Download Learn Piano – Beginner Lessons for Older Students

Learn Piano – Beginner Lessons for Older Students
How to use your hands?
Beginners’ sheet music often has numbers below each note. These numbers
refer to fingers on your hands. Memorize the number below and their related
fingers.
RIGHT HAND:
1 – thumb
2 – index finger
3 – middle finger
4 – ring finger
5 – little finger
LEFT HAND:
1 – thumb
2 – index finger
3 – middle finger
4 – ring finger
5 – little finger
About the keyboard:
- There are two types of notes, black and white
- The black notes are raised higher up than the white notes, they are also spaced
out in groups of 2 and 3.
- When you play a black and white note that lie side by side they are a semi tone
apart. When you play two white keys that are side by side and have a black key
between them, these keys are a tone apart.
- The white notes are named “A, B, C, D, E, F, G”
- The black notes are named using the same letters with either a sharp (#) or a
flat (b) sign.
- C# (C sharp) means that the sound is raised a semi tone from the C key. If you
look at the keyboard you will note that this must mean that C# is the black note
beside the C key. Play them to hear the sound.
- Bb (B flat) means that the sound is lowered a semi tone from the B key. If you
look at your keyboard you will note that this is the black key below the B key.
Play both to notice the difference.
- As the key of C does not include any black notes, beginners start playing tunes
in the key of C by placing both thumbs on middle C and placing each finger on
each subsequent white note. Middle C is the C note in the middle of the piano
usually above the keyhole in the wood.
TRICK: CHOPSTICKS: Think of two chopsticks. Find the two black keys and go
to the white key just to the left of that pair- this will be “C” for Chopsticks.
TRICK: FORK: Think of a fork with three tines. Find the three black keys and go
to the white key just to the left of that trio- this will be “F” for Fork.
Now you can fill in the other letters of the musical scale!
About the notes in a scale:
The above may be a lot for you to take in at once, but it will start making sense
When you start to play. Start off by learning the scale of C. Sit up straight. Right
hand should be slightly turned in with their thumb on middle C. Now ask them to
play each of the below notes in sequence using the correct finger on his/her right
hand. The first finger (thumb) should be crossed under the third finger (middle
finger) to play the F key.
Note C D E F G A B C (going up)
Finger 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 - note hand is repositioned at note F!
Well done! Now you know the Scale of C.
Now you can play it in reverse. When using the third finger (middle finger) to play
the E key, cross it in front of the first finger (thumb).
Note
C B A G F E D C (going down)
Finger 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1  note hand is repositioned for E
Now play the scale of C up and down with out stopping.
Finding “Middle C” use the Chopsticks trick- it is in the center of the keyboard.
We will begin with songs in C position.
Facts about our keyboarding class: 1. We are using mini keyboards for group practice. 2. We will take turns using full size keyboards to perform goals for grades. 3. There will be a skill chart that we fill out to chart our progress and grades. 4. We will use the book John Thompson’s Easiest Piano Course I. 5. You may go to the link on our website to practice at home with an online keyboard! Here is the direct link: http://www.mrsmanion.com/music-­‐keyboarding.html Facts from the Powerpoint 1 presentation: 1. Music is Melody, harmony (chords) and rhythm. 2. We will start with melody. 3. Our keyboards use MIDI or Musical Instrument Digital Interface to make sounds. They are not recorded audio. It is digital information about sounds. 4. Keyboards cost $50 to replace. 5. Books cost $10 to replace. 6. Batteries are expensive! 7. Take care of the equipment! 8. Behavior counts!!!!!