Students will identify, define and use basic standard and instrument specific notation for pitch with a focus on fluency. The objective of Note Reading Olympics is to assess and improve note reading skills. Students aim to identify as many notes as possible in 60 seconds. Students are able to achieve four levels based on difficulty: Olympic Trials, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Olympic Legend. The resources in this document are specifically designed for orchestra, but the lesson could be adapted for any music discipline.

Episode 1: This video discusses the most common instruments used in old time and bluegrass music. While the fiddle, guitar, and bass are largely unchanged in recent history, the banjo has consistently evolved to reflect advances in technology and manufacturing techniques. Music Historian and Program Director for Junior Appalachian Musicians' Jim Lloyd is joined by banjo player Lincoln Hensley to show the evolution of the banjo, the two main banjo playing styles, and tuning techniques.