33 2.

The Keyboard Express™© John F Keller, 2009

A beginner piano methodwith pre-staff ‘kids notes’

and keyboard guides

by John Keller

33

2

Express Stave by John Keller

The Keyboard Express™ and Express Stave™ by John F Keller, 2014

Beg

in w

ith th

e bo

ok in

the

uprig

ht p

ositi

on.

Sta

rt at

the

top

and

read

dow

n th

e pa

ge.

This

way

is e

asie

r for

ver

y yo

ung

child

ren.

How

to u

se th

is b

ook:

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.

23

3

note

s

keys

T

Find

all

the

grou

ps o

f 2.

Then

find

all t

he g

roup

s of

3.

Bla

ck K

ey G

roup

s of

2an

d 3

23

3

This

han

d pl

ays

on

this

sid

e.

This

han

d pl

ays

on

this

sid

e.

33

22

Not

e to

teac

her:

Plea

se d

o no

t spe

ak o

f hi

gh a

nd lo

w a

t thi

s sta

ge.

T

Mid

dle

Gro

up

Mid

dle

grou

p of

tw

o:

Nex

t is

grou

p of

th

ree:

Bac

k to

gr

oup

of

two:

Bla

ck k

ey

grou

p of

th

ree:

23

3

spla

sh!

spla

sh!

spla

sh!

spla

sh!

Not

e to

teac

her:

Whi

te n

ote-

head

s ind

icat

e th

e pl

ayin

g of

bla

ck k

eys (

Exp

ress

Sta

veno

tatio

n).

They

do

not i

ndic

ate

time

valu

es.

T

mid

dle

of

keyb

oard

Twos

and

Thr

ees

For e

ach

bar,

teac

her

play

s and

sing

s firs

t, th

en st

uden

t cop

ies.

T

keys

.

and

Twos

blac

k

Thre

e

Thre

es

and

blac

k

Two

33

twos

.

thre

es!

keys

.

rest

rest

rest

rest

3.

Fa

cing

the

othe

r way

, 'w

alk'

you

r rig

htha

nd a

long

the

whi

te k

eys,

all

the

way

bac

k.

1.

Sta

ndin

g si

de-o

n to

the

keyb

oard

, 'w

alk'

you

r lef

than

d al

ong

the

whi

te k

eys,

all

the

way

from

one

sid

e to

the

othe

r.Th

e fir

st w

hite

key

on

the

left

side

is c

alle

d A.

Fing

ers

Wal

king

on

the

Whi

te K

eys

2.

Sto

p on

the

way

and

‘wal

k’on

the

spot

for a

whi

le.

The

key

shou

ld s

tay

held

dow

n an

d no

t rep

eat i

ts n

ote.

4.

Sto

p on

the

way

and

‘wal

k’on

the

spot

for a

whi

le.

The

key

shou

ld s

tay

held

dow

n an

d no

t rep

eat i

ts n

ote.

The

whi

te k

eys

are

calle

d th

e na

tura

ls(

).Th

ey w

ere

the

first

key

s to

be

inve

nted

. B

ut th

en a

ll th

e ke

ys lo

oked

the

sam

e!

Late

r on,

they

gra

dual

ly a

dded

the

extr

as-

the

blac

k ke

ys in

the

grou

psof

2an

d 3.

n

extr

as

natu

rals

Not

e to

teac

her:

Plea

se d

o no

t spe

ak o

f hi

gh a

nd lo

w o

r upw

ards

an

d do

wnw

ards

yet

.

T

Wal

k Th

is L

ine

Wal

k th

is

line,

(res

t)

Wal

k th

is

line.

(res

t)

This

si

de,

that

si

de,

Wal

k th

is

line.

(res

t)

23

23

Teac

h by

‘rot

e’. S

how

whi

ch k

eys

to p

lay

by fi

rstly

po

intin

g di

rect

ly o

n th

e ke

yboa

rd, t

hen

to th

e ke

ys

at th

e bo

ttom

of t

his

page

. Las

tly th

e st

uden

t can

pl

ay b

y re

adin

g th

e no

tes

dow

n th

e lin

e.

T

23

23

Teac

h by

‘rot

e’.

Play

this

side

first

Rac

ing

Car

Rac

ing

car,

Hop

in

side

.

Let m

e ta

ke y

ou

for a

rid

e.

Rac

ing

car,

Hop

rig

ht in

.

Let m

e ta

ke y

ou

for a

sp

in.

Teac

h by

‘rot

e’.

Play this

side first

The

Gro

ups

of 2

Bla

ck K

eys

(2Ex

tras

):

Lets

pre

tend

they

ar

e tw

o ey

es!

-and

cal

l the

m

IandJ.

Thes

e ar

e no

tes.

They

tell

us w

hich

ke

ysto

pla

y.

This

han

d pl

ays

grou

ps

of 2

onth

issi

de.

This

han

d pl

ays

grou

ps

of 2

on th

issi

de.

The

2bl

ack

keys

will

hav

esm

all

whi

te n

otes

.

The

teac

her c

an sl

ide

a co

inov

erth

e lin

eto

hel

p st

uden

tle

arn

to p

lay

thes

etw

o no

tes.

Teac

h th

e st

uden

t to

hold

eac

h ke

y do

wn

until

pla

ying

the

next

on

e, a

imin

g fo

r a fi

rm, s

moo

th

and

clea

r leg

ato

actio

n.

T(line for group of 2)

Kids

’ Not

es

Wal

k al

ong

then

ha

ve

a re

st.

Whi

ch

side

do

yo

u lik

e th

e be

st?

2(P

lay

blac

kke

ys)

(res

t)

2O

n Th

is S

ide O

n th

is

side

w

e w

alk

alon

g.

Kee

p in

tim

e an

d si

ng

this

so

ng.

(res

t)

mid

dle

of k

eybo

ard

Play

this

side

first

Wal

k A

long

Hol

d el

bow

sl

ight

ly o

ut.

Rai

se y

our w

rist s

low

ly.

Let y

our h

and

hang

loos

e,

with

the

fore

arm

mus

cles

so

ft an

d re

laxe

d.

How

to c

ome

off t

he k

eys:

(for r

ests

and

at th

e en

dof

a p

iece

)

2

1

1

One

Is M

y Th

umb

One

ism

y th

umb.

11

mid

dle

of k

eybo

ard

Fing

er

num

ber

one.

One

lit

tle

bell.

One

bi

g dr

um.

“Cop

y -c

at”

rout

ine:

Fore

ach

bar,

teac

her

play

s and

sing

s firs

t, th

en st

uden

t cop

ies.

Echo

with

cla

ppin

g an

d ch

antin

g at

firs

t if

desi

red.

T

22

Star

t he

re.

Bla

ckno

tes

mea

n pl

ay

whi

teke

ys

(nat

ural

s).

Wig

gle

Fing

er N

umbe

r ...

1

2

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5

one

two

thre

e

four

five

11

1

2

3

1

2

3

1

2

3

1

2

3

One

tw

oth

ree

Fin

-ge

rspl

ay

Go

this

way

One

tw

oth

ree

Fing

ers

1 2

and

3

Writ

e in

all

your

fing

er

num

bers

.

12

31

23

Star

t he

re.

Left

Han

d

Rig

ht

Han

d

Tech

niqu

e:

Hol

d ea

ch k

ey d

own,

on

ly li

fting

the

finge

r off

afte

r pla

ying

the

next

not

e.

Thum

b pl

ays

on it

s si

de.

Cur

ve th

e ot

her f

inge

rs.

Roc

ket S

hip Rocket ship, Take your place. Blast off into outer space.

mid

dle

of k

eybo

ard

Subm

arin

e

Submarine, I will drive. Deep down in the sea we dive.

22

Bird

and

Fro

g So

unds

twee

ttw

eet ?

croa

kcr

oak ?

Whe

re o

n th

e ke

yboa

rd d

o th

e no

tes

soun

d lik

e bi

rds?

Whe

re o

n th

e ke

yboa

rd d

o th

e no

tes

soun

d lik

e fr

ogs?

Dra

w:

Dra

w:

Not

e to

teac

her:

This

is w

here

the

term

s hi

gh a

nd lo

w m

ay b

e in

trodu

ced.

T

One two three four five, we heard Notes that sound just like a bird.

high

ha

nd

One two three four five, we found Notes like frogs down on the ground.

1 2

3 4

5

high

side

low

side

Sky

Ground

(Pla

y ne

xt-d

oor w

hite

keys

.)1

1

low

hand

23

45 5 5

23

45 5 5

irdro

g

1

1

cent

re

This way goes up,

Up to the sky,

This way goes down, Down to the ground,

Where all the birds

Sing ve - ry high.

Where all the frogs Make their low sound.

updo

wn

Up

and

Dow

n

high

ha

nd

2low

ha

nd

2

(Use

fing

er 2

all t

he w

ay.)

This Way Goes Up

This Way Goes Down

2 2 22

2 22 2

Pla

y bl

ack

keys

.m

iddl

e of

ke

yboa

rd

(Start on the same black key.)

Starting note:

(for both hands)

2 2 22 2 2 2 2

2 2 2 2

2 22 2

2 22 2

2 22 2

Wat

chhi

gh

hand

1

1 1

Watch these stems, So you’ll see

Which hand plays each middle key.

low

ha

nd1

Watch These Stems

key.

cent

restem up on right

stem down on left

thes

e

stem

s

So you’

ll

see

whi

ch

hand

play

s

each

mid - dle

1 1

mid

dle

of k

eybo

ard

Hat Jelly

GirlEas

ter Egg

Edgeline

Firs

tspa

ce

CatDuck

Lamb

BallIcecre

am

Ant Frog

BirdI S

py W

ith M

y Ey

e

I

spy,

myw

ith

eye,

som

e-

thin

g

star

t -

ing with ...

2

Keyb

oard

Low

hand

3

KeyApple

Fish

Dog

Line

Fing

ers

Cloud

Kite

Ground Grass

Iris

Jug

High

Hand

3

cent

re

cent

re

We

will

call

the

3 bl

ack

keys

KL

H

Hig

h si

deof

the

line

Low

sid

eof

the

line

On

the

line

The

3bl

ack

keys

have

la

rge

whi

te n

otes

.

Find

all

the

grou

ps o

f 3on

this

side

.

Find

all

the

grou

ps o

f 3on

this

side

.

22

34

34

The

Gro

ups

of 3

Bla

ck K

eys

(3Ex

tras

):

The

teac

her c

an

mov

ea

coun

ter o

r co

in o

n th

e pa

ge to

he

lp st

uden

tfol

low

thes

e th

ree

note

s.

T

(line for group of 3)

Kids

’ Not

es

If You’re Happy

If yo

u’re

hap

py

and

you

know

it,

then

you

real

ly

ough

t to

show

it,

If yo

u’re

ha

ppy

and

you

know

it,

play

for

me:

If yo

u’re

ha

ppy

and

you

know

it,

play

for

me:

If yo

u’re

ha

ppy

and

you

know

it,

play

for

me:

Firs

t pla

y it

all s

omew

here

on

the

high

side

.

Then

pla

y it

all s

omew

here

on

the

low

side

.

Trace and copy:

linenotes -

- and spacenotes.

Cop

y C

at

Cop

y th

is

Cop

y th

at

Cop

y th

is

Cop

y ca

t!

mid

dle

of k

eybo

ard

Star

t he

re.

Ever

y W

hite

Not

e

Eve

ry

whi

te

note

Goe

s on

on

e bl

ack

key.

Play

this

side

firs

t.

note

s

keys

That

w

ay

they

’ll

be So

easy

to

se

e.

Sing Up High

Sing Down Low

Sing up high, Sing up high. Sing up high where black birds fly.

Sing down low, Sing down low. Sing down low where bull - frogs go.

Play

this

side

firs

t.

irds

rogs

mid

dle

of k

eybo

ard

irds

rogs

Here are the Link - Lines, Mid - dle of the threes. When you see white notes, Play on black keys!

Link Lines

rest

Play copy-cats.

Link

Lin

e

Link

Lin

e

“Copy -cat” routine:

For each bar, teacher plays and sings, then student copies.

Or echo-clap and chant at first.

T

irds

rogs

How

To

Find

APl

ay th

issi

de fi

rst.

Write in the letternames on the naturals.

How

to

fin

d A

,

The

first

na

tura

l ke

y.

33 P

lay

L -A

ever

ywhe

re o

n th

e ke

yboa

rd.A

A

Right above link, And inside of three.

AA

Link line

Link line

low

hand

23

high

ha

nd34

Poin

ter F

inge

r

l ow

ha

ndhi

gh

hand

Draw an L and call it 2. Curve your finger, then its true!

Pointer finger number 2. Heres a trick that you can do.

122 1

12

12

1

2

1

2

Can

you

pla

y th

is s

ong

with

bot

h ha

nds

toge

ther

?11

Nat

ural

s U

nder

neat

hNaturals underneath this line, Next to link or moved away.

1

12

2

Naturals up above this line, Know which natural keys to play.

12

21

33

Teac

h by

‘ro

te’.

low

hand

high

hand

1 22 1

3 3

LINK LINK

ird s

ide

rog

side

2

21

1

Teach by ‘rote’.

A pa

ir:

-no

blac

k ke

y be

twee

n.

Find

all

the

pa

irs o

n yo

ur

keyb

oard

.

They

are

ca

lled

pairs

beca

use

of

thei

r sha

pe.

Pairs

of S

ocks

Pairs of socks be - tween

pair

pair

Blocks of keys,

Twos and threes. these blocks.

low

ha

nd

high

ha

nd

Pair

of N

atur

als

( )

mid

dle

of k

eybo

ard

n

22

twos

22

twos

22

twos

twos

22

23

23

(Cling on)

(Clin

gon

)

Pair

2

pair

pair

3of

3‘ra

ls

2na

t -

Pair

2

3of

3‘ra

ls

2na

t -

thre

es3

3

thre

es3

3

thre

es3

3

(Both hands together)

low

ha

nd

high

ha

nd

Count to 4

Count to four in every colour, count to four in every bar.

...

Start from 1 at every bar-line, 1 2 3 4, Here we are.

high

ha

nd

4

low

hand

2

Play

this

side

firs

t.

ird siderog side

4

Short and Long Notes

Notes are short or notes are long. One beat long or two beats.

How long will each note cling on? One beat long or two beats.

high

ha

nd

low

hand

irdsrogs

4

Repeat This Please

Two dots mean repeat this please, So each hand can play.

When we play on centre keys, Either hand’s okay.

Rep

eat

cent

re3

3above

below

How many beats are in each bar?

centre of keyboard

2

Firs

t pla

y it

with

high

han

d

23

Repe

at it

with

low

ha

nd

32

Play in Group

Next is group of three:

Black key group of three:

Play in group of two:(M

ove!

)

Back to group of two:

(Cha

nge

hand

!)

(Mov

e!)

botto

m

mid

dle

t

op

ird

rog

3 32topmiddlebottom

(The

end

!)

high

ha

nd

2

low

hand

3

Threes and Twos

high

ha

nd

bottom middle top

botto

m

mid

dle

t

op

It’s a race!

My timings:

3 32

low

hand

Go!

Group of 3 and Group of 2

Extra key groups, big and small.

Move your hand and play them all.

Group of three and group of two.

Making music just for you.

Rep

eat

botto

m

mid

dle

to

p

high

ha

nd

2

low

hand

3

bottom middle top3 32

Big Notes and Small Notes

bigs bigssmalls

Big notes for threes,And small notes for twos.That way we’ll knowWhich ex - tras to choose.

3 32

323

Next Note

2: Chan - ging groups, Mo - ving round. Mo - ving to this next black key.

1: Next note up, Next note down. Group of two to groups of three.

Rep

eat

botto

m m

iddl

e

top

bottom middle top

down up

33

2

low

hand

high

ha

nd

1. First play it all with high hand.(Use fingers 1,2,3 and 4.)

Start withfinger:

2. Then repeat it with low hand(fingers 1,2,3,4)

Single Natural ( )

Find

all

the

sing

le n

atur

als

on th

is s

ide

of

the

keyb

oard

.

Find

all

the

sing

le n

atur

als

on th

is s

ide

of

the

keyb

oard

.

across the line

single natural

cent

re

Rep

eat

White notes for each black key, and black notes for each natural.

In between two black keys, there lives a single natural.

1

n

centre

Start with high hand

Repeat with low hand

Here is a D-line “Copy -cat” routine:

For each bar, teacher plays and sings first, then student copies.

Echo with clapping and chanting at first if desired.

T2

22

Here is a D-line

When we see black notes,

Line for the twos.

Natural keys we choose.

high

low

mid

dle

Play copy-cats.

irdsrogsD-line

Thum

b pl

ays

on it

s si

de.

Oth

er fi

nger

s ar

e cu

rved

.

Nex

t-doo

r w

hite

key

s ha

ve n

ext-

door

fing

ers.

In Express Stave notation, the two extra keys I and J are written as small white notes close in to the line.

Play

thes

e no

tes

as y

our

teac

her p

oint

s to

them

,or

mov

es a

coi

n on

the

page

.

Rem

embe

r to

hold

eac

h ke

y do

wn

firm

ly u

ntil

you

smoo

thly

pla

y th

e ne

xt o

ne.

The three naturals near them are written as larger black notes touching the line.

pair of naturals

pair of naturalsExtras

Nat

ural

s (

) N

ear

Twos line note

Naturals ( )

n

n

moved away

space note

space note

moved away

The two next naturals are written as small black notes moved away from the line.

Hig

h si

deLo

w s

ide

Kids’ Notes

(line for group of 2)

Natural Group of Three

These two extras seem to be Eyes that look straight back at me.

Near this group of two we see, There’s a natural group of three.

Rep

eat

mid

dle

middle

2Repe

at

it wi

thlo

w ha

nd

3

Firs

t pla

y it

with

hi

gh h

and

2

I Sit In the Centre

Treb

le C

lef:

This

sig

n m

eans

to p

lay

natu

rals

on th

e hi

ghsi

de,

to th

e rig

htof

the

cem

tre.

Bas

s C

lef:

This

sig

n m

eans

to p

lay

natu

rals

on th

e lo

wsi

de,

to th

e le

ftof

the

cent

re.

I sit in the cen - tre and I al - ways will.

My two hands can tra - vel, but I just keep still.

Rep

eat

cent

re

2

irds

rogs

centre of keyboard

low

ha

nd

2

high

ha

nd

2

Up Above, Down Below

high

hand

1

1

cent

reUp above, Down below, Each side of this line we go.

low

ha

nd1

11 1

2

2

Rep

eat

Find all these, natural threes.

Big notes for important keys.

D-line

High Side, Low Side

Over, under, up and down. Children sing with middle sound.

low

hand

3

high

ha

nd3High side, low side, sky and ground. Fingers feel their way around.

Repeat

1

1

Find

the

keys

by

feel

.

cent

re

ommon time:4 beats per bar

middle

Play each hand separately first.Two Hands Play

Two hands play, Two hands play, Both to - ge - ther here to - day.

22

22

44

mid

dle

of k

eybo

ard

irdsrogs

Skip Across

Skip a - cross, Skip a - cross. See these lines and skip a - cross.

2

2

4

4

irdsrogs

4 Small Naturals

Draw them please, Four small naturals. Find all groups of four like these.

Near these threes, Four small naturals, One two three four natural keys.

1

1

4

4

1

1

low

ha

ndhi

gh

hand

1: Naturals next to group of three, At the edge and floating free.

2: Thumbs like playing natural keys, Thumbs lie down and play with ease.

1. Play high hand

3. Play both hands together.

botto

m

mid

dle

top

Rep

eat

1

1

2

2

irdrog

Naturals ( ) Next To Group of Threen

1 1

2. Play low hand Thumb plays on its side.

Fingers slightly curved.

3: Play together everyone, Different notes all having fun.

Notes On This Side

high

low

Put these notes up in the sky. On the ground these notes should go.

cent

re

Notes on this side sound up high. Notes on this side sound down low.

1

high

ha

nd1

Tied note

(hold note on)ird

rog

ird

roglow

ha

nd

Find the keys by feel.

“I like sun.” “And I like rain.” “I pre - fer it hot.” “Not me!”

cent

re

low

hand

2

Taking Sides

“ I like day.” “But I like night.”

4

4

... “We just don’t a - gree.” “That’s right!”

high

ha

nd

2

One-thumb and Tutu

Now, One - thumb was a race - horse, and Tu - tu was one too.

cent

re

12

21

Well, One - thumb won one race, and Tu - tu won one too!

Rep

at a

t a

fast

er s

peed

!2 2 1 1 2

2 2 1 1 2

high

ha

nd

low

hand

2

11

2

Ready, steady,off you go:

Go up and down with both hands, In the same di - rec - tion.

Same DirectionPlay hands separately at first.

3

3

Prac - tice for per - fec - tion.

Rep

eat

high hand

low hand

DOWN UPDOWN UP

Start With Frogs

low

hand

2

high

ha

nd

3

Sometimes we must start with frogs to make it sound down low.

So we have these clefs that tell us where we have to go.

Bird Clef

Frog Clef

1

5

1

5

irdro

g

Merrily We Roll Along

Merrily we roll along, roll along, roll along,low

hand

2

high

hand4 Merrily we roll along, O’er the deep blue sea.

A and BUp above this link line, There are two small naturals.

Frog Clef

2

Touching link is A, and B is moved away.

2 AB

A B

23

1

All lo

wha

nd

3

Near these twos are three white keys. Natural keys that we can name.

Three White Keys(C D E)

22

2

They are letters C D E, Everywhere they’re named the same.

mid

dle

low

high

(Play and name all groups of CDE on the keyboard.)

mid

dle

low

high

line

space

space

F and G

Underneath this line we see, Last two letters, F and G.

BirdClef

2

Touching link or moved away, Two small natural keys we play.

2

F

F G

23

123

1

high

hand

3

G

“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.

Let’s Play Copy Cats

high

si

delo

w

side

T

Play

ea-sy

play

Let’s play co - py cats.

rest

11

Black notes for white keys.

lowhand

1

1 high hand

high sidelow side middle

irdsrogs

high

low

middle

2 2 2

Line and Space

high

hand

3

Line and space, Line and space. Space notes al - ways touch a line.

Un - der line, O - ver line. Next to lines they call it space.

cent

rehi

gh

side

low

s

ide

34

line note

space above

space below

low

hand

4

irds

rogs

line

spac

e

spac

e

line

spac

e

spac

e

Go Down, Down, Up, Down ...

3: Play hands together, getting wider, getting closer, same notes.

Go

dow

n

updow

n

dow

n

sam

e

Cen

t re

Hig

hLo

wGo up

dow

n

up up

1: Play high hand.

2: Play low hand.

high

ha

nd

3lo

w ha

nd

3

irdsrogs

...

Next Door Naturals ( )

Next door nat - urals, next door fin - gers, Play - ing with my friends next door.

Fin - gers curve and walk on tip toes, Thumb lies on its side for sure.

cent

rehi

gh

side

low

si

de

24

high hand

low hand

n

Low D-line High D-line

Touch This Line (All On the High Side)

Touch this line then move a - way. Peo - ple say that’s not o - kay.

Moved a - way notes need a line. Then the peo - ple think it’s fine.

All

high

hand3

Sta

y o

nth

ehi

ghsi

de.

3

3 31

2

Still high

hand

3

Rep

eat

Treble clef, treble clef. Seagulls fly up in the sky.

This is the treble stave (staff).

Treble Clef

Treble clef, treble clef. Right hand plays white keys up high.This is thetreble clef.

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 spacesupward from the First-space.How many spaces are there?

cent

rehi

gh

side

low

side

Edgeline Firstspace

high

hand

treble D-line

Touch This Line(All On the Low Side)

Touch this line then move a - way. Peo - ple say that’s not o - kay.

Moved a - way notes need a line. Then the peo - ple think it’s fine.

Sta

y on

the

low

side

.

All lowhand

3

3 31

Still

lowhand

3

Rep

eat

Bass Clef

Bass clef, bass clef, Just play naturals on the left.

cent

re

Bass clef, low side. Down there where those white frogs hide.

The bass stave is only for white keys (naturals) on the low 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 thebass clef. This is the bass stave (staff).

low

si

dehi

gh s

ide

low hand

bass D-line

Baby Monkey

Hold on to your mo - ther’s coat, like we cling to ev - ery note.

low

hand

Ba - by mon - key, cling on tight. Don’t fall off and get a fright.

high hand

cent

r e

Find the 2-black-keygroups by feel.

treble D-line

bassD-line

Stepping

bass D-line

Next door naturals, next door fingers. Stepping up and down with me.

treble D-line

Step down, down up,

line space line space. Ev - ‘ry note is one white key.

5-Finger Exercises

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.

low hand

high hand

cent

re

bottom

3

32

cent

re

middle

top

3

3

1

1

The D-clef means play in the centre.

In this mid-dle al-pha-bet the cha-rac-ters are hi-ding.

Can you show me where the mid-dle cha-rac-ters all go?

Naturals ( ) at the Edges1: Nat - urals at the ed - ges of this black key group of three.hi

gh

hand

1

low

hand

12: They do not touch link lines, and they also don’t touch D.

3: Play - ing hands to - ge - ther is as ea - sy as can be.

1

1

5

5

LINK line

LINK line

D-line

Link line D-line

Link line

n

This Top Line

And mid - dle line for twos.This top line is for threes group,

So that is how we work out Which group ofkeys to choose.

1

1

bottom3

middle2

top3

3

high hand

3

low hand

3

3

Fold finger 3 over thumb.

Se - ven nat - ‘rals A to G.

In - side these

Music Alphabets

In - side links,

links we see

don’t for - get,

That’s one mu - sic al - pha - bet.

middle

high hand

low hand

Three Alphabets

Basic Alphabet Middle Alphabet Treble AlphabetLI

NK

LIN

K

LIN

K

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, Link ...

Play upwards all the way with your left hand.

Then play downwards all the way with your right hand.

Happy Children

Happy children laugh and play. In the centre every day.

2 2

low

hand

cent

r ece

ntr e

high hand

2 2

middle alphabet

And the centre keys they share, ‘Cause they know its only fair.

In-side these links, lives A, and G. They are the first, and last, white key.

Inside These Links

Play one of these, and I will say, Whether that note was G or A.low

hand

3

high hand

3

middle alphabet

LIN

K

LIN

K

middle A middle G

mid

dle

In these pla - ces nat - ‘rals go.

On these white keys, play the right keys.

Notes are ei - ther lines or spa - ces

1

Line then space, all in a row.

5 high

hand

low hand

middle A (Ant)

middle G(Girl in the Curl)

Treble Clef

Bass Clef

Lines or Spaces

Edgeline and Firstspace

They live there, On that pair, Middle-E and middle-F.

Edge-line and First-space, Bottom of this treble clef.

Middle Alphabet

Play these keys:

pair pair

Point to notes, tapping the rhythm. Use left hand.

Play with right hand

Mark the “plays” and “easys”

Pair Of Keys

2: Pair of keys that’s on the left. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1: Pair of keys that’s on the right. - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

cent

re

That’s where treble clef will start.

They prefer this other clef.

centre

Edgeline FirstspaceBall Cat

3: Hands together we can play.Notes go out and in this way.

pair pair

(same note)

Duck Walks Down This Lane

Duck walks down this lane between treble clef and bass.

Notice in this photograph, that note becomes a space.

low hand

middle D

Treble Clef

Bass Clef

uck

high hand

1 4

Duck under!

I’m Only an Ant

I’m on - ly an ant, just low - ly and small, But seeds that I plant can grow ve - ry

2

Bass Clef

tall. You would not be - lieve the tun - nels I dig, Or how I a - chieve a net - work so big.

low hand

L L L L L L L L L

L L L

Seven Characters

In this mid - dle al - pha - bet,

Se - ven cha - rac - ters we met.

In this tre - ble clef and bass, Some on line and some in space.

high hand

low

hand

Express Staves

Traditional Staves