Primer
Just getting started? You're in the right place! MakingMusicFun.net Music Academy piano lessons start from the very beginning with everything you'd expect from traditional piano lessons, including piano books, worksheets, and games.
Let's start learning!
Congratulations on your decision to play the piano!
Before you get started with this week's lesson, let's learn your finger numbers. Learning your finger numbers will help you understand the suggested fingerings included on the music, making the piece easier to play. Grab a piece of paper and a pencil, trace both hands, and number the fingers: Thumb (1), Index Finger (2), Middle Finger (3), Ring Finger (4), and Pinky (5).
During the lessons the teacher will ask you to say your note names as you play and repeat rhythmic phrases. Making a habit of this will help you learn note and rhythm names faster, and play the rhythms correctly.
How to Make the Most of Your Practice Time
1) Pause the Lesson Often - Pause the lesson after each example and practice what was demonstrated until you've played it three times perfectly.
2) Count Out Loud - Say the rhythmic phrases recommended by your teacher out loud as you play. Students who follow this advice play rhythms correctly far more often and progress faster.
3) Practice with Your Teacher - Stick with each piece for at least one week so that you learn it well. Practice with your teacher daily so that you learn the notes and rhythms correctly.
4) Learn the Lessons in Order - Learn each lesson in the order it is presented so every lesson is fun and rewarding. Younger students (5-6) may achieve the best results by working on only one piece per week. Older students (7-8) may enjoy the challenge of having a second piece to practice.
The MMF All-in-One Piano Primer is your piano book for this level. Print it and let's get started!
Meet the Teacher - Andy Fling, Teacher of Award-Winning Students and Founder of MakingMusicFun.net
I Love Bubble Gum - FREE
Today you'll learn your very first song - I Love Bubble Gum!
It's also time to make a practice plan.
For most students 20 minutes per day for 5 days per week is plenty. You'll make good progress and never feel burdened by the practice schedule. If you're homeschooling, ask your parent to consider scheduling time during each school day for piano practice.
Practice Goal: 20 minutes per day - 5 days per weekWatch the piano finger technique tutorial first, and then do your best to apply these techniques as you practice, I Love Bubble Gum.
Most of the time it will take you about a week to get a primer level piece sounding perfect - or at least good enough to move to next week's assignment. If you're not playing the right notes most of the time, or you're not yet able to keep a steady beat all the way through, keep practicing that piece while starting on next week's lesson.
Most piano students like to look at the their hands rather than the music. It's understandable at this stage of development, because all those lines and dots are still pretty confusing. However, good playing habits should be formed as soon as possible. To help make the music a little less confusing, it's okay to write the note names on your music.
The rhythms and stepwise melody of Fudge, Fudge, Call the Judge make it very easy to learn. This week the focus should be on keeping a steady beat from beginning to end.
Technique Challenge
Can you put a quarter on the back of your right hand and keep it there while you play the piano? Ask your parent for a quarter and try it. If your piano fingering technique is good, and your hand remains flat, the quarter will stay on.
With How I Love My Horsey, you've learned your first five treble clef notes. Drill these notes this week with the "Color That Note! Treble Clef Note Name Worksheet" lesson.
Are you remembering to say your note names and rhythm phrases as you play? It will help you to learn them quicker, and play the rhythms correctly.
Let's practice your note names with the "Color That Note! Bass Clef Worksheet" from the MMF All-in-One Primer. It's on page 16.
It's okay to look at your hands sometimes. You need to position your hands before you start to play. However, if you memorize your music so you can look at your hands the whole time you'll miss out on learning a valuable skill. Check out How To Play Piano Without Looking for tips that will help you learn this skill.
Doctor Foster introduces bass clef note G. Print the "Flash Frog™ Flashcards" and pull treble clef notes C, D, E, F and G, and bass clef note G from the pack. Drill these notes every day this week.
Piano students often forget to place both hands on the piano before they start to play. The result is that they scramble to get their hands to the piano in time to play the notes, and often play them too late. If you're always ready before you start playing, you'll be one of the best!
Who's That Tapping at the Window? introduces bass clef notes C and F. You now know every note that you will learn in the primer level. The next step is naming the notes quickly.
Drilling your note names this week includes chocolate! Print the "M&M Note Name Challenge Worksheet" and ask parent to pick up some M&M's at the store.
Game Play
Ask your parent to place nine M&M's at the top of the "M&M Note Name Challenge Worksheet," and one M&M on the staff in the place of one of the notes you've learned. Drill treble clef notes C, D, E, F and G, and bass clef notes C, F, and G. Each time you name the note correctly you win an M&M.
Are you remembering to round your fingers?
Purple Cow is your most challenging piece so far. Practice phrase-by-phrase and very slowly to master this piece. Sometimes it's hard to figure out how to play slower. Ask your parent to show you how. If it takes you two weeks to complete this piece it's okay. Most students need that much time to make it perfect.
Are you the best in the world when it comes to piano finger numbers? Let's test your skills with a game. Print "Piano Games for Kids | 10 Skill Building Games" and pull the Ladybug Ladybug worksheet from the pack.
Game Play
Fly like a ladybug, spinning your finger clockwise as you dive to touch the notes with the correct fingers. Ask your parent to check for correct answers.
Are you getting pretty fast at naming your treble clef notes (C, D, E, F, and G)? Print the "Ready, Set, Go! Note Name Speed Test," and grab a stopwatch and pencil. Time yourself naming 10 notes at a time, or try all 40.
Getting the notes correct at any speed is good. Naming 10 notes correctly in 10 seconds is very good. The fastest we've ever seen is 40 notes in 19 seconds!
Do Unto Others should be played "legato," which is an Italian musical term that means smooth and connected. To do this you need to hold each key down until it's time to play the next note. After you've practiced Do Unto Others for a few days, listen to the instructor's smooth and connected performance in the demonstration at the end of the lesson.
Let's drill your treble clef note names with the Eek! Shark! Music Theory Arcade Game. Complete all five levels to win the game.
Arcade Game Instructions
The set-up screen gives you the option to drill any range of notes. Use the default settings this week: Treble Clef and C-G.
Recording yourself playing the piano helps you see and hear things that you're doing great, and what you need to work on. Let's do that this week. Ask your parent to record you playing, Hop On One Foot, after you've had a few days to practice. Watch the recording to figure out what you could improve, and head back to the piano to make your performance perfect.
Are you remembering to say the note names and recommended rhythm phrases?
Let's practice your rhythm values this week with the Rhythm Connect! worksheet from the MMF All-in-One Primer. It's on page 18.
Technique Challenge
Try putting a quarter on the back of your right and left hand again this week. How are things going? Are you keeping the back of your hand level to the ground? Are you able to keep the quarters from falling off while you're playing? If so, way to go!
Are you remembering to round your fingers?
Are you sticking to your practice schedule? Perhaps a music practice record would help you stay on track. Choose the chart you like best and keep track of your practice time. You could even try to set a record!
Banbury Cross is your first 16-measure piece. Since it's a longer piece, you may need an extra week of practice. It's okay. Just keep going with Banbury Cross and start next week's piece.
This lesson teaches 7 or 8 melody notes at a time. If that's too much of a challenge, try pausing the lesson and practicing 3 or 4 notes at a time. Next, put the whole phrase together. When it's sounding great, continue with the lesson.
Are you remembering to keep your eyes on your music rather than your fingers?
Let's learn about American film composer, John Williams, this week. He wrote the music for Star Wars! Print the John Williams Video Lesson Study Guide so you get the most out of the lesson and then watch the Meet John Williams | Popsicle Stick Theater Production video lesson.
This piano lesson is created through a collaboration with MusicNotes.com, the leading digital sheet music publisher.
Congratulations! This week you'll complete the MMF All-in-One Piano Primer and be ready to start Level 1A next week.
Print a music award certificate after you've successfully performed Snake Dance for your parent with a steady beat and no mistakes.