A colorful visual guide to key signatures and the circle of fifths, this banner fits behind the black keys and unfolds to extend the whole 48-inch length of the keyboard.  It can also be displayed on a wall, and the ends can be brought together to form a literal Circle of 5ths.  The banner is coated heavy stock and folds to a compact 12 ¼ X 4 ½ inches.

Teaching theory by this color method is effective, especially for visual learners.  The adjacent colors in the rainbow represent one-octave major scales on the banner.  The colors are coordinated with the number of sharps or flats used.  For example the Red colors represent G Major (1 sharp) and F Major (1 flat).  The Orange colors represent D Major (2 sharps) and Bb Major (2 flats), and so on.  Beginning with the lowest C on the piano, each one octave scale is shown, with the new scale beginning on the fifth degree.  Relative minor keys at the sixth degree are visually related to the relative major by a matching color bubble.  Due to the length of the keyboard, F Major has to be split between the top and bottom of the banner. 

  Banner comes complete with an explanation for the teacher, and a protective envelope  for storage.

  How this banner came to be:

“I had a very talented 10-year-old who was curious about the circle of fifths.  To explain it to her, I used a strip from an adding machine, marked the 5ths and relative minors and placed it behind the keys.  Then I removed it and made a circle on the floor so she was able to see why we call it the Circle of Fifths. My son added the colors and the resulting banner has been used in college Pedagogy classes with success. “. . .Thelma Johnson

A product of Thelma Johnson