The Absolute Best Way To Teach Your Child To Name Notes On The Keyboard – Step 1
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Many parents opt to buy keyboards for their kids that come with the note names pre-printed or the notes in different colours or some even paste note name stickers on the keyboard.
While I do understand the logic behind this, it is totally unnecessary and in my experience it ends up with kids taking longer to learn the note names and read music notes.
In today’s post I am going to show you the easiest way to get your kids to learn their way around the keyboard.
Yes, even if you’ve never touched a keyboard in your life, you can still teach your kids to find their way around the keyboard with my ‘ultra easy’ method.
As a first step please download the theory worksheets and flashcards I have made available so you have everything ready to go.
Next, make sure that your kids are familiar with the Musical Alphabet.
If you haven’t introduced your kids to the Musical Alphabet, please do that first. You can find the steps here Musical Alphabet Games For Beginner Piano Students.
Now, remember that even though the steps seem easy (and really easy for you), completing all the steps in one day can be overwhelming, especially for younger kids.
So my suggestion would be that you break this into smaller parts.
Step 1 and 2 on day one
Step 3 on day two
Review everything on day three
Step 4 & 5 on day four
Review everything and do Step 6 on day five.
Got it?
Ready to get started?
Ok. Here goes.
Step 1 – Find The Recurring Pattern
The first step is to take your kids to the keyboard and ask them to identify any recurring patterns they may see.
Some of the answers you may get will be something like there are white notes and black notes (which is correct).
However, the recurring pattern we are looking for here is especially concerning the black keys.
Gently ask them what patterns they see with the black keys especially.
The answer will be that they are grouped.
Grouped into 2s and 3s.
Yes, that is correct and from now on you will refer to them as Groups of 2 and Groups of 3.
Step 2 – Point Out The Group Of 2
Point to the Groups of 2 and bring their attention to the fact that the group of 2 consists of two black keys that sit on top of three white keys.
With younger kids, you should stop for the day at this point.
Before stopping however, ask them to point out all the groups of 2 on the keyboard to you.
With older kids you can proceed but make a judgement, how far along this you want to proceed.
Step 3 – Learn Note Names For Group Of 2
If you are starting this step on a different day after learning the previous steps, then please first review what was learned previously.
In this step you will be teaching kids the names of the white notes that are a part of the group of 2.
Start by pointing out the left most white note in the group of 2 (if you are unsure please look at the flashcard I included with this post).
That note is called C
Now tell your kids that the left most white note in a group of 2 is always C and ask them to point out all the Cs to you.
Tell them that the middle white note in a group of 2 is called D and all the middle white notes in a group of 2 is called D.
Ask them to point out all the Ds to you.
Now, ask them what they think that the right most white note in a group of 2 is called. Older kids would no doubt have made the connection by now and would tell you that it is called E.
With younger kids you may have to help them.
Ask them to point out all the Es to you.
Stop at this point without proceeding further if you think your kids have learned enough.
Step 4 – Point Out Group Of 3
Review the previous step before you get started.
Ask your kids to point out all the groups of 3 on the keyboard.
Step 5 – Learn Note Names For Group Of 3
In this step your kids will learn the names of the white notes in the group of 3.
You can either tell them that the right most white note in a group of 3 is called F or with older kids you can just ask them, what they think the name of the note will be?
And they will no doubt tell you that it is F.
Look at the flashcard I have included in order to make sure you are on the right track.
Ask your children to point out all the Fs on the keyboard and now ask them what they think the name of the next note in the group of 3 will be.
Of course they will say that it is G.
You can proceed to the note after G and ask them the same question, but this time H is NOT the answer.
No, the musical alphabet ends at G and restarts at A.
Therefore the note after G is A.
Hence it is very important that before you started this lesson your kids learned the musical alphabet, The Musical Alphabet Game For Beginner Piano Students.
The last note or the right most white note in a group of 3 is called B, which your kids will no doubt be able to name for sure with little prompting from you.
Review all that you’ve learned at this point before you move to the next step.
Step 6 – Play These Games
There are several different games you can play with your kids at this stage.
The first and easiest game is to call out the note name and have your kids play the note on the keyboard
Eg. Say F and have your kids play the note F on the keyboard.
You can take it a step further and ask them to point out all the Fs on the keyboard.
Want a whole list of really fun games you can play once your kids have learned their way around the keyboard?
Check out my post, 5 ‘Ultra Cool’ Games To Play Once Your Child Has Learned His/Her Way Around The Keyboard.
What do you think?
Can you teach your kids to find their way around the keyboard today?
Want the steps broken down for you in tiny bite sized pieces?
Read these posts, where the steps above have been broken down further and given in 4 parts so it is not too overwhelming.
The Absolute Best Way To Teach Your Child To Name Notes On The Keyboard – Step 1
The Absolute Best Way To Teach Your Child To Name Notes On The Keyboard – Step 2
The Absolute Best Way To Teach Your Child To Name Notes On The Keyboard – Step 3
The Absolute Best Way To Teach Your Child To Name Notes On The Keyboard – Step 4
Karen Cadera
Founder/Creator
Mom, Teacher, Minimalist, Zero Waste Enthusiast, Multi Pod.
My daughter loved the games, but there were also worksheets and videos. The weekly lesson plans were complete, and I never questioned what I should be doing next.
This program reminded me (and allowed me to teach my son) how to read music. To me, that was the most important thing that we learned together. Of course, it was very rewarding for me to watch my son play the piano with both hands at the same time, while reading sheet music. His favorite parts of the course were actually playing the songs and doing the worksheets provided.
Download the FREE Music Theory Worksheet
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