First 5 Notes: Beginning Band

Just got your instrument? Start here. First 5 Notes helps beginning band students learn to read, finger, and play their first five notes for free. Then keep going: keys, songs, rhythm, and games that use every note you know. First 5 Notes also runs free in any web browser, including school Chromebooks, at first5notes.virtunity.io, in English and Spanish. Choose from 16 instrument options: alto sax, baritone (bass clef), baritone (treble clef), baritone sax, bass clarinet, bassoon, bells, Bells - Low Octave, clarinet, flute, French horn, oboe, tenor sax, trombone, trumpet, and tuba. ONE PAGE FOR YOUR INSTRUMENT Pick your instrument and everything is in five sections: Notes, Keys, Songs, Rhythm, and Arcade. Practice today puts together a 5, 10 or 15 minute plan from the steps you have reached. NOTES: A LEARNING PATH BUILT BY A BAND DIRECTOR 1. NAME THE NOTE - read each note on the staff and choose its name. 2. KNOW THE FINGERING - study the fingerings, match them to notes, and listen to a reference pitch. Trombone uses slide positions. 3. PLAY THE NOTE - play into the microphone and hold the note steady until the tuner confirms the pitch. Then learn a song on your first five notes and open the arcade. KEYS Practice four notes at a time in the band keys, starting with the notes you already know. Each key uses the same three steps, and its games open when you finish them. SONGS Every song in one place: familiar songs like Ode to Joy and Hot Cross Buns, plus 28 folk songs from around the world. Tap any song to hear it. Familiar songs come with a band: hear it, play along, then play it on your own. Each song shows the lessons you need before you can learn to play it, then walks you through it one phrase at a time. RHYTHM 21 rhythm levels, from the steady beat to the rhythms in the songs. Tap the beat, tap the rhythm, then play it on your instrument. Levels 1 to 4 are free; the rest open with your instrument's Full Range or a First 5 Notes Classroom program. ARCADE Five short games: Note Rush, Call and Response, Fingering Flash, Long Tones, and Dynamics. They start with every note you know. Each game keeps your Best, so there is always a score to beat. THE FIRST FIVE NOTES ARE FREE Every instrument option includes its first five notes with no trial or time limit. No student account is needed for free practice. GOING FURTHER? A one-time $4.99 Full Range purchase opens the remaining lessons, keys, rhythm levels and song practice for your instrument. Individual instrument purchases have no subscription. Family Sharing is supported for App Store purchases. Prices may vary by country or region. SCHOOL PROGRAM ACCESS If your band program provides First 5 Notes Classroom access, enter your director's program code and shared passphrase to open the full ranges included in the app while your program access is active. No individual student account or roster is required. FOR PARENTS AND DIRECTORS - No ads or advertising tracking. - Microphone audio is analyzed on the device. It is not recorded, saved, or uploaded. - A parental gate comes before purchases and adult account controls. - Optional parent sign-in restores website purchases. - Free practice works offline after installation. Purchases, sign-in, and access checks need internet. Website purchases require a check-in within 30 days; school-program access requires a check-in within 24 hours and an active program term. - Progress and practice plans stay on this device, with separate progress for each instrument option. RECORDED INSTRUMENT SOUNDS With thanks to the Philharmonia Orchestra in London for making its instrument recordings freely available. We edited the samples for short notes and sustained practice. Not every instrument or note uses these recordings. https://philharmonia.co.uk/resources/sound-samples/ Built by a band director and private lesson teacher who teaches beginners every week. From the maker of Virtunity: virtunity.io.