Teach the treble clef. Five horizontal lines and spaces represent different notes. The lines are E-G-B-D-F. The spaces are F-A-C-E. Tell the child the phrase "Every Good Boy Does Fine" and the word "face" can help them memorize these notes.
Teach a phrase for the bass clef. It uses the same five lines (G, B, D, F and A) and spaces. A good phrase to teach the note names on the line is Grizzly Bears Don't Fly Airplanes. For the spaces, use the phrase All Cars Eat Gas.
Establish a count of four like "one and, two and, three and, four and" to help recognize and count rhythm. Explain that a whole note is worth four beats. Tap a pencil and count to four to demonstrate a whole note beat.
Count half notes, quarter notes and eighth notes the same as a whole note. A half note lasts for half the time as a whole note. Demonstrate this by counting to four and tapping two half notes in the same span as a whole note.
Count four quarter notes in the same span as a whole note. Tap the beat and continue counting one through four, tapping one quarter note on each beat.
Count eight notes by tapping eight of them in the space of a whole note. Continue the "one and" count pattern and tap on every beat, both numbers and the word "and," to demonstrate eighth notes.
Draw musical notes on paper. Explain the three parts of music notes; note head, stem and tail. Draw a circle for a whole note, then demonstrate how a whole note can be turned into a half note by adding a stem to the side of the note head.
Draw a half note, then color in the note head to demonstrate how a quarter note looks like a half note, except the head is colored in. Add a tail to the quarter note to show how an eighth note looks like a quarter, except with a tail.
Introduce the rests and explain that each of these rests have the same name as its corresponding note and that rests are counted the same as notes.
Make flashcards with your child. Have the child draw the notes and the music staff flashcards to reinforce his recognition of the various notes and rests.