From a new student’s perspective, the first few piano lessons can feel very overwhelming. Because teachers feel the pressure to get the student playing something at home that sounds like “real” music, the first few lessons are often best described as a “cram show”.
Take a look at the first few pages of any primer book and you’ll know what I mean… high sounds, low sounds, black keys, white keys, hand position, finger numbers… and the list goes on.
I get overwhelmed just thinking about it. And because I know my student does too, I supplement, and sometimes even replace, many of these early method book pages with off-the-bench piano games and activities, like the Finger Number Game we’re sharing below.
‘Branch Out” From First Lesson Routines With Finger Fun
My new piano students appreciate the change of scenery that comes with off-the-bench activities, and I like the opportunity to show them (early on!) that piano lessons are a ton of fun!
A first lesson concept that is easily reinforced away from the piano is finger numbers. After you’ve discussed finger numbers at the piano (as you would normally), move off the bench and pull out this game for some fun reinforcement. And if you really want to make a fabulous first impression send it home with your students so that they can play it with their parents.
The instructions for accessing today’s finger number printable are below.
Where Can You Find Today’s Printable?
Every resource I create for my own students is shared with the TeachPianoToday community in the hopes of decreasing your prep time! As you know from previous posts, to make many of these new resources easier to find, and to correlate them with our new WunderKeys Primer and Level 1 books that we’ll be releasing later this year, we’ll be putting them up on WunderKeys.com.
Today’s resource has been added to the Primer Section of the WunderKeys Resource Page.
Click here or on the activity title page below to visit the WunderKeys Resource Page, and then scroll down to the Primer Section to find the downloadable pdf. And while you’re there be sure to check out our completely revamped 2nd edition WunderKeys Preschool Piano books!
Lisa Barwell says
“Cramming” describes it exactly! I get overwhelmed, too! 🙁 Thanks for this fun game. It will really help the first few lessons to be more relaxed and manageable.
Andrea says
Hi Lisa! Yes… cramming! Those poor little brains and fingers LOL 😉 Hope you have fun with the game!
Rachel says
Thank you! I appreciate the free games and materials!
I just had some little ones sign up and the parents assured me they knew numbers and a few letters. I found out they don’t even know numbers yet and can’t recognize even the number 1! This should be interesting. Do you ever have to teach numbers and alphabet letters to your littlest students?
Andrea says
Hi Rachel! Yes, I end up teaching alphabet, numbers, how to hold a pencil … all the time. We designed the WunderKeys Preschool books to be useable with students who don’t know alphabet or numbers yet as it’s fairly common with very young students. However, you can still teach them to play the piano while also teaching them these skills that will really give them a head-start in Kindergarten! We piano teachers are pretty useful 😉
Ramona says
Hi, I can’t seem to find the print out for this, even when I click on the picture. Is it possible to get a link to this?
Andrea says
Hi Ramona – it’s back up on the site again 🙂 We just were in the midst of getting everything up on the new site.