Instrumental Year 1 Notations - Jelly on a plate stick notation

In the early stages of musical education, Year 1 students are introduced to the basics of rhythm and melody through simple songs and visual aids. One such example is the stick notation for the song "Jelly on a Plate," which helps children understand the pitch and duration of notes in an accessible way. The song is broken down into four lines, each representing a phrase of the melody, with notes A, B, and G corresponding to the lyrics. The repetitive nature of the song, with its playful words "Jelly on a plate" and "Wibble wobble wibble wobble," makes it an engaging and educational tool for teaching young learners about musical notation and rhythm.

The stick notation for "Jelly on a Plate" uses a simple and intuitive system where the vertical position of the note indicates the pitch, and the rhythm is conveyed through the spacing of the notes. In this notation, the notes A, A, B, and G are aligned with the syllables of the words "Jelly on a plate," which is repeated twice. The third line introduces a rhythmic variation with the words "Wibble wobble wibble wobble," set to four consecutive A notes. The final line returns to the initial melody, reinforcing the pattern and aiding in the retention of the tune and rhythm. This method of notation is an excellent way to help young learners visualise and perform music with confidence and enjoyment.