Piano Lesson 1
1.Do
Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do
2.Keys
of the Piano
3.Notes
and Counts
4.Finger
Exercises
Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do
Each note is sung higher than the previous note in this
fashion
If you have seen the movie “Sound of Music” you know what
you are singing. If you don’t, then listen to this.
Keys of the Piano
In music we use only seven alphabets to read music they are
A, B, C, D, E, F, G
1.
The keyboard is divided into black and white
keys. The black keys appear in sets of two and three.
2.
First we need to find the center of the
keyboard. To do that count the number of two black key sets from either side
and settle on the center one. If you have two in the center then you can use
either.
3.
Now the white key between the set of two black
keys is D. The white key before D is C and after D is E.
4.
The white keys below the set of three black keys
are F, G, A and B. After B there is again C and so on.
5.
As you move to the left of the Piano the keys
have a low pitched sound
6.
As you move to the right side of the piano, the
keys get more high pitched.
7.
You can practice Do Re Mi singing by pressing
the keys C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C one after the other.
Notes and Counts
Music has a language. It is read in different notes. Notes
are just special characters that tell you how long to play the particular note.
1.
Whole note: It gets 4 counts. Means when you
play this note then count till four. It looks like this.
2.
Dotted Half Note: It looks like a half note with
a dot. It gets 3 counts.
3.
Half Note: It gets 2 counts. It looks like a
whole note with a stem facing up or down.
4.
Quarter Note: Looks like a colored half note
with the oval darkened in. It gets 1 count.
Exercise
Clap and count notes
1.
Whole notes: Clap on one and the count ahead to
two three and four.
2.
Dotted half note: Clap on one and count two and
three.
3.
Half notes: Clap on one and count till two.
4.
Quarter note: Clap and count on one.
BAR
A bar is a measure of time with respect to beats. The number
of beats in each bar is specified at the beginning. In the picture below it is
4/4 means there are 4 beats (claps) in 4 seconds.
Clap and count the following:
1.
{Answer: Clap at each note since it’s a quarter note so all
get 1 count. So go like One (clap) two (clap) three (clap) four (clap). One
(clap) two (clap) three (clap) four (clap)}
2.
3.
Finger Exercises:
While playing on a piano your fingers are numbered as
To play the following place your right hand thumb on middle
C and finger 2 on D and RH3 (right hand finger 3) on E, RH 4 on F and RH5 on G
Place LH5 on a C to the left of the middle C. LH 1 should
come on G.
First play the following with right hand then the left hand
and then both hands. It is a bit difficult at first as our natural instinct is
to be symmetric and use both thumbs together instead of thumb of one hand and
pinky of the other.
After playing the above play this with your RH1 on C to RH5
on G and LH2 on G
