. 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 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
Pre-staff black key notation: 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.
Black Key Groups of and T Note to teacher: Find all the groups of. Please do not speak of left and right, or high and at this stage. Then find all the groups of. This plays on this side. This plays on this side.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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 )
(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.
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. Technique: Thumb plays on its side with a light loose touch. No other parts of the s touch the keys. Keep elbows out to the sides so that the backs of s are level. One little bell. One big drum. centre of keyboard Black notes mean play white keys (naturals). Start here.
5 5 Wiggle Finger Number... 4 4 one two three four five
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.
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.
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 4 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 Ground (Play next-door white keys.) rog ird centre
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.)
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
Bird Apple Jug Cat Frog First-space Girl Easter Egg Edge-line 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
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
Both centre of keyboard (Cling on) (Cling on) Put pair pair your socks on! Put your socks on! of you put socks on now! (Both s together) high Put Your Socks On!
Play this side first : Pair of naturals on the right. - - - - - - - - - - - That s where treble clef will start. n Pair of Naturals ( ) centre (same note) (same note) 4 4 : Pair of naturals on the left. ------------They go down here in bass clef. bass clef centre treble clef : Hands together we can play. Notes go out and in this way. pair pair
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
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.
Copy Cat Copy this Copy that Copy this Copy cat! centre of keyboard Start here.
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.
Every Day Every day we play black threes, Every day we play these keys, Play On the these keys, piano key - board. Play rogs centre of keyboard these keys. irds Play this side first.
Sing Up High Play this side first. Kids Notes 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
4 high Play this side first. Count to 4... irds Count to four in every colour, count to four in every bar. 4 rogs Start from at every bar-line, 4, Here we are. rog side ird side
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
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
Tops, Middles, Bottoms Race bottoms middles tops high bottom middle top It s a race! My timings: Go!
Repeat This Please First play it with high above be When we play on centre keys, Either s okay. Repeat centre Repeat it with Two dots mean repeat this please, So each can play. centre of keyboard
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
I Like Ice Cream high bottom middle top I like ice cream. So do we. I ll have two scoops. If I only had my way, I d eat ice cream every day. We ll have three. Repeat bottom middle top
The Link Lines ea-sy irds Play copy-cats. Play play play Here are the Link Lines, Mid - dle of the threes. Spe - cial ex - tra keys! 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.
Skip Link Line 4 Skip link line, Skip link line. Both s skip a - cross link line. 4 Start here. Link Line Link Line skip across rogs irds
Up Above, Down Be high Play this side first. Each side of this line we go. Up above, Down be. down up Called a Space Notes can go in either place. Each side note is called a space. line note space note space note rogs irds
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
Can you play this song with both s together? Pointer Finger Play this side first. Pointer finger number. Heres a trick that you can do. Draw an L but call it. Curve your finger, then its true! Extras Naturals high
Play this side first. high These Naturals ( ) and Extras These naturals and extras, they all get along. n Link line Teach by rote. They made up a game with a beautiful song. Link line LINK LINK rog side ird side
Frog Clef Be careful! Frog and Bird Clefs 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 5 Bird Clef high rogs 5 5 irds
Merrily We Roll Along Merrily we roll along, roll along, roll along, 4 high Merrily we roll along, O er the deep blue sea.
Play this side first. 4 high How Do We Find A? Link line A A How do we find A? This very first white key. It s right above this link line, And inside group of three. A A LINK Write in the letternames on the naturals. LINK Ant Play L - A everywhere on the keyboard.
Staccato: - a dot over or under the note(s). - hop off the keys straight after playing. Alphabet irds Alphabet: A B C D E F G. These are the letters these naturals will be. G G A Here in the centre these characters play. A Repeat (Play finger all the way.) On seven naturals from G down to A. rogs Link Line centre of keyboard Link Line
All Links on the Keyboard It s a race! My timings: Start on est link centre alphabet rogs alphabet irds alphabet
First Two Letters 4 5 Up above this link line, We see these first two letters. 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
treble clef Ants Push Balls Ants push Balls a - long this wall. Balls just roll and ants just crawl. L L L bass clef centre of keyboard
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
Frog Clef Be careful! First Two Naturals ( ) B A First two naturals A and B. At the edge or inside three. Last Two Naturals ( ) n n ird rog Bird Clef Last two naturals F and G. Touching link or floating free. high F G THREE LINK
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
. Play high Fingers slightly curved. Out in Space : Out in space I d love to be, Where there is no gravity. bottom middle top Repeat. Play Thumb plays on its side. : Naturals next to group of three, At the edge and floating free.. Play both s together. : Play together everyone, Black and white keys having fun. rog ird
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
Bigs and Smalls Big notes for threes, And small notes for twos. move! That way we ll know Which ex - tras to choose. big notes small notes big notes
. First play it all with high. (Use fingers,, and 4.) high Climbing Start with finger: : Climbing up, Climbing down. In the branches of a tree. bottom middle top : Chan - ging groups, Mo - ving round. Mo - ving to this next black key. Repeat. Then repeat it with (fingers,,,4) bottom middle top - line guide down up
Snowman high Once I built a snowman, He was my friend all winter long. bottom middle top Repeat Time will wait for no man. And so by summer he was gone. bottom middle top - line guide down up
Kids Notes 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 these keys look like? Find all the single naturals on this side of the keyboard.
Rocket Ship Rocket ship, Take your place. Blast off into outer space. high centre Submarine centre of keyboard Submarine, I will drive. Deep down in the sea we dive.
n Three Naturals ( ) high side high side Near two extras, find three naturals. One between and one each side. centre extras naturals centre of keyboard side Extra keys close in and thin but naturals further out and wide. side
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 of keyboard rogs irds Kids Notes 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 natural group of Start with high centre Repeat with * Practice moving your s gracefully to treble and bass sides of the keyboard while sitting still in the middle.
In the Centre high In the centre, I can see, Something smiling back at me. centre The D-clef means play in the centre. Do you know what this could be? Repeat Something that begins with D. Kids Notes centre
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 Start here. Know which D to choose. rogs centre D-line irds
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
Favourite Pet Kids Notes high Centre D-line Repeat In the centre, children play, With their favourite pet each day. Tell me, what s your favourite pet? Told me once, but I forget. centre side high side
Cat and Duck and Edge-line 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
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
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 space note moved away 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 D-line (line for group of )
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
high Next Door Naturals ( ) n High D-line Next door nat - urals, next door fin - gers, Play - ing with my friends next door. centre high side Low D-line 4 side Fin - gers curve and walk on tip-toe, Thumb lies on its side for sure. Low D-line High D-line
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.
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 Edge-line First-space 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
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
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.
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
5 Centre Kids Cen - tre kids are ex - er - ci - sing, keep - ing heal - thy, fit and strong. 5 Play - ing out - side in their play - ground, feel - ing hap - py all day long. L centre of keyboard L
Let s Play Copy Cats high high Let s play co - py cats. Play ea-sy play rest high side centre 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 side centre high side rogs irds
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.
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 alphabet - line guide
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 These notes should be in the sky. On the ground these notes should go. Find the keys by feel.
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
Mary Had a Little Lamb Ma - ry had a lit - tle lamb, lit - tle lamb, lit - tle lamb. hold on 4 Ma - ry had a lit - tle lamb, Its fleece was white as snow. ties: just hold note on Ev - ry - where that Ma - ry went, Ma - ry went, Ma - ry went, Ev - ry - where that Mar - y went that lamb was sure to go.
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!
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
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.
To Birdsville and Frogtown To Birdsville I fly, to sing, and play. high high centre To Frogtown I hop, to stop, and stay. rogtown irdsville centre alphabet - line guide - line guide
Somersaulting high Fold finger over thumb. Fold finger 4 over thumb. 4 high Som - er - saul - ting on these keys, O - ver twos, O - ver threes. centre Play - ing leap - frog o - ver thumb, Duck your head, Here I come.
Three alphabet clefs: Three Alphabets high Learn each music alphabet, Inside link lines, dont forget. Seven naturals in a row, G on top to A be. Lower (Frogs ) Alphabet Centre (Kids ) Alphabet Top (Birds ) Alphabet LINK LINK LINK LINK
high Music Alphabets 5 In this cen - tre al - pha - bet, Se - ven smil - ing friends we met. Se - ven let - ters in a row. In this al - pha - bet be -, 5 Centre Alphabet Lower Alphabet
Alphabet in Bass Clef Bottom letters A and B, Middle letters C D E. Fold finger over thumb. Fold finger over thumb. Top two letters G and F Alphabet, In bass clef. L Basic Alphabet L
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?
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
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
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.
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!
Treble Clef, Start and End high Treb - le clef starts from this pair. Treb - le clef ends right up there. Bot - tom pair is E and F. Top pair in this treb - le clef. Edge-line and First-space Top line and space Bass clef region Treble clef region L L bass G & centre A bottom pair top pair
Treble Clef high Leger-Line Edgeline 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. Bass Clef
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!
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.
London Bridge Play each separately at first. 4 Lon - don bridge is fall - ing down, fall - ing down, fall - ing down. 4 Lon - don bridge is fall - ing down, My fair la - dy. high
Treble and Bass 5-line Staves
Express Staves