Learning to play music can be an important part of a child’s growth and development, since playing or listening to music has been linked to better math and reading skills, according to the research. While there are all kinds of instruments to consider, many parents introduce their children to the piano. Below you will find the set of instructions about how to teach kids piano.
Instructions
- Start with the length of the notes. Begin piano lessons by teaching children about note lengths and how this determines how fast they are played. Show a child each type of note that you can find while playing music on the piano. To teach him how to correctly count the length of each note by clapping.
- Teach your kid the different notes. Show how each line or space on the scale represents a different note. Help them learn and memorize all the notes of the scale using mnemonic devices such as “every good boy does it right” (EGBDF).
- Start with the right hand. Teach kids to find middle C on the piano and play with their thumb. Instruct them to climb the ladder. Practice playing a five-note scale up and down, starting in middle C, and using all five of your fingers on your right hand. Encourage them to say each note is playing out loud to help them learn and memorize.
- Introduce songs. Choose a song that uses only the five notes the child has been practicing, such as “Mary had a little lamb” or “Three Blind Mice.” They demonstrate how to correctly play the song with the notes, as well as the correct length of notes. Encourage them to try to play the piece and keep practicing until they can play without mistakes. Provide feedback and instruction as appropriate. Use a hand-over-hand method to play the piece if the child’s confidence slips or he or she is having trouble with a specific part of the song.
- Add the left hand to your instruction. Teach your child how to widen the notes you play by using your left hand to go below middle C. Practice playing songs with a mix of low and high notes, as this allows you to use both hands when playing the piano. Introduce songs that require both high and low notes to be played at the same time, but only after the child is comfortable playing with both hands.
- Teach other aspects of the piano. Teach them how to use the black keys on the piano to play sharps and flats for each note and teach them how to identify them on the sheet music. They show how to use the pedals on the piano if the child is tall enough to reach them. Give your examples of other signs and symbols you can find in sheet music, such as repeats and crescendos, and teach what they mean.
