Post on 23-Jun-2021
33 2.
The Keyboard Express™© John F Keller, 2009
A beginner piano methodwith pre-staff ‘kids notes’
and keyboard guides
by John Keller
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
33
2Th
ete
ache
r can
slid
ea
coin
over
the
lines
to h
elp
stud
ent
lear
n to
pla
y th
ese
blac
k ke
ys.
Usi
ng th
ese
“Exp
ress
Sta
ve”
note
s for
the
blac
k ke
ys h
elps
th
e st
uden
t lea
rn k
eybo
ard
geog
raph
y, p
lus t
he c
once
pts
of u
p an
d do
wn,
line
s and
sp
aces
, ste
ppin
g an
d sk
ippi
ng.
T
Kids
’ Not
es
Pre-
staf
f bla
ck k
ey n
otat
ion:
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 lef
t an
d rig
ht h
and,
or
high
an
d lo
w a
t thi
s sta
ge.
T
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.
Cen
tre
Gro
up
Cen
tregr
oup
of
two:
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!
T
cent
re o
f ke
yboa
rd
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
Start
with this
hand.
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
Smoo
thly
Ste
p
Sm
ooth
-ly
step
a-lo
ng
this
line.
(res
t)
Hop
and
skip
and
step this
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
“dou
ble
natu
ral
keys
”
“dou
ble
natu
ral
keys
”
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
(-th
e 2
dotte
d le
tters
in th
e al
phab
et).
Thes
e ar
e no
tes.
They
tell
us w
hich
ke
ysto
pla
y.
This
han
d pl
ays
grou
ps
of 2
on th
issi
de.
This
han
d pl
ays
grou
ps
of 2
onth
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
tlea
rn to
pl
ay th
ese
two
note
s.
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.
NB
: As t
he y
oung
stud
ent w
ill b
e pl
ayin
g bl
ack
keys
at t
his e
arly
st
age,
it is
use
ful a
nd lo
gica
l to
give
thes
e bl
ack
keys
thei
r ow
n un
ique
sing
le le
tter n
ames
.
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)
cent
re o
f key
boar
d
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
cent
re o
f key
boar
d
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).
Tech
niqu
e:
Thum
b pl
ays o
n its
side
w
ith a
ligh
t loo
se to
uch.
N
o ot
her p
arts
of t
he
hand
s tou
ch th
e ke
ys.
Kee
p el
bow
s out
to th
e si
des s
o th
at th
e ba
cks
of h
ands
are
leve
l.
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
af
ter p
layi
ng th
e ne
xt n
ote.
Thum
b pl
ays o
n its
side
. C
urve
the
othe
r fin
gers
.
Bird
and
Fro
g So
unds
twee
ttw
eet ?
croa
kcr
oak ?
Whi
ch s
ide
ofth
e ke
yboa
rd
soun
dslik
e bi
rds?
Whi
ch s
ide
ofth
e ke
yboa
rd
soun
dslik
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
Play
this
side
first
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
Pla
y bl
ack
keys
.ce
ntre
of
keyb
oard
(Start on the same black key.)
Starting note:
(for both hands)2 2 2
2
2 22 2
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 centre 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
cen - tre
1 1
cent
re o
f the
key
boar
d
Hat Jelly
GirlEas
ter Egg
Edge-line
Firs
t-spa
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
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.lo
w
hand
high
ha
nd
cent
re o
f key
boar
d
Bot
h2
2
Put
2
pair
pair
3yo
ur
on!sock
s
Put
2
3yo
ur
on!
sock
s
of3
3 put
on
(Both hands together)
low
ha
nd
high
ha
nd
22
33
sock
s
you
now
!
Put Y
our S
ocks
On!
3: Hands together we can play.Notes go out and in this way.
centre
pair pair
2: Pair of naturals on the left. - - - - - - - - - - - - They go down here in bass clef.
1: Pair of naturals on the right. - - - - - - - - - - - That’s where treble clef will start.ce
ntre (same note)2
2
Play this
side first
(same note)
treble clef
bass clef
55
22
22
33
22
33
44
Pair
of N
atur
als
( )n
44 3
3
22
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!
cent
re o
f key
boar
d
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.
Eve
ry
day
we
play
thes
e
keys
,
Pla
y
thes
e
keys
,
Pla
y
thes
e
keys
.
Ever
y D
ay
Eve
ry
day
we
play
blac
k
thre
es,
On
the
pian
o
key
-
boar
d.
irds
rogs
cent
re o
f key
boar
d
Play
this
side
firs
t.
Sing Up High
Sing Down Low
Play
this
side
firs
t.
irds
rogs
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.
cent
re o
f key
boar
d
irds
rogs
Kids’ Notes
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
Play
this
side
firs
t.
ird siderog side
4
irds
rogs
low
hand
2
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
Play each hand separately first.Two Hands Play
Two hands play, Two hands play, Both to - ge - ther here to - day.
22
22
44
cent
re o
f key
boar
d
irdsrogs
(Moving outward and inward)
Tops, Middles, Bottoms Race
high
ha
nd
bottoms middles tops
botto
m
mid
dle
t
op
It’s a race!
My timings:
3 32
low
hand
Go!
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
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
Play copy-cats.
I Like Ice Cream
If I only had my way, I’d eat ice cream every day.
I’ll have two scoops.
Rep
eat
botto
m
mid
dle
to
p
high
ha
nd
2low
hand
3
bottom middle top
I like ice cream.
So do we. We’ll have three.
The Link Lines
Here are the Link Lines, Mid - dle of the threes. Spe - cial ex - tra keys!
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
rogsPl
ay
play
play
ea-sy
Skip Link Line
Skip link line, Skip link line. Both hands skip a - cross link line.
2
2
4
4
irdsrogs
Star
t he
re.
Link
Line
Link Line
skip across
Each side of this line we go. Up above, Down below.
Notes can go in either place. Each side note is called a space.
low
hand
2hi
gh
hand
2
updo
wn
irdsrogs
Called a Space
line
note
space note
space note
Play
this
side
firs
t.
Each Side of this Line
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
Pointer Finger
l ow
ha
ndhi
gh
hand
Draw an L but call it 2. Curve your finger, then its true!
Pointer finger number 2. Heres a trick that you can do.
122 1
12
12 Can
you
pla
y th
is s
ong
with
bot
h ha
nds
toge
ther
?11
1
2
1
2
“Extras”
“Naturals”
Play
this
side
firs
t.
These Naturals ( ) and Extras
LINK LINK
These naturals and extras, they all get along.
They made up a game with a beautiful song.
Link line
Link line
2
2
21
12
Teac
h by
‘ro
te’.
ird siderog side
Play this
side first.
high
ha
nd
low
hand
3
n
Frog and Bird Clefs
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.
Frog Clef1
5
Bird Clef1
5
irdro
glow hand
2
high hand
3
irdsrogs 115 5
Be careful!
Merrily We Roll Along
Merrily we roll along, roll along, roll along,low
hand
2hi
gh
hand4 Merrily we roll along, O’er the deep blue sea.
How Do We Find A?Pl
ay th
issi
de fi
rst.
Write in the letternames on the naturals.
How do we find A? This very first white key.
33
Play L - A everywhere on the keyboard.
A
A
It’s right above this link line, And inside group of three.
AA
Link line
high
ha
nd
43
LINK LINElo
w ha
nd
23
Ant
LINK LINE
Alphabet
Link
Lin
e
Link
Lin
e
irds
rogscentre of keyboard
These are the letters these naturals will be.
(Play finger 3 all the way.)
Staccato: - a dot over or under the note(s).- hop off the keys straight after playing.
Here in the centre these characters play.On seven naturals from G down to A.
Alphabet: A B C D E F G.
A
GG
ARepeat
3
3
All Links on the KeyboardIt’s a race!My timings:
centre alphabet
irds alphabetrogs alphabet
Start o
n
lowes
t link
AB
First Two Letters
Up above this link line, We see these first two letters.
Touching link is A, and B is moved away.
A B A B
3
Play L - A - Ball over the keyboard.
L LWrite in the other letternames.
3
45
2
Ants Push Balls
Ants push Balls a - long this wall. Balls just roll and ants just crawl.
2L L L
centre of keyboard
treble clef
bass clef
Introduce flash cards for these notes A and B.
T
Last White Key
Tell me where is last white key. Just below this link key L.
Say which letter this would be. “Gee that’s hard for me to tell!”
L L
3
3
Be careful!
First Two Naturals ( )
First two naturals A and B. At the edge or inside three.
Last two naturals F and G. Touching link or floating free.
irdro
g
Last Two Naturals ( )Bird Clef
FG
Frog Clef
AB
low hand
2
high hand
2
LIN
K
THREE
2 2
n
n
G the Girl and First-space F
G the Girl and First - space F, Love that cur - ly treb - le clef!I think they’ll get mar - ried soon, And go on their hon - ey - moon!
L L L2
Rep
eat
centre of keyboard
Add flash cards for these notes F and G to A and B.
T
2: Naturals next to group of three, At the edge and floating free.
1: Out in space I’d love to be, Where there is no gravity.1. Play high hand
3. Play both hands together.
botto
m
mid
dle
top
Rep
eat
1
1
2
2
irdrog
Out in Space
1 1
2. Play low hand Thumb plays on its side.
Fingers slightly curved.
3: Play together everyone, Black and white keys having fun.
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
move!
Bigs and Smalls
big notes big notessmall notes
That way we’ll knowWhich ex - tras to choose.
3 32
323
Big notes for threes,And small notes for twos.
3 - line guide
Climbing
2: Chan - ging groups, Mo - ving round. Mo - ving to this next black key.
1: Climbing up, Climbing down. In the branches of a tree.
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)
Snowman
Once I built a snowman, He was my friend all winter long.
lowha
nd
3 - line guide
bottom middle top
down up
Time will wait for no man. And so by summer he was gone.
Rep
eat
botto
m m
iddl
e
top
high
ha
nd
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 2
Start with high hand
Repeat with low hand
What do you think these keys look like?
Kids’ Notes
Rocket ShipRocket ship, Take your place. Blast off into outer space.
cent
re o
f key
boar
d
Submarine
Submarine, I will drive. Deep down in the sea we dive.
22
1
cent
re
high
low
Three Naturals ( )
Near two extras, find three naturals. One between and one each side.
cent
re o
f key
boar
d
Extra keys close in and thin but naturals further out and wide.
1
2
high
side
low
side
high side
low side
cent
re
2 extras
3 naturals
n
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 o
f ke
yboa
rd
2
irds
rogs
cent
re
centre
natural group of 3* Practice moving your hands gracefully to treble and bass sides of the keyboard while sitting still in the middle.
Repe
at
with
low
hand
2St
art
with
hig
hha
nd2Kids’ Notes
Do you know what this could be?
Something smiling back at me.
Rep
eat
cent
re
lowha
nd
2
In the Centre
The D-clef means play in the centre.
centre
high
hand
2
Kids’ Notes
2
Something that begins with D.
In the centre, I can see,
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
Line for the twos.
Know which D to choose.
high
low
cent
re
Play copy-cats.
irdsrogs
centre D-line
Play
play
play
ea-sy
high hand
Start
here.
low hand
Near these twos are three white keys. Let us learn each letter name.
Three White Keys2
22
They are letters C D E, Everywhere they’re named the same.
cent
relo
whi
gh
(Play and name all groups of CDE on the keyboard.)
cent
relo
whi
gh
line
space
space
C D E
Favourite Pet
In the centre, children play, With their favourite pet each day.Tell me, what’s your favourite pet? Told me once, but I forget.
centre
Kids’ Notes
high sidelow side
Rep
eat
high
ha
nd3
3lo
w
hand3
Centre
D-line
Cat and Duck and Edge-line
Cat and Duck and Edge - line, You all are ve - ry lit - tle.
L centre of keyboard
Do not leave this play - ground! Please keep right in the mid - dle.
low hand
3
high
hand
1
L
Rep
eat
with
lo
w h
and
ommon time:4 beats per bar
Add flash cards for middle C, D and E so as to complete the centre alphabet (A to G).
T
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
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
D-line(line for group of 2)
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-toe, 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
High D-line
Low 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
31
2
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
Edge-line First-space
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
Centre Kids
Play - ing out - side in their play - ground, feel - ing hap - py all day long.
5
5
Cen - tre kids are ex - er - ci - sing, keep - ing heal - thy, fit and strong.
Lcentre of keyboardL
1
1
“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
lowhand
high hand
high sidelow side centre
irdsrogs
high
low
centre
2 2 2
Stepping
bass D-line
Next door naturals, next door fingers. Stepping up and down with me.
treble D-line
In these five - line staves we see each line and space is one white key.
3 - line guide
Smiley Face =D
Thats where children sing and play,
Making music every day.
When you see a smiley face,
Put your guide in centre place.
Rep
eat
botto
m
mid
dle
to
p
high
hand
2
move!
centre alphabet
“Centre“ clef
move!
low
hand
3
Notes On This Side
high
low
These notes should be 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
nd
1
Tied note
(hold note on)
irds
rogs low
hand
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
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Ma - ry had a lit - tle lamb, Its fleece was white as snow.
Ev - ‘ry - where that Ma - ry went, Ma - ry went, Ma - ry went,Ev - ‘ry - where that Mar - y went that lamb was sure to go.
Ma - ry had a lit - tle lamb, lit - tle lamb, lit - tle lamb.
2
4
1
ties: just hold note on
hold on
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
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
centre alphabet
LIN
K
LIN
K
centre A centre G
cent
re
On these white keys, play the right keys. Line then space, all in a row.
Notes are ei - ther lines or spa - ces. In these pla - ces all notes go.
1
5 high
hand
low hand
centre A (Ant)
centre G(Girl in the Curl)
Treble Clef
Bass Clef
Lines or Spaces
To Birdsville and FrogtownTo Birdsville I fly, to sing, and play.
To Frogtown I hop, to stop, and stay.
high
low
cent
re
high hand
low hand
centre alphabet
irdsvillerogtown3 - line guide 3 - line guide
Som - er - saul - ting on these keys, O - ver twos, O - ver threes.
Fold finger 3 over thumb.
high
low
cent
re
Somersaulting
Play - ing leap - frog o - ver thumb, Duck your head, Here I come.
Fold finger 4 over thumb. 1
1 3
4
1 3 1
1 1 1 1
high hand
low hand
Three Alphabets
Lower (Frogs’) Alphabet Centre (Kids’) Alphabet Top (Birds’) Alphabet
LIN
K
LIN
K
LIN
K
Learn each music alphabet, Inside link lines, dont forget. Seven naturals in a row, G on top to A below.
LIN
K
lowhand
high hand
Three alphabet clefs:
Se - ven smil - ing friends we met.
In this cen - tre al - pha - bet,
Two Alphabet Staves
In this al - pha - bet be - low,
Se - ven let - ters in a row.
Centre Alphabet
low hand
5
5
1
Lower Alphabet
high hand
Alphabet staves have three lines.
Alphabet in Bass ClefBottom letters A and B, Middle letters C D E.
Fold finger 3 over thumb.
L L
Top two letters G and F Alphabet, In bass clef.
3
low hand
2
Fold finger 2 over thumb.
2
“Basic” Alphabet
2
15
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 alphabet.
In this cen-tre al-pha-bet these cha-rac-ters are hi-ding.
Can you show me where these cen-tre cha-rac-ters all go?
5
5
Ant and Ball and Copy CatAnt and Ball and Co - py Cat, From this cen - tre al - pha - bet.
3
Ant and Cat and Ball, They all crawl a - long this wall.
Centre Alphabet
pair pair
Bass Clef
Bass Clef
Edge-line and First-space, Bottom of this treble clef.
Mark the “plays” and “easys”
Treble Clef
They live there, On that pair, Centre-E and Centre-F.Treble Clef
Edgeline and Firstspace
Centre Alphabet
Play these keys:
pair pair
Point to notes, tapping the rhythm. Use left hand.
Play with right hand
centre characters
house
Seven Characters
In this cen - tre 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
ommon time:4 beats per bar
3
5
3
15
Rest for 2 beats.
Rest for 4 beats.
Duck Walks Down This Lane
Duck walks down this lane between treble clef and bass.
Quickly take a photograph and recognise that face.
low hand
centre D
high hand
1 4
Duck under!
Leger-Line
33
Start with Edge - line and next door, then move a - way, from Edge - line.When notes move out past the edge, we just add one le - ger - line.
high
hand
3
low
hand
3
Treble Clef
Bass Clef
Edge-line
Co - py this, Co - py that, E - ven co - py Co - py - Cat. So are they two diff -‘rent C’s? No, the same spot on the keys!
1
1
Copy of Copy-Cat
Start and End of Treble, Bass
Treb - le clef starts from this pair. Treb - le clef ends right up there.Both these pairs are E and F. Ed - ges of this tre - ble clef.
high hand
Bass clef region
Treble clef region
Edge-line and First-space
Top line and space
L L
low hand Bass clef starts with doub - le keys. Doub - le keys are in - side threes.At the edge, one line, one space. Doub - le keys at edge of bass.
doubles doubles pair pair
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star4
Twin - kle twin - kle lit - tle star, How I won - der what you are. Up a - bove the world so high,
low hand
1
Like a dia - mond in the sky, Twin - kle twin - kle lit - tle star, How I won - der what you are.
high hand
4
London Bridge Play each hand separately at first.
4
Lon - don bridge is fall - ing down,
1
low
hand
high hand
1
1
4 2
My fair
fall - ing down,fall - ing down.
la - dy.Lon - don bridge is fall - ing down,
Treble and Bass 5-line Staves
Express Staves