Klavarskribo

Klavarskribo (sometimes shortened to klavar) is a music notation system that was introduced in 1931 by the Dutchman Cornelis Pot (1885–1977).

Cornelis Pot[1] came from a family of shipbuilders and was managing director of Smit Slikkerveer, a factory which made dynamos for ships.

The Klavarskribo Foundation was established after Pot’s death in 1977 in Ridderkerk (near Rotterdam) with limited financial means.

The foundation is concerned with transcribing and publishing music mainly for church organists, an important supportive group.

This stave consists of groups of two and three vertical lines corresponding to the black keys (notes) of the piano.

A note always lasts till the next one of the same hand or part appears, unless a stop sign or continuation dot is used.

The klavar notation uses one clef: the centre of the keyboard is indicated by dotted lines representing C♯ and D♯, so Middle C can easily be located.

This design enables the player to see clearly, after a short explanation, how the notation 'works', so that a beginner can start playing almost immediately.

The latter, active since 1978, has 800 members and its objective is, in cooperation with the Foundation, to promote and preserve the klavar notation.

A keyboard with the stave growing out of it
A melody with the note stems pointing to the right, indicating that the right hand should be used
A measure in three-time with bar lines and count lines