This page is in the midst of organization! Working on it!

TRAINING ACTIVITIES and TIDBITS

Tidbit #1: 2 and 3 Black Key Groups
Tidbit #2: Color Coded Fingers
Tidbit #3: Notes

THEORY TIDBITS

We all learn primarily by visual, audio and tactile experiences. Teaching beginning students of all ages - especially very young ones- also requires learning a step at a time. So, I am making theory and technique videos that are small steps - "tidbits". Young students really like to learn musical termination as well as how notes, etc. work. It gives them a feeling of accomplishment and confidence.

I was once asked by a pre-school to give the 2-year-old class some pre-piano/music lessons. So, among other things, I taught them the names of notes with an explanation as well, then made 10 mil laminated flashcards joined with a ring so these flashcards could be on their bookshelves and be used by the children. One mother walked into the classroom and her 2 year old son ran to her, showed her a quarter note flashcard and told her that it was "a quarter note, this is the notehead, this is the stem and these quarter notes just walk walk walk". I don't think I have ever seen such a shocked look on a parent's face while that toddler was explaining the quarter note.

The toddlers from this classroom who eventually signed up for the 3s and up pre-school piano lesson program we had in that school did really well!

The Anybody Can Play PIANO app is primarily visual and tactile to aid in teaching young beginners so these videos give additional audio/visual explanations for the things they are learning to do visually and tactically with the app.

The activity sheets shown on each video are free downloads on my website. Make as many as you need and feel free use them with any curriculum. It is always nice to have another way of explaining the same concept.

Theory Tidbit #1: 2 and 3 black key groups

Students need to find their way around the piano keys by using the patterns of the black keys. Not only looking at them to see the patterns, but physically handling little flashcards really helps.

Link to Youtube video:
Link to PDF download for key groups:

Theory Tidbit #2: Color Coded Fingers

I have always taught proper fingering from the beginning. For one thing, it trains muscle memory. When a student plays a song with the same fingering each time it also makes the song much easier to remember and play.

So....why use color coded fingers? Most young children at least know or can be taught how to count up to 5. However, the finger numbers go in opposite directions on the hands which is really confusing to beginner students. I always tried to train both hands equally, so when a song was learned with the right hand, we also learned it with the left hand and with both hands together. When a song is learned with the right hand, it is not too difficult to learn it with the left hand or hands together when the colors for both hands match.

Generally speaking I started using finger numbers when the student started playing in contrary motion....however still color coded the numbers as needed.

Link to Youtube video:
Link to PDF download for hand activity sheets

Theory Tidbit #3: Notes

This tidbit just introduces the quarter and half notes. Young students like to pretend they are notes...walk steadily for quarter notes and walk-wait steadily for half notes. When the notes are presented this way in the beginning it is really easy to transform to counting beats and introducing measures.

Link to Youtube video:
Link to PDF download for notes

TRAINING ACTIVITIES

These are activities the help teach skills needed for playing the piano

Circle Fingers: click here
Left Hand Color Coding: click here
KEY PATTERNING: click here
RH RAIN RAIN GO AWAY FINGER COLORS: click here
WALKING UP AND DOWN KEYS: click here
LH FINGER COLORS: click here
RH FINGER COLORS FOR RAIN RAIN GO AWAY: click here
FINGER COLORS for TICK TOCK: click here
FINGER COLORS: RH: TICK TOCK: click here
CIRCLE THE 3s: click here
circle the 2S: click here

Anybody Can Play PIANO APP

To subscribe to the Anybody Can Play PIANO app in Windows 10/11 click here.
Total cost: $0.99!.

What is needed for using Anybody Can Play PIANO APP

A computer or tablet is needed that uses Windows 10/11. A touch screen can be used with or without an attached keyboard or controller. An attached MIDI keyboard (just remember to turn off sound) or keyboard controller (as small as 25 keys) is needed with a non-touch screen, but a keyboard can also be used with a touch screen computer.

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When purchasing a keyboard, DO MAKE SURE IT IS STATED IN THE DESCRIPTION:

keyboard has a MIDI/USB connection for use with computers!

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