Simpedia

Becc S., Australia

I don’t think it’s in the curriculum. But when introducing key signatures, I introduce it. In Accompaniment 2 there is a fantastic diagram/shortcut explaining how many sharps or flats are in each key. It’s a simple pattern of course. It’s the easiest way I have ever seen to memorize all the key signatures. But combining it with the circle of fifths and relating it to the written key signatures can help. Gordon Harvey has done a short explanation of key signatures and explained the written key signature as a pattern of fifths. I show the student that every fifth there is an added black note, either up or down the piano for sharps or flats. I add it all gradually so it’s not overwhelming, and I relate it to songs we’ve already played and had to play black notes.

Gordon Harvey, Australia

The circle of fifths is not officially introduced in any curriculum program to date. I have known various teachers to use the circle in various ways and introduce it at various times. I have a particular way of introducing the circle, usually early in the conversation about scale maps. You can unfold the fundamentals of key and scale as they are presented in SM without using the circle of fifths, but I find it very helpful as a framework for processing things like scale maps, and ultimately as an “overview” for understanding more about how music works. The details of how I introduce it might be a bit lengthy to discuss here, but it isn’t that hard. I hope soon to make more info available about this topic, either through a program or a workshop presentation.

It can also be used as a framework for processing other components such as chord inversions.