Piano for Kids: Developing Your Child's Creative Abilities

In this lesson you will learn:

• How to sit at the piano or keyboard for best effect and long term comfort. (very important,)
• How to find the notes at any point on the keyboard.
• Recognition of fingers so that the correct ones can be used at all times. Incorrect fingering makes playing difficult and stunted.

The start of learning piano.

We start by using your left hand to play your first notes on piano.

You learn about:

• Quarter notes
• Bar lines
• Measures

These form the basis of rhythm which is at the heart of playing any music and is started immediately.

Every future lesson will incorporate the basis of rhythm learned in this lesson.

What is learned here is very important and needs time to absorb. Parents could help by ensuring the student takes this lesson a couple of times at least.

Now it’s the turn of your right hand to play with rhythm.

Mastering right hand playing of the piano with rhythm, is the start of playing meaningful music.

This lesson builds on the foundation, learned in the last lesson on right hand piano playing.

The double bar is also covered in this lesson. Another sign used in music building on ones learned earlier.

The black keys and another note type is introduced in this lesson.

This lesson introduces the half note,

• Clapping a rhythm.
• Playing the two types of notes now known.
• Saying the fingers to use while playing.
• Playing the musical sequence on page 10 of the text book,while singing the words.
• Playing the note sequence on page 10 and also the note sequence on page 11 as one piece of music.
• Repeating the playing of music on page 10 and 11 and sing it at the same time.

We will have some fun and play a new rhythm in our first tune.

You will remember this, as it is the first proper tune you will ever play on piano.

You also learn a second tune in the lesson.

You Will:

• Clap the count of the song.
• Play and count.
• Play and sing the finger numbers.
• Play and sing the words.
• Play the music on pages 12 & 13 as one song.

The two songs are called:

• Merrily We roll Along
• O'er the Deep Blue Sea.

Duets are not played at this stage as it is too early. The sounds of extra notes being played confuses young children. The duet parts will be left until the end of the course.

This lesson teaches you two more tunes and how to read music dynamic signs.

Dynamic signs tell you how loud or soft the tune should be played. Now your tunes can sound better.

In this lesson you will:

• Clap the count of the music.
• Play and count a new song called Hand Bells.
• Use the two dynamic signs learned in this lesson.
• All with the left hand.
• Repeat for the left hand
• Play and sing the words to the whole song beginning on page 14 through page 15.

Duets are not played at this stage as it is too early. The sounds of extra notes being played confuses young children. the duet parts will be left until the end of the course.

The notes of the piano are taught in this lesson. Once the notes of the piano are known finding them is easy.

The white key notes are found by using the black keys. Ever so easy to learn and remember.

By the end of this lesson every white note on the piano will be known, anywhere on the keyboard. This lesson is very important, needing time to digest and understand. This lesson should be taken a few times if there is any doubt that a student is struggling to understand.

A new tunes to learn and a new musical sign to remember.

This lesson will teach you a new simple tune using the left hand.

You will know the names of the notes now so finding the notes will be easy for you.

You will:

• Clap and count. (Counting is for the rhythm.)
• Play and count.
• Play and sing the note names.
• Play and sing the words.
• This sequence should be followed for all songs you learn.
• A new musical sign is introduced that is used in almost all music so needs to be remembered.

Duets are not played at this stage as it is too early. The sounds of extra notes being played confuses young children. the duet parts will be left until the end of the course.

Let’s play a melody in the middle C position.

Middle C position is very important, so you need to remember this.

This is a tune to be played with the right hand.

You will:

• Clap and count. (Counting is for the rhythm.)
• Play and count.
• Play and sing the note names.
• Play and sing the words.
• This sequence should be followed for all songs you learn.
• Notice the new musical sign that you need to follow.

Duets are not played at this stage as it is too early. The sounds of extra notes being played confuses young children. the duet parts will be left until the end of the course.

Let us try middle C position, with both hands, and learn another tune. This one is called My Clever Pup.

Remember the middle C position. now you learn about the stems on notes.

• Some go up
• Some go Down.

You will:

• Play this tune with right and left hands
• Be aware of the new musical sign.
• You learn a new note. A whole note. (Also called a semi breve)

Now you do now a lot of tunes.

Let us try middle C position again, with both hands, and learn another tune. This one is called

Tongue Twister.

Two musical signs are in this tune for you to take notice of.

The notes are marked with there name and the first finger to start with is shown. This will be easy for you to follow. First the right hand is played then the left hand.

Another song, this one is about a little doggy and is called My Clever Pup.

There is also another musical sign called The Time Signature.

Now you will know how fast to play your music.

There are three musical signs in this new tune.

This is a good tune to practice. The video lesson needs taking a few times to make sure this is fully understood.

Now its the turn of a kitten to have a song. After this you will be able to play "Kitty Cat" in the Middle C position and with both hands.

Three musical signs are used as in the last lesson, but one of them is different.

Two types of note are used and the first note is C and finger number 1 starts the tune.

By now:

Note recognition should be quite good and the fingers to use.

Fingers should a little more flexible.

Dexterity following the music will be increasing.

You are doing really well now, let’s play another tune, this one is called Roller Coaster this one is with both hands in the middle C position.

Take notice of the three musical signs.

Two at the beginning and one at the end.

There are lots of words to sing in this song.

Don't forget the sequence you should be using for practicing.

• Clap and count. (Counting is for the rhythm.)
• Play and count.
• Play and sing the note names.
• Play and sing the words.

By doing this you will get the rhythm right.

Another dynamic sign in this lesson, you will use it in playing a tune, called, The Zoo.

The Zoo has two types of notes in it. And three musical signs.

• The time signature
• A dynamic sign
• An instruction at the end.

notice how your tunes are becoming longer and more complicated. That is because you are getting more advanced. You have learned a lot so far.

you will like playing this song. Its a favourite tune.

How much you know is shown in the quiz you took and the two quizzes before. If you are getting the answers wrong, go over the lessons again to make sure you understand everything. Better to do it now rather than later.

Playing in a new position and using both hands straight away. You are really good now.

This lesson teaches a new hand position.

You will be playing with both hands. Just as you did in the last song you played.

Get an adult to help with the words as they are broken up to fit the notes.

Looking at the music you will see that there is a time signature, a dynamic sign and at the end of the music there is a double bar. There is also the ordinary bar lines, but they are always there.

And there are two types of notes. Quarter notes and whole notes.

Take it steady here. No racing, the time to speed up is not now.

Playing in the new position, using both hands, a new tune called For My Teacher.

In this lesson the first thing to do is:

• Check for the time signature
• Check for a dynamic sign
• Check the end of the music for repeat signs
• Check the type of notes

You know how to do this.

When practicing don't forget to:

• Clap and count. (Counting is for the rhythm.)
• Play and count.
• Play and sing the note names.
• Play and sing the words.

A new time signature for you to learn, that you will use in this tune called, Sailing.

The time signature you learned before was 4 over 4. today you learn 3 over 4

You will also learn a new type of note.

The new tune called Sailing uses the new note as well as quarter notes. Take notice that you will be playing in the C position. You will play first with your right hand, and then in your left hand.

Before practicing this remember:

• Clap and count. (Counting is for the rhythm.)
• Play and count.
• Play and sing the note names.
• Play and sing the words.

Doing this is important as you just learned a new time signature which changes the rhythm of the tune.

We will play a new tune called "Wishing Well" in this lesson and use ¾ time that you already know.

Check out the signs and the note types first.

Follow the rules:

• Clap and count. (Counting is for the rhythm.)
• Play and count.
• Play and sing the note names.
• Play and sing the words.

This is the last lesson using the simple type of music you learned so far. From now on the music used will be real normal music. This will make your songs much better sounding.

A lesson in music today, so you know how the notes are written down. You are now learning to play, read and write music.

The Staff is how music is written

By following the notes on music there is no need to write the names of notes on the music.

This is the beginning of learning to read real music.

Spend time making sure this is understood. This is one of the most important things about music to learn.

Take this lesson at least three times.

How to name notes in the left hand.

Now you understand that music is written on the staff you need to know the names of the lines and spaces. Then you will know which note to play when you see it on a line or space on the staff.

You will learn about the Bass Clef.

The line and space names when the bass clef is used.

Then you will play the notes as you read them on the music staff.

Playing a piece of Music just with the left hand. The right hand can have a rest,

This new tune is played with the left hand.

You will find out how you know its the left hand during the lesson.

Look at the music before you start and see what signs there are:

• The Bass Clef
• A time signature
• The staff with notes written on the lines and spaces.
• An end of music double bar.

There is a part in the words for you to add a friends name. then the song is all about them.

Don't forget when practicing to:

• Clap and count. (Counting is for the rhythm.)
• Play and count.
• Play and sing the note names.
• Play and sing the words.

More left hand playing for you to enjoy. and another new tune.

This tune is called Mrs. Murphy's House.

Just as before check the music to see:

• which hand the notes are played in.
• Which notes are used.
• The time signature. without this you won't know the rhythm.
• Any dynamic signs. (Hint there is one dynamic sign.)

Learn to play this really well.

To help you playing do this:

• Clap and count. (Counting is for the rhythm.)
• Play and count.
• Play and sing the note names.
• Play and sing the words.

More left hand playing for you to enjoy, and another tune.

In this lesson you will:

• Learn another song. Called. Look at Me
• Check the music for its information:
• Dynamic signs
• Time signature
• Musical signs such as the clef.
• Repeat sign
• The type of notes

And then:

• Clap and count. (Counting is for the rhythm.)
• Play and count.
• Play and sing the note names.
• Play and sing the words.

You know so many songs now you are really moving on.

The Treble Clef, like the bass clef tells you what hand to play the music in.

It also lets you know some different names for the lines and spaces.

Just as with the bass clef it is important to understand the treble clef.

Usually the treble clef is used for the right hand. This is really interesting music.

You have a short practice piece at the bottom of page 36 for you to practice.

As before make sure you check the musical signs first. Then you will know how to play the music.

Let’s play another tune. A Happy Song.

This song is using real music written on the staff.

As usual look for the signs on the music and the notes used. The first thing you see is the clef.

To help you the first finger number is written above the staff on the first note.

Another tune for you in this lesson. Gee We're Glad.

Another interesting song to learn.

You know so many songs now. Don't forget to look for all the musical signs first. And your notes, and what they are called. you will have to recognize the notes from now on from the names of the lines and spaces on the staff.

Follow the normal pattern for practicing this.

• Clap and count. (Counting is for the rhythm.)
• Play and count.
• Play and sing the note names.
• Play and sing the words.

This new tune is called Little Bird and uses your right hand.

Just as in the last lesson you are learning another song. This one is about a little bird.

Check out everything you can find out about the song:

• The treble clef tells you it is played with the right hand.
• The time signature tells you it is 4 beats to the bar and the notes are quarter notes.
• The p sign tells you it should be played softly
• The repeat sign tells you to play it twice.

Now all you have to do is remember the names of the lines and spaces and play the notes while counting. First of all remember:

• Clap and count. (Counting is for the rhythm.)
• Play and count.
• Play and sing the note names.
• Play and sing the words.

The Magic of the GRAND STAFF. You will like this.

Now this is real piano music. You will now learn about to staffs of music joined together to make The Grand Staff.

All the music from now on will be written on the grand staff.

Then you will be able to play using both the right and left hands together.

First of all learn about the grand staff and try to remember everything about it. Take the lesson a few times to make sure you understand.

Now we get to play a tune in the C position, with both hands using The Grand Staff.

Real piano music is written like this.

You will know how to place your hands in the C position already. now you can see where the C position fits on the grand staff.

Your exercise is using both hands.

Notice the treble clef for the right hand notes and the bass clef for the left hand notes.

This is quite easy to understand but take your time to absorb this lesson. Retake the video lesson a few times if necessary.

Now we get to play a tune in the C position, with both hands using The Grand Staff. you know the middle C position.

Look at your music first:

• Which clef
• Which time signature
• Types of notes
• Dynamic signs
• Repeat signs.

Now all you do is play the notes and count.

A little more music for you. All about the stems on notes in music. And a new tune to learn.

As before:

Look at your music first:

• Which clef
• Which time signature
• Types of notes
• Dynamic signs
• Repeat signs.

Now all you do is play the notes and count.

Notice the information at the top of the book page 43. The stem direction information has changed slightly.

Yet another new song and playing with both hands.

Look at your music first:

• Which clef
• Which time signature
• Types of notes
• Dynamic signs
• Repeat signs.

Now all you do is play the notes and count.

Keep practicing until it is perfect.

Playing Right Hand then left Hand in the C position, and another new tune.

This one is called What a Song!

Look at your music first:

• Which clef
• Which time signature
• Types of notes
• Dynamic signs
• Repeat signs.

Now all you do is play the notes and count.

Don't just practice this song. Go back and practice the songs you learned earlier.

Both hands playing a new tune, and it's the last tune to learn. So far you have learned 24 tunes and this one will make 25 in all. These will all need practicing regularly.

This tune is your Graduation Song. You can say you can read music and play piano. Well done.

First of all, look at your music:

• Which clef
• Which time signature
• Types of notes
• Dynamic signs
• Repeat signs.

Now all you do is play the notes and count.

The last song in the book but not the last song you will learn

Conclusion of the course, what you have learned and what to do next. Don't forget to download your completion certificate.