The fact that musical notes are named after letters allows us to “encrypt” words in melodic form. Rearrange xylophone or metallophone bars to spell EGG, FACE and other words.
Pupils can send these as messages to partners who have to identify by ear what has been “said”. In German notation H is substituted for our B, and B for B flat. This usage is also found on school xylophones.
Pupils can follow Liszt and other composers by making music derived from the name of their predecessor, Bach. Older pupils can “decipher” sections of Alban Berg’s Lyric Suite, which entwine the initials of Hanna Fuchs-Robettin (HF) with his own (AB).
Want to keep reading for free?
Register with Tes and you can read five free articles every month, plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters.
