First Lessons
- Sarah Lyngra
- 17 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Do you remember your first lessons? I guess there are two potentially different first lessons, the first ones you took, and the first ones you taught.
I don't remember the first ones I took, I was 4. But I do remember the first lessons I taught. I was super nervous, didn't feel like I knew what I was doing, and was very thankful for having a mentor. That was 32 years ago. I'm not the same person, nor am I the same teacher.
Keyboard geography was where I started with groups of two and three black keys, followed by the white key names, big house, little house, Front door- Back door. . . I still use the black keys as a way to find white keys, but these days students learn the names of all the keys, including enharmonics, from the very first lesson.
3 years ago now, I started playing around with key finder cards, including the key name card. 2 years ago I added the circle of 5ths to the mix. I'll never go back.
It's so easy to get students to do the right thing during a lesson. You're there. You can guide, correct, cajole, and fix what they're doing. It's a different matter at home. I have no control in that space. Therefor, I will do anything I can to make it easier for a student to get things right and remove the barriers that get in the way of getting to the piano.
As you'll see in the video. Placing the card on the piano correctly is just the beginning. It's not useful if it's not used. When locating and naming the keys, I pull out the circle of 5ths (of course) and call out the names in the order around the circle. For an inexperienced student, the order appears random. That's a good thing for learning.
Getting in the habit of going around the circle from the first lesson sets a foundation that will get your students playing in all keys by the end of their first year of lessons. What I've seen with my students these last two years is mind-blowingly cool.
Watch the video for ideas, download the pdf for some structure and guidance, and get the key name cards, and be amazed with the direction your students will lead you.
Here's how I use the card:
Here's a pdf guide on using the card for the first lessons.
Happy Playing!
Sarah
Comments