A Three-Way Link

Someone who wants to learn to read music in order to play an instrument needs to be able to grasp the three-way link of the notes.

One concept of a note is its letter name, such as C, E-flat, or A-sharp.
  C   E♭   A♯  

Another way a note is represented is by its location on a music staff.

A note is also identified with how it's played on a given instrument.
C, E♭, and A♯ are being played on a keyboard here.

So, here is teaching tool to help a student make the connections mentally.

The purple link connects note name to staff location.
If the teacher says the name of a note, can the student find one on the staff?
If the teacher points to a note on the staff, can the student say its name?

The green link connects staff location to instrument.
If the teacher points to a note on the staff, can the student play it on the instrument?
If the teacher demonstrates the note on the instrument, can the student locate the note on the staff?

The orange link connects instrument to note name.
If the teacher demonstrates the note on the instrument, can the student say its name?
If the teacher says the name of a note, can the student play it on the instrument?

~ FURTHER READING ~
  For the staff-to-name link, some people use mnemonics such as these:  
  • The lines in the bass clef, bottom to top, are G-B-D-F-A.
    "Good Boys Do Fine Always"
  • The spaces in the bass clef, bottom to top, are A-C-E-G.
    "All Cows Eat Grass"
  • The lines in the treble clef, bottom to top, are E-G-B-D-F.
    "Every Good Boy Does Fine"
  • The spaces in the treble clef, bottom to top, are F-A-C-E.
    I'll let you guess this one!