It is very likely that your littlest piano players need way more time on the black keys than their method books may provide.
There is a tendency for teachers to rush preschool and young primer students to the white keys so they can get started right away with note reading.
But this rush to the white keys is putting your tiny students at a big disadvantage.
The black keys are an incredible teaching tool for your little learners.
First off, because they are raised from the white keys and separated from one another, they are very easy for young kids to strike. This is a big deal when you teach kids who have not yet developed their fine motor skills.
Next, to play the black keys students need only read finger numbers. This not only helps them make music quickly but reinforces their knowledge of those finger numbers.
Finally, they provide a distraction-free environment to learn rhythm.
When young piano students skip to the white keys, they become consumed with reading notes on the staff and completely ignore rhythm.
Kids who spend a lot of time on the black keys are much better at holding half and whole notes, rather than playing every note as if it is a quarter note.
In today’s post, we are sharing a resource packed with songs and activities on the black keys that will give your youngest piano players the foundation they need before moving on to the white keys.
Songs And Activities On The Black Keys
Today, Andrea and Trevor Dow’s Very Useful Piano Library has added a brand new book…
Chillin’ On The Black Keys is now available on Amazon!
Note: Chillin’ On The Black Keys is based on the book received by PianoBookClub Members last year. The book has been changed and updated to correspond with all other books in Andrea and Trevor Dow’s Very Useful Piano Library. Updates include: 1. 6 songs are from the original book and 2 songs are new, 2. All songs have had updates to make them more closely leveled, 3. 4 songs include teacher duets and 4 songs are piano solos, 4. All songs now have lyrics and are tied into a loveable story, 5. Warm-ups, activity pages, a practice tracker, and a certificate have been added.
If you teach little students who long for adorable melodies and fun lyrics wrapped up in a loveable story, they will be thrilled with Chillin’ On The Black Keys.
This pre-reading resource is leveled for early primer piano students. Children using this book will gain confidence using finger numbers to play quarter, half, and whole notes on black keys.
Inside you will discover 8 loveable piano pieces with lyrics, rhythm reading games, finger number exercises, a note printing activity, a coloring activity, a practice tracker, and a certificate of achievement.
You can get it here, or check out the preview pages below:
Let’s Take A Look Inside:
1. Piano Pieces
Chillin’ On The Black Keys contains eight pre-reading pieces for early primer piano students.
Imaginative illustrations and loveable lyrics that accompany the pieces tell an engaging story that will captivate your little students.
2. Activity Pages
Interspersed throughout the book are activity pages to supplement the music. These activity pages include finger strength exercises, rhythm reading games, note printing exercises, and a coloring activity. Here are a few samples of these pages:
3. Finger Strength Exercises
Chillin’ On The Black Keys contains finger strength exercises to help students develop muscle control and fine motor skills.
4. A Practice Tracker
Kids practice more often when they take ownership of their learning. At the end of Chillin’ On The Black Keys, students will find a practice tracker page where they can keep track of their hard work in a kid-friendly way.
5. A Certificate Of Achievement
Upon completion of Chillin’ On The Black Keys, students receive a Certificate of Achievement to reward their efforts. Simply cut out the certificate, fill in the relevant details, and present it to the deserving student.
Buy Chillin’ On The Black Keys Today!
If you have an early primer piano student who needs adorable music and loveable lyrics you will definitely want to hop on over to Amazon right now and pick up Chillin’ On The Black Keys.
More From The Very Useful Piano Library
If you are looking for more exciting resources from Andrea and Trevor Dow’s Very Useful Piano Library be sure to check out the following titles (click on the cover or the link below each book).
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