HOW TO PLAY THE PIANO!HOW TO PLAY THE PIANO!THE BASICSTHE BASICS

By Carolyn L'Huillier, ED 205 Section 2 QUITQUIT

WHAT WE WILL LEARN● The Piano

● Note Names and Sounds

● STARTING OUT

● CHORDS

● SCALES

● READING MUSIC!

● Whole Notes

● Half Notes

● Quarter Notes

● READING MUSIC

● THE END

● About Me!

● RESOURCES!

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The Piano● The piano has 88 keys, which are black and white.● There are 7 different notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, and G● There are also flat and sharp version of each note,

which change the tone of the note slightly.

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Note Names and Sounds● Each note makes a different sound.

● Each sound has been given a name to make it easier to learn.

C = DoD = ReE = MiF = FaG = SoA = LaB = Ti

Perhaps you remember seeing this in the Sound of Music (Click for Video)

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STARTING OUT

● You can play with both hands at the same time!● VIDEO DEMONSTRATION!

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CHORDSDefinition: When you play a chord on the piano, you play three notes together.

Example: You play C, E, and G at the same time. This is called a C Major Chord.

Click for an example

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SCALESDefinition: When you play a scale on the piano, you begin on one note

and play up or down until you reach that same note again.

Example: You begin on C and play D, E, F, G, A, B, and then end on C

again. This is called the C Major scale.

Click for an example

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READING MUSIC!

With practice, you will be able to read music on paper while you play it on the piano.

Here are some of the things you need to know:

Notes can be given values, which will tell you how long to play them before moving on to the next note. Some of the most common note values are:

● Whole Notes● Half Notes

● Quarter Notes● Eighth Notes

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Whole NotesDefinition: A whole note lasts for four beats.

Example: When you are playing the piano and know a note is a whole note, you hold the note and count for four beats before

playing the next note.

A picture of a whole note:

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Half NotesDefinition: A half note lasts for two beats, or half the time of a

whole note.Example: When you are playing the piano and know a note is a

half note, you hold the note and count for two beats before playing the next note.

A picture of a half note:

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Quarter NotesDefinition: A quarter note lasts for one beat, or a fourth of the time

of a whole note.Example: When you are playing the piano and know a note is a quarter note, you hold the note and count for one beat before

playing the next note.

A picture of a quarter note:

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READING MUSICNow that you have learned the notes, you need to learn where you

put them on paper! Below is a picture of what it looks like:

Treble Clef: You would play Bass Clef: You would play this with your right hand. this with you left hand.

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THE END

That's it for now! Next time, we'll learn more about Treble Cleft, Bass Cleft, and the different scales and chords. Now,

go and practice!

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About Me!

My name is Carolyn L'Huillier. I am a Junior at Grand Valley State University, working towards

my Bachelors Degree in Special Education. I am originally from Traverse City, MI where I was

enormously involved with my high school music program. Two things that keep me going are

basketball season and going to movies. Those, along with my friends, pretty much make up my

life!

Email me!

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RESOURCES!http://abcteach.com/directory/clip_art/music/

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Music-flat.png

http://www.ehow.com/how_4514041_read-sheet-music.html

http://musiced.about.com/od/toppicksandreviews/ss/cellobrands_10.htm

http://musicianinyou.com/music-basics.php

http://www.worldofstock.com/closeups/PMU1589.php

http://www. youtube.com

www.enchantedlearning.com/.../answers.shtml

http://wheatsbassbook.org/chapter_select.php?chapter=book003

http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/music/piano.shtml

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