Learning Note Values for $1

Here's a great tip for teaching your youngsters how to learn note values. Some children have a difficult time learning the difference between whole notes, half notes and quarter notes. As a teaching tool, the teacher can draw the analogy using a $1 bill. You can explain that, just as $1 equals four quarters, 1 whole note equals four quarter notes.

Sometimes this method helps kids understand how to know which note gets how many beats better than more traditional methods. Some children learn better through the use of illustrations from things with which they are more familiar. The visual aid of the dollar and quarters helps those who are more visual learners.

In addition, you can motivate your youngsters by dangling the "carrot" of the $1 bill in front of them; if the student is able to correctly tell you the values of whole, half and quarter notes, you can reward him or her with the dollar.

Moreover, you can enlist the parents support in this: if the youngster forgets the note values during his or her weekly practicing, the parent can take the dollar away, promising to return it once the note value lesson is mastered.

Now, we understand that some parents utilize models other than reward reinforcement in the child rearing methods. As a result, we understand that some of you parents reading this may think upon such a strategy with disdain. If you as the parent do not feel comfortable with the $1 bill motivation, then by all means, do not use it. We have only offered it as a suggestion which we have found to work.