer to the accompanying instruments - in this case, piano.