Black Keys! Why start the piano journey with learning it?

2017-10-31

The easiest and most logical way to introduce a new student to the piano is by learning the keyboard. While note reading and recognition on the staff and keyboard are quite a challenge, it might as well be postponed until the second/third lesson. Getting to know the white and black keys pattern could be a great way to start playing the piano! Do you need activities for your 4-year-old pianist? Well, here is what I use with my students.

Observe the obvious / Learn keyboard layout

Look at the piano, what do you see? The keys are grouped together. If the white keys are just a bunch of keys. Then the black ones are congregated in groups of two and three. This gives us a great opportunity to start exercising and playing rote pieces using the black keys as a focal point.

Groups of two and three black keys flash cards

Take the first shot

Count the groups of two black keys then the groups of three.
Play the black key pairs going up. Then all groups of three went down.
When playing, press one set of two black keys together and one group of three one by one.
Play “Ball on the stairs” – starting from the right play all black keys down to the left with your RH (LH) and finger #3 imagining a ball jumping down the stairs

Use props with very young students

Explaining the pattern to the 4-5-year-olds can be fun if you use a reasonable amount of hands-on material.

Decorate the piano. This exercise is fun for youngsters. Prepare 7 bouncy balls and 7 rubber caterpillars and decorate a group of two black keys with balls and a group of three with caterpillars.

Off-the-bench activities

Make a snake – using cards of two and three black keys make a snake alternating between the groups. To augment the exercise, you can ask the student to close their eyes and make 1 or 2 mistakes by misplacing the group of keys.

Groups of two and three black keys with note names flash cards

Playing

“Chinese Lanterns” – play two and three black keys going up and down
Using black key cards, ask one to choose one card and play the note shown on the card. You can amplify the exercise by encouraging them to play a given key with RH or LH with a specific finger.

Where to Find

You can find Printable Flash Cards here. If you want to use these cards for a long time please read Piano Studio Office Helpers of how can other helper tools be useful. If you are looking for a fun printable, please visit our shop. Games, cards, worksheets and free printables will sparkle the imagination of your little learner!