I've been trying to think of some more up to date / amusing mnemonics for the notes on the staff- I was taught (back in the 1970s) Every Good Boy Deserves Football. This was later changed to Fruit; no doubt someone was trying to be PC.
I was wondering if any of you have taught/learnt or can think of something better? (and more inclusive...)

I don't bother with lines these days.
Only use mnemonics for spaces and only then if absolutely necessary.

Endometrial gonorrhœa bacteria damage fertility.

I prefer Eat Good Bread Dear Friend.

Every green bus drives fast?

And for the bass clef spaces I like...

Angry crocodile eats George.

And the kids remember it too!

Every Girls Bra Doesnt Fit is the most memorable one that's stuck in my head.

Yes, I'd definitely remember that one.... because its very true . (i'm female btw so I am allowed to laugh at that one)

Being an occasional cyclist, I like 'Good Bikes Don't Fall Apart'. It's also fairly uncontroversial!

Oh that's class! - Being a bloke, I'm officially not allowed to laugh!










It's always the rude ones that stick in yer head

Isn't it just!

A couple of weeks ago I challenged a Year 7 theory class at school to come up with some new mnemonics for the order of sharps and flats in a key signature... I don't think I dare post the one that the girls came up with! The boys acted dumb but obviously undrstood...

On the bright side, I suspect that particular group will always now know the order...

Used to have problems with pupils mixing up EGBDF with GBDFA.

So now we have animal rhymes for bass clef:
standard: all cows eat grass
and: great big dogs frighten auntie

leaving random ones for treble, usually FACE and Every green bus drives fast. I do like the bra one, but not really suitable for my littlies!

along the lines of notation...
how on earth do i get my student to read notation well.
she knows the latter sentences,
and has done for years,
but she cant automatically name a note.
shes 15 by the way... and oh yes,
is studying a gcse in music,
and not even grade one piano.

:|

Excising Girls' Bras is Damned Fiddly?

Every Good Bogie Deserves Flicking - thought up by a local secondary school class

It partly depends on whether she actually wants to.
If she's using keyboard and can find her starting note then it's easier to read by interval (starting with 'next door' notes) than to think of every note namme as she plays. I think that this is the way most keyboard players read music.
One problem can be having too many mnemonics.
I don't bother with line notes any more.
Make sure she understand how the notes go up the 'ladder' by step from line to space then just having a reminder for space notes is enough to quickly identify all notes on the stave.
If reading bass AND treble clefs it can also be useful to show that it's really just one 'ladder with 11 lines but made simpler to read by removing the middle line of which you draw in a small section when you need it for a note to go on.

Notes on stave: Every Girl Buys Designer Fashions

Sharps in key signature: Father Christmas Gave David An Empty Box

Flats in key signature: Before Eating A Dead Goat Chew Fish

I don't know if it's the standard one or not, but I was taught:

Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

and

Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles's Father


Whoever thought that up must be brilliant!


A