The First Lesson

There are important points to remember on the first lesson. Begin with a formal bow.


1) POSTURE
Sit tall with the correct posture. Use adjustable benches or seat pads; have foot stools to support the feet. Children seem to be distracted with dangling feet, especially when their body begins to slide.
Arms should be parallel to the floor

2) HANDS
Keep the hands above the keys; on a young child, for maximum relaxation, the wrist may seem higher than the rest of the hand while the fingers dangle. Imagine the hands like a table.

How to prepare the hand?
a) "Take it" use this illustration of a hand grabbing a kleenex to explain the hand's natural shape and natural motion. Don't poke, push or lean!

b) Explain how to strengthn the first joint. Use interlocking fingers

c) Think Tissue tone, play a tone pickup a tissue.

For a young child, don't use too many words. Just demonstrate.

3) NOTES
For all the other fingers use the fattest part of the fingertips play and roll forward
Place the thumb on C and call it "Do"; see the side thumb make contact at a 45degree angle.
Hold while counting to "n" for "n" seconds to develop concentration.

Clap: Mississippi Hot-dog, Pepperoni Pizza, Bunny Bunny Hop Hop
Then Play this Variation 1 with the thumb.

4) FINGER NUMBERS
Count them 1 to 5
Sing a song like "Finger one is dancing" or "Where is thumper..."
Trace the hands and write down the finger numbers for the right and left hand.

Hint for pinky: Keep the palms open free to move pinky

5) NOTE NAMES/ KEYBOARD GEOGRAPHY
Save this for later. More ideas to follow.

6) READY-PLAY
Wait for the teacher to say "play"

Releases the tension before moving on to the next phrase or musical idea. Tension is the enemy of tone. This also teaches patience, how to listen for instruction and listen for a rest.

At the NEXT lesson, teach the fourth finger to play G.
Ready, Stop (or Ready, Play)