T1 · 5 ledger naturals · default clef · 4s · ±2 octaves (forgiving)
The notes that cross between hands.
What this skill is
Middle C and its neighbors (A3 B3 C4 D4 E4) sit on ledger lines — short lines outside the staff. Middle C is the same note whether drawn one ledger below treble or one ledger above bass. Mastery means reading the LEDGER POSITION, not inferring from which clef shows it.
Common misconception (the clef-shortcut trap)
“If the clef is bass, the note is A or B; if treble, it’s C or D or E.” That works at T1-T2 (default rendering) but T3+ shows the SAME notes in their alternate clef — e.g. A3 as three ledger lines below treble, or E4 as three ledger lines above bass. You must read the ledger count, not the clef sign.
Common misconception (the middle-C identity)
Middle C drawn ABOVE the bass staff (1 ledger above) is the SAME pitch as middle C drawn BELOW the treble staff (1 ledger below). A learner who treats them as different notes hasn’t mastered the “between hands” concept. T3+ forces middle C to appear in both clefs per session.