There are quite a few places you can download and print free music note-naming flashcards. Anne Crosby’s website and Susan Paradis’ website come to mind, for example. However, I recently realized that I wanted a set of jumbo-sized cards, to use with my Piano Readiness classes. I can hold up these jumbo-sized cards during class and my [...]
Last Saturday was another monthly Piano Party day for my students! As we waited for everyone to arrive, the students competed two worksheets: a lines vs. spaces worksheet from Fun & Learn Music, and an intervals worksheet from my Printables page. I always have students go around the room to introduce themselves, just in case [...]
Every teacher approaches technique exercises a little bit differently. I usually start teaching students 5-finger patterns (aka pentascales) during the first month or two of study. I start by assigning the C Major 5-finger pattern (5FP) and sometimes G Major along with it. Every week or every-other-week, I add a new 5FP to their list, following the [...]
In the comment section of previous post, a reader asked for suggestions with helping a young student connect notes on the staff with their names and their corresponding piano key. I gave a response in the comment section, but thought I would share some of those thoughts with you all as a separate blog post! Sometimes, beginners [...]
Pinterest is wonderful, isn’t it? :) While browsing Pinterest, I was inspired by this picture by the blogger Becki Lewis. Becki’s Finger Number Beanbag Game is a simple but very effective game for young beginner piano students. Students stand in front of the mat and drop the beanbag. Then, they name the finger the beanbag [...]
I’ve added a new sign to the pdf pack called “Signs for Beginner Piano,” which I originally posted in September. This new sign shows the 2 mnemonics I use when I teach piano: You can find the whole pdf on the Printables > Other Resources page, and scroll down to the S’s for “Signs for [...]
This post is a sequel to the post, 9 First Classical Anthologies for Piano Students. As mentioned before, anthologies are great for exposing students to a variety of composers and styles of literature at a great value. After the student’s first introduction to classical pieces, there are many, MANY of different options for classical anthologies [...]
When I was a 5-year-old beginner piano student, I remember being re-assigned one-/two-line method book pieces when the only thing lacking was dynamic contrast. And I remember being frustrated with this. My frustration was partly due to the fact that I was bored with the music I was playing; I wanted to be reading staff [...]
I’m back! I took a long blogging break over the holidays, but I’m super excited to be back and I have lots of things to share in the upcoming weeks! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years’. Today, I am excited to share with you about a fun game I came [...]
On Pinterest, I saw an idea for a sight-word game called BANG, and decided I could make a musical version. I tried it out with my students at our Piano Party last Saturday, and it was a hit. The BANG! cards add an element of fun to an otherwise ordinary flashcard drill.
Remember last February when I created this DIY floor staff? I thought I’d share a little activity that shows how I used it recently with my Piano Readiness Class. (Don’t mind my cat, Coda, who totally photo-bombed this photo. :) The two students I was working with have already learned to identify high and low sounds when [...]
A new free Printable has been added to the Printables page: These cards are a great manipulative to use with young beginners when you are first introducing them to the keyboard. Students can use the cards to build a keyboard on the floor, alternating the groups of 2 and 3 black keys. Or, students can [...]
Joy is a pianist and teacher in Ohio with great passion for helping students experience the wonders of music making!
