Music Lessons - Introduction to Piano/Keyboard
Lesson 1
Welcome. I do hope you enjoy these lessons and have fun learning. The objectives are to learn to read and play music, and learn to play in good rhythm. Rhythm is about the most important factor. Some of you might say “What is rhythm”. One answer would be “to play with good timing”.
Paragraphs commencing with a word highlighted in gold, signify that you will have some practice to carry out. The word ‘key-bed’ is indicated in a green font, and only applies to the piano.
This week features on posture, finger numbers, musical alphabet, keyboard, playing on the black keys, natural hand position, correct finger actions and developing a firm touch, creating tunes, the grand staff, playing on the white keys, strengthening the fingers, developing gesture, and theory (written) work.
Posture
There are four key points for posture:
1. Legs - a little apart with feet flat on floor.
2. Back - straight but not too rigid.
3. Wrists - not too high or low.
4. Fingers - rounded or curved.
The front edge of the stool should be positioned away from the keyboard parallel with the front edge of the keyboard, and you should use approximately the front half of the stool to sit on.
Ensure the back of your hand is not tilted towards the little finger side of the hand. Forearms should be approximately parallel with the floor. Do not let your fingers slide towards the edge of the keyboard. When holding a key down do not move your finger on the key.
Finger Numbers
When playing the keyboard the thumb and fingers are designated numbers. Thumb is number one, pointer finger is number two, the longest finger is number three, the ring finger is number four and the little finger is number five. Both left and right hand are numbered this way i.e. starting with the thumb as number one. Sometimes pupils get confused with their right and left hand finger numbers when they are playing at the keyboard.
Curve the fingers of each hand, place the finger tips of the same finger numbers against one another, then move both thumbs away from one another then back together (the corners of each thumb near the nail should be touching). Do this action five times, as though you were playing a key on the keyboard. Now do the same with the pointer fingers (number two) five times, and the other fingers. When you activate the fingers, the finger tips should touch each other.
Musical Alphabet
The music alphabet has seven letters A B C D E F G, and they keep repeating as you go up the keyboard to the right.
Using the pointer finger of either hand play and say ‘ALOUD’ the letter names of each note of the musical alphabet going up and down on your keyboard. See how many times you can find the musical alphabet on your keyboard.
To find ‘A’ first look for ‘D’ (the white key between the two black keys) and there will be three white keys to the right of ‘D’ then you will be on the ‘A’ key). If you start from ‘A’ then say and play A B C D (you should now be on the white key between the two black key group). This is a way of checking that you are saying and playing the correct keys; then proceed on to the E F G keys. Keep saying the letter name while you play each key as you go up the keyboard to the right.
Once you have done the above, play and say the letter names of each key going down the keyboard to the left.
The Keyboard
When I use the word ‘keyboard’ it will also mean ‘piano’. The correct word for piano is pianoforte, however I will just call it a piano in these lessons, but as I just mentioned, I will be mostly using the word ‘keyboard’.
The keyboard has white keys and black keys. Do you notice how the black keys are grouped? They are grouped in twos and threes. D is always between the two black keys. C D E are the three white keys near the two black keys.
Playing on The Black Keys
Play the three black key groups going up and down, with your right hand finger numbers 2, 3 and 4. Start on the three black keys near the middle of the keyboard and play each group going up the keyboard to the right, then coming down and back to the middle of the keyboard. On the sound file I only play the middle group with the right hand. Keep an even beat and try connecting the sound from one note to the next. When the next note is played try to lift the finger that has just played. As well as a good finger action moving up perpendicularly and curved keeping close to the key, then playing the note down to the key-bed, the finger must not be sluggish in coming up.
Now put your left hand in position over the keyboard. When you have had some practice, listen and play along with .
Playing on The White Keys
Find and play all the D keys on the keyboard using the third finger of your right hand, flying from one D to the next D in the shape of an arc. If you press the thumb tip of your right hand behind the first joint of the third finger (the longest finger) while you play, this will help to firm up that joint. I call the first joint the joint closest to the tip of the finger because I have seen it described this way in music books.
Find and play all the D’s on the keyboard using the third finger of your left hand, flying from one D to the next D in the shape of an arc.
Find and play all the C D E keys on your keyboard using finger numbers 2 3 4 of your right hand. Fly from one group to the next in the shape of an arc. Say the names of the keys ‘ALOUD’ as you play. Now play E D C all over the keyboard saying the letter names of each key ‘ALOUD’ as you play.
Do the same as above, but now use finger numbers 1 2 3 of your right hand. This is very important as you are now learning to keep all your fingers over the keys. Try to keep your 4th and 5th fingers over the keys even though they are not playing. There is a tendency for some people to tuck them up close to the palm of their hand.
Now do the above two actions with your left hand, first using finger numbers 4 3 2, then 3 2 1. Remember you are on white keys for all these four actions, using two sets of fingering. Sometimes students have been under the wrong impression that a certain finger and only that finger must play a certain key on the keyboard. Changing the finger sets may help you realize that this is an incorrect assumption. I had an adult student once, who said that she thought that middle C is always played by 1 (thumb).
With the above actions we are trying to create freedom with the arms around the keyboard.
Strengthening The Fingers
Put something round and pliable like a rubber ball in each hand, and try to press the ball in, with the pads of your fingers near the finger tips. This helps develop strong fingers.
Developing Gesture
Stand up and pretend you are bouncing a big rubber ball. This is to help develop lovely movements of the arm when playing on the keyboard.
Natural Hand Position
Stand up and let your hands fall freely down each side of your body. Clench both fists. Now stretch your fingers out, then let your fingers go somewhere between the two where your hands feel in the most natural position. This is your natural hand position for playing the keyboard.
Correct Finger Actions
Place your finger tips on a table. Move your thumb up and down, firmly without force, five times. Raise the next finger about one centimeter, keeping it curved, up and down five times. The movement should be economical, just a perpendicular up and down movement. Repeat the same exercise with the other fingers. If you find this exercise too monotonous you could try doing it with a couple of fingers, and use the other fingers another time. One movement for each second in time, is a good speed as you are not rushing the exercise. All other fingers tips should be resting lightly on the table without lifting. When you try the exercise with your 4th and 5th fingers you may find some of the nearby fingers will lift also. Don’t worry, this is okay. With more practice, over a period of a month or two, you will be able to do the exercise even with the 4th and 5th fingers. I find though, that with these two fingers it never feels very comfortable.
Correct finger actions are very important for control of tone. Developing a good finger action is important. The above exercise helps with this, and also finger independence.
Developing a Firm Touch
Play each note firmly without harshness. This helps with the idea of each finger taking the key down to the key-bed to produce a good tone on the piano. This may not apply so much to an electronic keyboard. Once the note is down on the key-bed, don’t use any force, just enough to keep the note there for its duration.
Creating Tunes
Create some tunes of your own using the right hand finger numbers 2 3 4, on the middle three black key group, and your left hand finger numbers 3 2 on the middle two black key group and try creating a tune.
Place your right hand fingers over five black keys with your thumb and 2nd finger over the two black key group. Now try making up a tune.
Showing The Grand Staff
The grand staff consists of the top five lines (staff) T for ‘Top’ or T for ‘Treble’ Staff, and the bottom five lines (staff) B for ‘Bottom’ or B for ‘Bass Staff’. Each staff has five lines and four spaces. The lines and spaces are numbered from the lowest to the highest. The curly line at the beginning is called the bracket or brace and at the end is the double bar (this means the end).
The notes in the bass staff are lower in pitch than the notes in the treble staff, which sound higher in pitch and they sound higher as you go up . The grand staff is like a big ladder going up in steps (step ladder) from a line to a space and space to a line.
Theory
Steps in Drawing a Crotchet
1 Draw the outline of the head oval shaped. Draw carefully.
2 Fill the head in (not just partly filled).
3 Using a ruler draw the stem, up stem or down stem, whichever you desire. The length of the stem is approximately three line widths of the staff.
On your music manuscript book draw a grand staff; and write in the C D E notes as crotchets (quarter notes). Read the notes below and play them.
Paragraphs commencing with a word highlighted in gold, signify that you will have some practice to carry out. The word ‘key-bed’ is indicated in a green font, and only applies to the piano.
This week features on posture, finger numbers, musical alphabet, keyboard, playing on the black keys, natural hand position, correct finger actions and developing a firm touch, creating tunes, the grand staff, playing on the white keys, strengthening the fingers, developing gesture, and theory (written) work.
Posture
There are four key points for posture:
1. Legs - a little apart with feet flat on floor.
2. Back - straight but not too rigid.
3. Wrists - not too high or low.
4. Fingers - rounded or curved.
The front edge of the stool should be positioned away from the keyboard parallel with the front edge of the keyboard, and you should use approximately the front half of the stool to sit on.
Ensure the back of your hand is not tilted towards the little finger side of the hand. Forearms should be approximately parallel with the floor. Do not let your fingers slide towards the edge of the keyboard. When holding a key down do not move your finger on the key.
Finger Numbers
When playing the keyboard the thumb and fingers are designated numbers. Thumb is number one, pointer finger is number two, the longest finger is number three, the ring finger is number four and the little finger is number five. Both left and right hand are numbered this way i.e. starting with the thumb as number one. Sometimes pupils get confused with their right and left hand finger numbers when they are playing at the keyboard.
Curve the fingers of each hand, place the finger tips of the same finger numbers against one another, then move both thumbs away from one another then back together (the corners of each thumb near the nail should be touching). Do this action five times, as though you were playing a key on the keyboard. Now do the same with the pointer fingers (number two) five times, and the other fingers. When you activate the fingers, the finger tips should touch each other.
Musical Alphabet
The music alphabet has seven letters A B C D E F G, and they keep repeating as you go up the keyboard to the right.
Using the pointer finger of either hand play and say ‘ALOUD’ the letter names of each note of the musical alphabet going up and down on your keyboard. See how many times you can find the musical alphabet on your keyboard.
To find ‘A’ first look for ‘D’ (the white key between the two black keys) and there will be three white keys to the right of ‘D’ then you will be on the ‘A’ key). If you start from ‘A’ then say and play A B C D (you should now be on the white key between the two black key group). This is a way of checking that you are saying and playing the correct keys; then proceed on to the E F G keys. Keep saying the letter name while you play each key as you go up the keyboard to the right.
Once you have done the above, play and say the letter names of each key going down the keyboard to the left.
The Keyboard
When I use the word ‘keyboard’ it will also mean ‘piano’. The correct word for piano is pianoforte, however I will just call it a piano in these lessons, but as I just mentioned, I will be mostly using the word ‘keyboard’.
The keyboard has white keys and black keys. Do you notice how the black keys are grouped? They are grouped in twos and threes. D is always between the two black keys. C D E are the three white keys near the two black keys.
Playing on The Black Keys
Play the three black key groups going up and down, with your right hand finger numbers 2, 3 and 4. Start on the three black keys near the middle of the keyboard and play each group going up the keyboard to the right, then coming down and back to the middle of the keyboard. On the sound file I only play the middle group with the right hand. Keep an even beat and try connecting the sound from one note to the next. When the next note is played try to lift the finger that has just played. As well as a good finger action moving up perpendicularly and curved keeping close to the key, then playing the note down to the key-bed, the finger must not be sluggish in coming up.
Now put your left hand in position over the keyboard. When you have had some practice, listen and play along with .
Playing on The White Keys
Find and play all the D keys on the keyboard using the third finger of your right hand, flying from one D to the next D in the shape of an arc. If you press the thumb tip of your right hand behind the first joint of the third finger (the longest finger) while you play, this will help to firm up that joint. I call the first joint the joint closest to the tip of the finger because I have seen it described this way in music books.
Find and play all the D’s on the keyboard using the third finger of your left hand, flying from one D to the next D in the shape of an arc.
Find and play all the C D E keys on your keyboard using finger numbers 2 3 4 of your right hand. Fly from one group to the next in the shape of an arc. Say the names of the keys ‘ALOUD’ as you play. Now play E D C all over the keyboard saying the letter names of each key ‘ALOUD’ as you play.
Do the same as above, but now use finger numbers 1 2 3 of your right hand. This is very important as you are now learning to keep all your fingers over the keys. Try to keep your 4th and 5th fingers over the keys even though they are not playing. There is a tendency for some people to tuck them up close to the palm of their hand.
Now do the above two actions with your left hand, first using finger numbers 4 3 2, then 3 2 1. Remember you are on white keys for all these four actions, using two sets of fingering. Sometimes students have been under the wrong impression that a certain finger and only that finger must play a certain key on the keyboard. Changing the finger sets may help you realize that this is an incorrect assumption. I had an adult student once, who said that she thought that middle C is always played by 1 (thumb).
With the above actions we are trying to create freedom with the arms around the keyboard.
Strengthening The Fingers
Put something round and pliable like a rubber ball in each hand, and try to press the ball in, with the pads of your fingers near the finger tips. This helps develop strong fingers.
Developing Gesture
Stand up and pretend you are bouncing a big rubber ball. This is to help develop lovely movements of the arm when playing on the keyboard.
Natural Hand Position
Stand up and let your hands fall freely down each side of your body. Clench both fists. Now stretch your fingers out, then let your fingers go somewhere between the two where your hands feel in the most natural position. This is your natural hand position for playing the keyboard.
Correct Finger Actions
Place your finger tips on a table. Move your thumb up and down, firmly without force, five times. Raise the next finger about one centimeter, keeping it curved, up and down five times. The movement should be economical, just a perpendicular up and down movement. Repeat the same exercise with the other fingers. If you find this exercise too monotonous you could try doing it with a couple of fingers, and use the other fingers another time. One movement for each second in time, is a good speed as you are not rushing the exercise. All other fingers tips should be resting lightly on the table without lifting. When you try the exercise with your 4th and 5th fingers you may find some of the nearby fingers will lift also. Don’t worry, this is okay. With more practice, over a period of a month or two, you will be able to do the exercise even with the 4th and 5th fingers. I find though, that with these two fingers it never feels very comfortable.
Correct finger actions are very important for control of tone. Developing a good finger action is important. The above exercise helps with this, and also finger independence.
Developing a Firm Touch
Play each note firmly without harshness. This helps with the idea of each finger taking the key down to the key-bed to produce a good tone on the piano. This may not apply so much to an electronic keyboard. Once the note is down on the key-bed, don’t use any force, just enough to keep the note there for its duration.
Creating Tunes
Create some tunes of your own using the right hand finger numbers 2 3 4, on the middle three black key group, and your left hand finger numbers 3 2 on the middle two black key group and try creating a tune.
Place your right hand fingers over five black keys with your thumb and 2nd finger over the two black key group. Now try making up a tune.
Showing The Grand Staff
The grand staff consists of the top five lines (staff) T for ‘Top’ or T for ‘Treble’ Staff, and the bottom five lines (staff) B for ‘Bottom’ or B for ‘Bass Staff’. Each staff has five lines and four spaces. The lines and spaces are numbered from the lowest to the highest. The curly line at the beginning is called the bracket or brace and at the end is the double bar (this means the end).
The notes in the bass staff are lower in pitch than the notes in the treble staff, which sound higher in pitch and they sound higher as you go up . The grand staff is like a big ladder going up in steps (step ladder) from a line to a space and space to a line.
Theory
Steps in Drawing a Crotchet
1 Draw the outline of the head oval shaped. Draw carefully.
2 Fill the head in (not just partly filled).
3 Using a ruler draw the stem, up stem or down stem, whichever you desire. The length of the stem is approximately three line widths of the staff.
On your music manuscript book draw a grand staff; and write in the C D E notes as crotchets (quarter notes). Read the notes below and play them.
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In your manuscript book, practise drawing the grand staff and some crotchets with up stems and down stems. If you prefer to draw just four or five notes in the top (treble) staff, and four or five notes in the bottom (bass) staff, choose the notes randomly.
Up stems are used for notes below the middle line of the staff. Down stems are used for notes above the middle line of the staff. Notes on the middle line of the staff may have a down stem or up stem. The stem goes the same direction as the next note.
On a blank piece of paper, with the palms of your hands on a table, trace around both your hands. Write ‘Left Hand’ under your left hand and ‘Right Hand’ under your right hand, and write the finger number in each finger.
Drawing The Treble (or G) Clef Sign
Color the 2nd line G red.
Practise drawing a line of treble clef signs.
Drawing The Bass (or F) Clef Sign
Color the 4th line F red.
Practise drawing a line of bass clef signs.
Practise drawing a grand staff.
Please complete the quiz, and submit it for marking
In your manuscript book, practise drawing the grand staff and some crotchets with up stems and down stems. If you prefer to draw just four or five notes in the top (treble) staff, and four or five notes in the bottom (bass) staff, choose the notes randomly.
Up stems are used for notes below the middle line of the staff. Down stems are used for notes above the middle line of the staff. Notes on the middle line of the staff may have a down stem or up stem. The stem goes the same direction as the next note.
On a blank piece of paper, with the palms of your hands on a table, trace around both your hands. Write ‘Left Hand’ under your left hand and ‘Right Hand’ under your right hand, and write the finger number in each finger.
Drawing The Treble (or G) Clef Sign
Color the 2nd line G red.
Practise drawing a line of treble clef signs.
Drawing The Bass (or F) Clef Sign
Color the 4th line F red.
Practise drawing a line of bass clef signs.
Practise drawing a grand staff.
Please complete the quiz, and submit it for marking
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This ends the lesson. I hope you have enjoyed learning. I would be pleased to answer any queries you may have. Next lesson I will introduce the reading of music.