A beginner piano method with pre-staff kids notes and keyboard guides

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1 . The Keyboard Express John F Keller, 009 A beginner piano method with pre-staff kids notes and keyboard guides by John Keller

2 To the Teacher: This book is designed to be used in both orientations. Start with the book upright (portrait orientation), so notes go to the left and right. Later have the book in the usual (landscape) orientation, so notes go up and down. How to use this book: Begin with the book in the upright position. Start at the top and read down the page. This way is easier for very young children. notes keys T

3 Introducing: Kid s Notes for Black Keys Kids Notes T The teacher can slide a coin over the lines to help student learn to play these black keys. Using these Express Stave notes for the black keys helps the student learn keyboard geography, plus the concepts of up and down, lines and spaces, stepping and skipping.

4 Black Key Groups of and T Note to teacher: Find all the groups of. Please do not speak of high and at this stage. Then find all the groups of. This plays on this side. This plays on this side.

5 Centre Group T Note to teacher: White note-heads indicate the playing of black keys (Express Stave notation). They do not indicate time values. Centre group of two: splash! Next is group of three: Back to group of two: splash! Black key group of three: splash! splash! centre of keyboard

6 Twos and Threes Two black keys. T For each bar, teacher plays and sings first, then student copies. rest Three black keys. rest Threes and twos. rest Twos threes! rest and Start with this.

7 Fingers Walking on the White Keys. Standing side-on to the keyboard, 'walk' your left along the white keys, all the way from one side to the other. The first white key on the left side is called A. T Note to teacher: Please do not speak of high and or upwards and downwards yet.. Stop on the way and walk on the spot for a while. The key should stay held down and not repeat its note. The white keys are called the naturals ( ). They were the first keys to be invented. But then all the keys looked the same! Later on, they gradually added the extras - the black keys in the groups of and. n. Facing the other way, 'walk' your right along the white keys, all the way back. extras naturals 4. Stop on the way and walk on the spot for a while. The key should stay held down and not repeat its note.

8 Smoothly Step Smooth-ly step a-long this line. (rest) Hop and skip and step this line. T Teach by rote. Show which keys to play by firstly pointing directly on the keyboard, then to the keys at the bottom of this page. Lastly the student can play by reading the notes down the line. (rest) Teach by rote. Play this side first

9 Teach by rote. Racing Car Racing car, Racing car, Hop right in. Hop inside. Let me take you for a spin. Let me take you for a ride. double natural keys double natural keys Play this side first

10 The Groups of Black Keys ( Extras): These are notes. They tell us which keys to play. The black keys will have small white notes. T The teacher can slide a coin over the line to help student learn to play these two notes. Teach the student to hold each key down until playing the next one, aiming for a firm, smooth and clear legato action. NB: As the young student will be playing black keys at this early stage, it is useful and logical to give these black keys their own unique single letter names. Kids Notes This plays groups of on this side. Lets pretend they are two eyes! - and call them I andj (- the dotted letters in the alphabet). This plays groups of on this side. (line for group of )

11 (Play black keys) On This Side Walk along then have a rest. On this side we walk along. (rest) (rest) Which side do you like the best? centre of keyboard Keep in time and sing this song. Play this side first Walk Along How to come off the keys: (for rests and at the end of a piece) Hold elbow slightly out. Raise your wrist sly. Let your hang loose, with the forearm muscles soft and relaxed.

12 One Is My Thumb T Copy -cat routine: For each bar, teacher plays and sings first, then student copies. Echo with clapping and chanting at first if desired. One is my thumb. Finger number one. One little bell. One big drum. centre of keyboard Black notes mean play white keys (naturals). Start here.

13 5 5 Wiggle Finger Number one two three four five

14 Fingers and One two three Write in all your finger numbers. Left Hand Fin - gers play Technique: Hold each key down, only lifting the finger off after playing the next note. Thumb plays on its side. Curve the other fingers. One two three Right Hand Go this way Start here.

15 Rocket Ship Rocket ship, Take your place. Blast off into outer space. middle of keyboard Submarine Submarine, I will drive. Deep down in the sea we dive.

16 croak croak? tweet tweet? Bird and Frog Sounds Which side of the keyboard sounds like birds? Which side of the keyboard sounds like frogs? Draw: Draw: T Note to teacher: This is where the terms high and may be introduced.

17 One two three four five, we heard Notes that sound just like a bird. One two three four five, we found Notes like frogs down on the ground. high 4 5 side high side Sky Ground (Play next-door white keys.) rog ird centre

18 Where all the birds Sing ve - ry high. This Way Goes Up high up This way goes up, Up to the sky, This way goes down, Down to the ground, down Where all the frogs Make their sound. Up and Down This Way Goes Down (Use finger all the way.) centre of keyboard Play black keys. Starting note: (for both s) (Start on the same black key.)

19 high Watch key. Watch These Stems stem up on right Watch these stems, So you ll see Which plays each centre key. stem down on left centre these stems So you ll see plays each which - tre cen centre of the keyboard

20 Bird Apple Jug Cat Frog Firstspace Girl Easter Egg Edgeline Duck Lamb Ball Icecream Jelly Ant Hat I Spy With My Eye I spy, with my eye, some - thing start - ing with... Keyboard Cloud Key High Hand Low Dog Fish Ground Grass Fingers Iris Line Kite centre centre

21 Pairs of Socks A pair: Find all the pairs on your keyboard. They are called pairs because of their shape. - no black key between. pair pair Blocks of keys, Twos and threes. Pairs of socks be - tween these blocks. high

22 twos twos Pair of Naturals ( ) n twos centre of keyboard twos (Cling on) (Cling on) Pair pair pair of rals nat - Pair of nat - rals threes threes threes (Both s together) high

23 Play this side first : Pair of keys that s on the right That s where treble clef will start. Pair Of Keys centre (same note) (same note) 4 4 : Pair of keys that s on the left They go down here in bass clef. centre : Hands together we can play. Notes go out and in this way. bass clef treble clef pair pair

24 of the line We will call the black keys KLH large white notes. High side On the of the line line The black keys have 4 4 Find all the groups of on this side. Find all the groups of on this side. (line for group of ) Low side The Groups of Black Keys ( Extras): T The teacher can move a counter or coin on the page to help student fol these three notes. Kids Notes

25 If You re Happy If you re happy and you know it, play for me: First play it all somewhere on the high side. Then play it all somewhere on the side. If you re happy and you know it, play for me: If you re happy and you know it, then you really ought to show it, If you re happy and you know it, play for me: Trace and copy: line notes - -and space notes.

26 Copy Cat Copy this Copy that Copy this Copy cat! centre of keyboard Start here.

27 Every White Note That way they ll be notes Every white note So easy to see. Goes on one black key. keys Play this side first.

28 Sing Up High Play this side first. irds irds Sing up high, Sing up high. Sing up high where black birds fly. Sing down, Sing down. Sing down where bull - frogs go. centre of keyboard rogs rogs Sing Down Low

29 high Up or Down Notes go up or notes go down. Notes can go to either place. down up Space or Line Notes are named by space or line. Next to lines they call it space. centre of keyboard rogs irds

30 4 high Play this side first. Count to 4... Count to four in every colour, count to four in every bar. 4 Start from at every bar-line, 4, Here we are. rog side ird side

31 high Short and Long Notes Notes are short or notes are long. One beat long or two beats. 4 How long will each note cling on? One beat long or two beats. rogs irds

32 Two Hands Play Play each separately first. 4 Two s play, Two s play, Both to - ge - ther here to - day. centre of keyboard 4 (Moving outward and inward) rogs irds

33 Skip Across 4 Skip a - cross, Skip a - cross. See these lines and skip a - cross. 4 Start here. rogs irds

34 high Threes and Twos Race Go! bottom middle top bottom middle top It s a race! My timings:

35 Play in Group high Play copy-cats. ird bottom middle top Play in group of two: (Move!) Next is group of three: (Change!) Back to group of two: (Move!) Black key group of three: (The end!) rog bottom middle top

36 Repeat This Please above First play it with high When we play on centre keys, Either s okay. be Repeat centre How many beats are in each bar? Repeat it with Two dots mean repeat this please, So each can play. centre of keyboard

37 . First play it all with high. (Use fingers,, and 4.) Start with finger: high Next Note : Next note up, Next note down. Group of two to groups of three. bottom middle top Repeat : Chan - ging groups, Mo - ving round. Mo - ving to this next black key.. Then repeat it with (fingers,,,4) bottom middle top - line guide down up

38 high Group of and Group of Group of three and group of two. Making music just for you. bottom middle top Repeat Extra key groups, big and small. Move your and play them all. bottom middle top

39 Smiley Face Centre clef high When you see a smiley face, Put your guide in centre place. bottom middle top move! Repeat move! Thats where children sing and play, Making music every day. centre of keyboard - line guide

40 Bigs and Smalls move! Big notes for threes, And small notes for twos. That way we ll know Which ex - tras to choose. big notes small notes big notes

41 Same Direction Play s separately at first. high Go up and down with both s, In the same di - rec - tion. Repeat Prac - tice for per - fec - tion. DOWN UP DOWN UP

42 Pointer finger number. Heres a trick that you can do. Draw an L and call it. Curve your finger, then its true! high Pointer Finger Can you play this song with both s together? Play this side first. Extras Naturals

43 . Play high Fingers slightly curved. n Naturals ( ) Next To Group of Three : Naturals next to group of three, At the edge and floating free. bottom middle top Repeat. Play Thumb plays on its side. : Out in space I d love to be, Where there is no gravity.. Play both s together. : Play together everyone, Different notes all having fun. rog ird

44 irds high Notes On This Side Notes on this side sound up high. Notes on this side sound down. Tied note (hold note on) high centre rogs Put these notes up in the sky. On the ground these notes should go. Find the keys by feel.

45 high Taking Sides I like sun. And I like rain. I pre - fer it hot. Not me! centre 4 I like day. But I like night.... We just don t a - gree. That s right! 4

46 high One-thumb and Tutu Now, One - thumb was a race - horse, and Tu - tu was one too. centre Well, One - thumb won one race, and Tu - tu won one too! Repat at a faster speed!

47 Play this side first. Cling Tight 4 Play these extras, then cling tight. Change to natural keys of white. When there s no rest, don t let go. Fingers neat and in a row. 4 extras (big notes) 4 naturals (small notes)

48 What Is Black and White? 4 What is black and white with stripes? And you ll find it in a zoo. What is black and white with spots? In a zoo and eats bamboo. 4 Answers: L L extra keys Teach by rote. natural keys

49 4 Play this side first Baby Twins Baby twins, in their bed, One fell out and bumped his head. 4 This is what the other said, Glad that wasn t me instead!

50 Link Note ea-sy irds Play copy-cats. Play play play Here is the Link note, Mid - dle of the three. Spe - cial ex - tra key! rest Link Line Link Line rogs T Copy -cat routine: For each bar, teacher plays and sings, then student copies. Or echo-clap and chant at first.

51 high Boogie Woogie ird side Boogie Woogie under link, Next to link or moved away. Boogie Woogie over link, Play this Boogie every day. by Teach rote. rog side LINK LINK Teach by rote.

52 Write in the letternames on the naturals. Play this side first. How To Find A How to find A, This first natural key. Play L - A everywhere on the keyboard. A A A Right above link, And inside of three. 4 high Link line A Link line

53 Music Alphabet high Se - ven nat - urals A to G. In be - tween links we see Staccato: - a dot over or under the note(s). - hop off the keys straight after playing. don t for - get, In - side links, That s one mu - sic al - pha - bet. Centre Characters

54 First Two Naturals ( ) n Up above this link line, We see these first two naturals. Touching link is A, and B is moved away. A B L Write in the other letternames. L Play L - A - B all over the keyboard. A B A B

55 Ants Push Balls Ants push Balls a - long this wall. Balls just roll and ants just crawl. L L L L centre of keyboard

56 Last White Key Tell me where is last white key. Just be this link key L. Say which letter this would be. Gee that s hard for me to tell! L L

57 Frog and Bird Clefs Frog Clef 5 Sometimes we must start with frogs to make it sound down. So we have these clefs that tell us where we have to go. ird rog high Bird Clef 5 rogs 5 5 irds

58 Merrily We Roll Along Merrily we roll along, roll along, roll along, 4 high Merrily we roll along, O er the deep blue sea.

59 Frog Clef First Two Naturals B A First two naturals A and B. At the edge or inside three. Last Two Naturals ird rog Bird Clef Last two naturals F and G. Touching link or floating free. high F G LINK LINK

60 G the Girl and First-space F L L L G the Girl and First - space F, Love that cur - ly treb - le clef! I think they ll get mar - ried soon, And go on their hon - ey - moon! Repeat centre of keyboard L

61 Single Natural ( ) n across the line Find all the single naturals on this side of the keyboard. Start with high In between two black keys, there lives a single natural. centre Repeat White notes for each black key, and black notes for each natural. Repeat with centre single natural What do you think is its letter name? Find all the single naturals on this side of the keyboard.

62 high high Here is a D-line T Copy -cat routine: For each bar, teacher plays and sings first, then student copies. Echo with clapping and chanting at first if desired. Play copy-cats. Line for the twos. ea-sy Here is a D-line Play play play centre Know which D to choose. rogs centre D-line irds

63 Thumb plays on its side. Other fingers are curved. Next-door white keys have nextdoor fingers. pair of naturals pair of naturals Low side High side Play these notes as your teacher points to them, or moves a coin on the page. Remember to hold each key down firmly until you smoothly play the next one. Extras In Express Stave notation, the two extra keys I and J are written as small white notes close in to the line. n Naturals ( ) line note space note moved away space note moved away The three naturals near them are written as larger black notes touching the line. The two next naturals are written as small black notes moved away from the line. Naturals ( ) Near Twos n Kids Notes (line for group of )

64 First play it with high n Natural ( ) Group of Three Near this group of two we see, There s a natural group of three. centre The D-clef means play in the centre. Repeat Extras small and pushed in close, Natural threes have wider notes. Repeat it with L centre L natural group of

65 Bass Clef: This sign means to play naturals on the side, to the left of the centre. Repeat Treble Clef: This sign means to play naturals on the high side, to the right of the cemtre. centre rogs irds I Sit In the Centre I sit in the cen - tre and I al - ways will. My two s can tra - vel, but I just keep still. centre of keyboard high centre

66 Up Above, Down Be high Up above, Down be, Each side of this D we go. centre Repeat Find all these, natural threes. Big notes for important keys. D-line

67 high High Side, Low Side High side, side, sky and ground. Fingers feel their way around. Repeat Find the keys by feel. centre Over, under, up and down. Children sing with middle sound. centre Draw some small and big notes (like small and capital letters, o O).

68 Three White Keys (C D E) space centre high line space (Play and name all groups of CDE on the keyboard.) Near these twos are three white keys. Let us learn each letter name. They are letters C D E, Everywhere they re named the same. centre high

69 Keep In the Middle high Cat and Duck and Edge - line, You all are ve - ry lit - tle. Repeat with Do not leave this play - ground! Please keep right in the mid - dle. L centre of keyboard L ommon time: 4 beats per bar

70 Let s Play Copy Cats high high Let s play co - py cats. high side T Copy -cat routine: Student chooses a colour. Teacher plays and chants that pattern ( play, easy, rest, etc). Student copies. Student can also mark the rhythms with a pencil in real time as you chant. side Play ea-sy play rest Black notes for white keys. centre side centre high side rogs irds

71 Line and Space irds high Line and space, Line and space. line note Space notes al - ways touch a line. space above space be centre high side rogs 4 Un - der line, O - ver line. Next to lines they call it space. side 4 space line space space line space

72 Centre High Go Down, Down, Up, Down... : Play s together, getting wider, getting closer, same notes. Go down down up down same Low : Play high. Go up up down up : Play. irds... rogs high

73 high Next Door Naturals ( ) n Next door nat - urals, next door fin - gers, Play - ing with my friends next door. centre high side 4 side Fin - gers curve and walk on tip-toe, Thumb lies on its side for sure. Low D-line High D-line

74 All high Touch This Line (All On the High Side) Stay on the high side. Touch this line then move a - way. Peo - ple say that s not o - kay. Still high Moved a - way notes need a line. Then the peo - ple think it s fine.

75 high Treble Clef This is the treble clef. Treble clef, treble clef. Right plays white keys up high. Treble clef, treble clef. Seagulls fly up in the sky. This is the treble stave (staff). treble D-line Edgeline Firstspace Repeat centre high side The treble stave is only for white keys (naturals) on the high side, and notes are all the same size. Number the lines upward from the bottom Edge-line. How many lines are there? Also number the spaces upward from the First-space. How many spaces are there? side

76 Touch This Line (All On the Low Side) Stay on the side. Touch this line then move a - way. Peo - ple say that s not o - kay. All Moved a - way notes need a line. Then the peo - ple think it s fine. Still

77 The bass stave is only for white keys (naturals) on the side, and notes are all the same size.. Number the lines upwards. How many lines are there? Number the spaces upwards. How many spaces are there? This is the bass clef. This is the bass stave (staff). bass D-line Bass Clef Repeat side centre high side Bass clef, bass clef, Just play naturals on the left. Bass clef, side. Down there where those white frogs hide.

78 high Baby Monkey Find the -black-key groups by feel. treble D-line Ba - by mon - key, cling on tight. Don t fall off and get a fright. Hold on to your mo - ther s coat, like we cling to ev - ery note. centre bass D-line

79 Stepping treble D-line In these five - line staves we see each line and space is one white key. bass D-line Next door naturals, next door fingers. Stepping up and down with me.

80 high 5-Finger Exercises top 5 middle centre bottom The D-clef means play in the centre alphabet. Fin - gers do their ex - er - ci - ses on the pia - no key - board. Fin - gers do this ex - er - ci - se on five keys in a row. centre 5 In this cen-tre al-pha-bet these cha-rac-ters are hi-ding. Can you show me where these cen-tre cha-rac-ters all go?

81 Play upwards all the way with your left. Three Alphabets A, B, C, D, E, F, G, Link... Basic Alphabet Centre Alphabet Top Alphabet Then play downwards all the way with your right. LINK LINK LINK

82 Play This Alphabet Play this basic alphabet from A right up to top note G. The F-clef means play in the er (basic) alphabet. high Play this central alphabet where children sing so happily. Central Alphabet Basic Alphabet

83 ommon time: 4 beats per bar Seven Characters high In this cen - tre al - pha - bet, Se - ven cha - rac - ters we met. centre characters house In this tre - ble clef and bass, Some on line and some in space.

84 high Inside These Links In-side these links, lives A, and G. They are the first, and last, white key. centre Play one of these, and I will say, Whether that note was G or A. centre alphabet LINK LINK centre A centre G

85 Lines or Spaces centre A (Ant) Notes are ei - ther lines or spa - ces. In these pla - ces all notes go. Bass Clef Treble Clef high 5 centre G (Girl in the Curl) On these white keys, play the right keys. Line then space, all in a row.

86 Treble Clef Edgeline and Firstspace Mark the plays and easys Point to notes, tapping the rhythm. Use left. Edge-line and First-space, Bottom of this treble clef. Centre Alphabet pair pair Play these keys: Treble Clef They live there, On that pair, Centre-E and Centre-F. Play with right

87 Ant and Ball and Copy Cat Ant and Ball and Co - py Cat, From this cen - tre al - pha - bet. Bass Clef Ant and Cat and Ball, They all crawl a - long this wall. Bass Clef Centre Alphabet pair pair

88 Treble Clef high Leger-Line Bass Clef Start with Edge - line and next door, then move a - way, from Edge - line. When notes move out past the edge, we just add one le - ger - line.

89 Duck Walks Down This Lane high 4 centre D Duck walks down this lane between treble clef and bass. Quickly take a photograph and recognise that face. Duck under!

90 4 high Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 4 Twin - kle twin - kle lit - tle star, How I won - der what you are. Up a - bove the world so high, Like a dia - mond in the sky, Twin - kle twin - kle lit - tle star, How I won - der what you are.

91 Copy of Copy-Cat Co - py this, Co - py that, E - ven co - py Co - py - Cat. So are they two diff - rent C s? No, the same spot on the keys!

92 4 London Bridge high 4 Lon - don bridge is fall - ing down, fall - ing down, fall - ing down. My fair la - dy. Lon - don bridge is fall - ing down, Play each separately at first. 4

93 Treble and Bass 5-line Staves

94 Express Staves

A beginner piano method with pre-staff kids notes and keyboard guides

. The Keyboard Express John F Keller, 009 A beginner piano method with pre-staff kids notes and keyboard guides by John Keller To the Teacher: This book is designed to be used in both orientations. Start