Reading Music

I asked my friend the music major for ideas on teaching children to read music.  He said to introduce notes without the staff, so students can visually see the notes going up and down, something like this: 

Then, show them the notes on the staff, still labeled with the letter, and then eventually, show the students the notes on a staff without the labels.  

Here is where that great website (toytheater.com) comes in to play.  Under music heading, the composer game allows the kids to create music, placing different notes (quarter notes, half notes, etc) on to the letter.  Then, you can play back your music.  The kids can see the music going up and down (or staying the same) as well as hear it at the same time.