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