preschool piano Archives

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Piano Activity

Piano, Piano Games, Piano Lessons for Beginners, Piano Printable, Printable, Teaching / By Cherie / January 3, 2022 January 10, 2022 / preschool piano

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, a popular English nursery rhyme, is one of the very first songs a toddler learns to sing. And it makes them so happy when they can learn to play this song on the piano. While it is not the easiest first song, it is not the most difficult. And because children already know the melody so well, their ear can help guide them to play the correct notes. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Piano Sheet Music with Letters makes this song accessible on piano to even the youngest preschoolers.

Music Alphabet and Note Names

Very young children are not ready to read music notes right away, so it is helpful to use music alphabet letters to help them play this song. Sheet music with alphabet letters give kids a visual to follow (an more importantly help parents guide their kids!)

I like to use piano keyboard letters on the piano for all young children. These visuals help them learn the groups of two and three black keys and they also see which alphabet letters line up with the black keys.

Learning Middle C

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star begins on Middle C. Middle C is the very first note many children learn. One reason is because this note is singable, and many early childhood songs begin on this note. Middle C is also a white key and many beginner songs play on white keys.

I like to play games at the piano and always ask kids to sing the sound of Middle C. We then check to see if the pitch they sing is correct by playing the note. Eventually kids DO learn the sound of Middle C and that is the beginning of developing perfect pitch.

Right Hand and Left Hand

Little children begin learning about right hand and left hand as they learn to color, draw, cut and write their name. I always look to see which hand is dominant and encourage children to start playing little piano songs with the dominant hand. But I always challenge children to learn to play with their other hand, too, so both hands fingers get strengthened.

Fingering

When teaching very young children, they are still learning how to use their fingers independently. It is easier to teach this song with only one finger. The index finger (pointer) OR middle finger are the two best fingers to begin playing piano with as young children can use the thumb to brace the knuckle joint and help develop the proper hand shape for playing piano.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is a wonderful five finger piano song, but when kids start playing, using all five fingers can be a huge challenge (or even obstacle). The pinky and ring finger do not like to cooperate and so some fun finger games may be needed to get them working well (even older 7, 8, 9, and 10 year olds may struggle getting these fingers strengthened).

Patterns in Music

One of the first things I ask kids to notice are the patterns in the music. Finding patterns in sheet music helps kids see that the song may only have a couple different parts to learn. Piano lessons become less about just looking at notes and practicing long sequences of notes and more about finding “shortcuts” in songs.

For instance, you can save time by practicing the opening line of Twinkle Twinkle and learning that really well instead of playing through the whole song everytime. Also, in the middle of the song, GG FF EE D pattern repeats. Learning the different patterns of the melody help beginners practice more efficiently.

I like to play games with the patterns and ask kids to play them with different fingers! You can also ask more questions: Can you play the beginning melody notes with index finger? What about with middle finger? Can you play with the Left Hand? and so on.

Pattern identification is also essential to math skills in school. Isn’t it wonderful when we can use music to teach academics!?!

Piano Keyboard Fun

Because Twinkle Twinkle Little Star has patterns, I designed a fun little composition activity based on the many patterns you find in this song. I thought it would be fun for kids to take these patterns or notes ideas and place them in any order they’d like to create a NEW song.

Mixed Up Little Star Piano Activity

First, I recommend learning how to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Young children should be comfortable playing this song well and if possible learn to play this song with the music alphabet letters. Learning where the white key music alphabet letters are in C Major will help them be able to play the little patterns for the mixed up song. It takes time for beginners to learn the music alphabet, so don’t rush this process.

twinkle twinkle little star piano activity

Get it here!

Kids LOVE to create their own songs on piano. A fun little melody or a repeating jazzy rhythm is fun for kids to discover so I always look for opportunities to allow kids to MAKE their own music! Afterall, isn’t that what enjoying music is all about? And even the youngest children should be encouraged and allow this opportunity!

As a piano teacher, my goal is to help every child fall in love with making music and playing the piano. And I hope by creating these resources for parents and teachers of young children, that you too will be able to encourage kids to fall in love with music!

How do you play Twinkle Twinkle on the piano?

Piano Lessons for Parents

For those of you who need a little help knowing how to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, I have created a video (below) that you can use to teach yourself how to play Twinkle Twinkle piano. You don’t have to be a piano teacher to learn how to teach your kids songs they know and are excited to learn! And here are 10 ways parents can help their young children get ready for piano lessons.

Music Alphabet Sheet Music

Twinkle twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are, Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky, Twinkle twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are.

How Parents Can Support Their Preschoolers When They Take Piano Lessons

Parenting Ideas, Piano, Piano Lessons for Beginners / By Cherie / October 25, 2021 October 25, 2021 / preschool music, preschool piano

I am excited to share this Guest Blog Post with you! Thank you to Liz, from Modern Musical Parenting for writing this article for the Music Time Kid community. I know you will get so much help as you read her 5 tips for parents.

Piano Lessons for Preschoolers: 5 Tips for Parents to Help Their Child Succeed

Have you ever thought about enrolling your toddler or preschooler in piano lessons? Or any music lessons for that matter? Perhaps, voice, violin, or guitar?

Well, you definitely aren’t alone in wanting to introduce your young child to music through lessons! In fact, while only 34% of children aged 6-7 years old’s are taking lessons, that number increases to 50% for 8-10 year olds![1]

Now, that percentage of children enrolled in lessons will decrease as children get older, but many of those children continue to play instruments. So, lessons can be a wonderful tool to help your child learn to read music, which can then be carried on in later years. By enrolling your preschooler in lessons, you are giving them a solid foundation to continue in music.

Maybe your preschooler is already enrolled in piano lessons. Most piano teachers see an increase of student interest right around the start of the school year. So, if your preschooler has been going to lessons now for a few weeks, you might be wondering just how you can support them!

So, before we take a look at how you as a parent can encourage, support, and help your child in their musical endeavors, let’s take a look at some of the important questions regarding piano lessons and your preschooler.

What kinds of piano lessons for preschoolers are there?

In short, lessons are a particularly wonderful way to introduce your child to music. And many parents are familiar with the traditional type of lessons where their child will work 1-to-1 with a teacher. But for younger children, especially preschoolers, 1-to-1 lessons might not be the best for your child.

That’s where the different types of lessons come into play!

Group Lessons

Many parents opt for group piano lessons, particularly with younger children. Group lessons offer the benefit of playing and learning with a small group of similarly aged children. This is particularly helpful to younger children because they can learn together as well as from each other.

Plus, in those group lessons, the parents are typically required (or sometimes just encouraged) to sit with their child. So, you are learning right along with them, and this is wonderful support – again, particularly for preschoolers.

And yet another advantage of the group piano lessons is that they usually occur with keyboards. Keyboards are a much more accessible instrument for younger children, especially consider the overwhelming size of even an upright piano. And many more households can access keyboards more readily than pianos. So, all around, these are quite a good option for young children.

Child & Parent Lessons

Another option for piano lessons is that you both take lessons from the same teacher at the same time! It’s a slight variation on the 1-to-1 lessons but your teacher will work with both of you at the same time. Perhaps, you would like to remember how to read music or would just like to know the basics. Either way, taking these types of 2-to-1 lessons with your teacher is another perfect example of the types of lessons available to your child (and you!).

One-on-One Lessons

If you do decide to start with 1-to-1 lessons for your child, the Music Teacher’s National Association has a few questions to ask your teacher before you start with music lessons. These kinds of questions can help you find a good teacher for your child.

Why are piano lessons so highly recommended over other instruments for preschoolers?

Now, I’ll be honest. I’m a bit biased because I am a pianist myself! I do think that learning piano holds some advantages over other instruments for beginners. And you don’t have to take my word for it. Just take a look at these advantages that the piano offers over other instruments!

However, the main reason I suggest piano (and with that, I also mean the keyboard as well) for preschoolers is that this particular instrument can produce tuned pitches with the push of a finger. All other instruments will require the learner to listen and tune a pitch – something most preschoolers cannot yet do without some practice.

And while listening is an important skill for anyone learning about music, it can be a challenge for such young learners. So, your preschooler can learn simple melodies, like “Hot Cross Buns” or “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” without having to learn about tuning. And, this can give them the confidence to continue in music.

How can I find piano lessons for preschoolers near me?

One of the easiest ways to find a recommended piano teacher near you, is to ask your local friends or family for any recommendations! Don’t be afraid to ask those in your local community, like at churches, community centers, and in the neighborhood. Those with a good reputation are generally always highly recommended by their students’ parents.

Another way is to search online for a music teacher through the Music Teacher’s National Association website. You can search for teachers of all instruments (from accordion to woodwinds!) and easily see how close they are to you, whether they are accredited teachers, and how best to contact them.

Don’t be afraid to reach out at any time of year. They will generally let you know quickly if their studio is full and whether you can be placed on a waiting list.

Now, with all of this information at hand, let’s take a look at the top 5 tips and suggestions for encouraging your child to continue in their piano lessons. These are easy for any parent to do, regardless of your own musical upbringing.

Tip #1: Find the right type of music lesson for your preschooler.

As outlined above, you can see that these days there are many types of music lessons for young children. You can consider if your child is a bit more social, or perhaps they are always shy with other children around.

Now, another benefit of group lessons is that the parents are asked to attend (at the very least) and sometimes even help their children. This gives you are particularly good opportunity to engage with them and learn right along with them!

Once you’ve found a music lesson for you child, make sure you talk to them about it! Ask them what they like about those lessons. Ask them what they dislike about those lessons! Once of the best ways is to find out from them what they think.

Tip #2: Build connections between music and other topics.

Now, perhaps I’m a bit partial with this particular tip. But, I do feel that as soon as we can show our children that music is not it’s own unique bubble, they start seeing and hearing it everywhere! They can hear the rhythmic patterns in words. They can be reminded of a song when a bird sings or they see pumpkins. Or perhaps they can even remember how to count backwards from 5 with the help of a song!

Most often, you’ll see how music can help your young children with math and language skills. Counting songs help your child learn number sequences, while the rhymes, alliterations, and rhythmic texts of nursery rhymes and children’s songs help them learn the basics of language.

Just take a look at the 30 ways y ou can engage your child with a single song! These activities include other musical activities, math activities, language activities, and others. You can also use these activities with any children’s song. And chance are, one of the first melodies your child will learn on the piano is a well-known children’s song, like “Hot Cross Buns” or “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”

Tip #3: Engage your child with music outside and beyond their lessons!

Despite what style of music lesson your preschooler is taking, learning more about music outside their lesson will be incredibly beneficial. And for this particular tip, there are two simple ways to do this.

First, consider playing simple games that reinforce the concepts they are learning. Music Match and Memory Games are an excellent choice for reinforcing musical concepts your child might be learning! There are even a few different ways to play musical memory depending on your child’s age.

Second, play a wide variety of music for your preschooler! It doesn’t have to be just classical music or just children’s songs. A mixture of all kinds of music will work well. Throw in some of your own favorite tunes and tell them why you like that song. Try to fully experience the music you are listening to by talking about it, dancing to it, or even just sitting and listening together!

Think of listening to music like reading to your child. You wouldn’t only read them Shakespeare! You’ll read many different types of books, like picture books, story books, short poems and nursery rhymes, and even a snippet of what you are reading sometimes! Mixing it up makes it interesting for them, as well.

Tip #4: Help to make their practice part of their daily (or almost daily) routine.

One of the most important things to remember with practicing, especially for preschoolers, is that short, regular practice sessions are best. Even 5-10 minutes once a day will work well. You really can’t expect a young child to sit focused for more than that. And, you (and the teacher) are likely to see more progress with these short, daily practice sessions when compared to 30 minutes once a week outside lessons!

Also remember that practicing does not have to occur at the piano! And it also doesn’t mean simply playing a song they are learning from beginning to end. Practice can also be done away from the piano.

Try having them “play” their piece they are learning while sitting at the table and playing an imaginary piano. Or have them sing the song to you. Or even tell you the note names that they play. There are many ways to get them to think about their music even when they are not sitting at the piano. If you want other ideas, just ask your child’s teacher for other ideas.

You could also take a few minutes time to sit with them while they practice, especially when they practice at the piano. This will help them realize that you are there for support and enjoy hearing them practice and play. Have them show you or play for you what they learned in their last lesson. Your support and interest will be amazing for them.

Tip #5: Ask yourself why you are enrolling your preschooler in lessons and be sure to communicate that to your child’s teacher.

There are a multitude of reasons why you might want to enroll your child in piano lessons. And, without a doubt, piano lessons can help your child in a multitude of ways!

But you do have to be honest with yourself about why you are enrolling them in music lessons. You’ll want your child to show interest in music. Otherwise, it will seem like a constant battle to engage them with their music and to even have fun at lessons! So, if music isn’t part of your regular routine, then your preschooler might not be that interested.

Your child will generally show interest in music by singing songs they have learned, creating rhythmic patterns by hitting objects together, or dancing to a song they particularly enjoy. By engaging with them when they are making, listening to, and dancing to music, you are showing them that music is also a source of enjoyment for you, too!

Also important to remember: if one of the main motivators is because you wish you had lessons when you were younger or that you regret that you stopped your lessons, then consider one of the other lesson formats mentioned above (like, the group lessons or the parent-child lessons). In any case, ask your teacher! Maybe they’d be willing to try a 2-on-1 lesson.

Communication with your child’s piano teacher is key. You’ll want them to know your child’s likes and dislikes, as well. This can certainly help shape the lessons for your child.

And with that, my readers, you now have 5 tips that you – the parents – can use to help your preschooler enjoy, progress, and succeed in their piano lessons. Don’t forget that you play a crucial role in the development – particularly in these first few years.

Happy music making,

Liz

Liz Hepach is the creator over at Modern Musical Parenting, where she creates all kinds of printables and games, specifically designed for parents who want to engage their children with music. She believes that all parents – regardless of their musical background – can have a profound impact on their own child musically. For more information of the multitude of ways you can engage your child musically, make sure to check out her blog or signup for the MMP newsletter and get access to all the free printables in the Resource Library.

Sneaky Mouse Piano Game

Piano, Piano Games / By Cherie / April 22, 2021 August 26, 2021 / music activities for preschoolers, piano games, piano lessons, preschool piano

If you’re looking for a fun activity you can play with your preschooler, that will leave your future piano teacher thanking you over and over, then this piano game is for you!

Children love to play games, so I want to show you a piano game that you can use to help prepare your young child for piano lessons. Whether your child is already taking preschool piano lessons or you are hoping they will study the piano in the future, this activity will help develop the fine motor skills that children need for piano lessons.

Fine motor skills are not only important for learning to play the piano but they are also important for school readiness. Kids use fine motor skills to color, write, and do other activities that help them succeed in school. So you will find that this game is even helpful in preparing your child for Kindergarten.

One thing you will need besides the Sneaky Mouse Cards is the Last Mouse Lost Game Board and instructions which can be purchased from Amazon (affiliate link).

Last Mouse Lost Game Board

I often find tangible board games adapt into preschool piano games because preschoolers learn really well with tangible 3-D products. Kids as young as 18 months love love love to push these silicone bubbles. Due to copyright, I do not republish the instructions of this game, but I do give you instructions on how I modify the game. I also have a youtube video that gives more details that I will share here.

(NOTE: I may have affiliate links on this page and that means if you make a purchase when you click through my link I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!)

Most piano games are flat… meaning they are printed games like tic tac toe, bingo, candy land, and go fish style card games. But actually having a game board… the cheese… makes this game really really fun, and very beneficial in teaching so many things little piano students need to work on…. Finger numbers, finger strength, finger coordination, and knowing Right and Left Hands. Plus it’s a strategy game, not a game of chance.

Strategy begins all over when someone draws the card that says “Turn over the cheese”. You actually turn the cheese board over and resume play!

My five year old grandson asks to play this game every time he comes over!

Benefits of playing Sneaky Mouse Piano Game

work on Right Hand and Left Hand
learn finger numbers for playing the piano
build finger independence
strengthen the fingers
engages the mind because it is a strategy game

Sneaky Mouse Card Game

This piano game is available in my shop!

Sneaky Mouse Cards (Digital file)

Mothers Day Gift Ideas for Young Kids!

Freebies, Piano, Piano Printable / By Cherie / April 17, 2021 September 13, 2021 / mother day gift ideas DIY, mothers day card, mothers day gift ideas, preschool piano, preschool piano activity, preschool piano printable, preschool sheet music

I have raised five children and when they were little I was always looking for homemade or DIY Mothers Day gift ideas. They loved having something special to give me that they created. As a music teacher, I always encourage my students to play songs for parents. I know their parents appreciate practice and thoughtfulness. This is especially so when kids learn a song just for them.

It’s a fact… young children love to create. My almost 2 year old grandson is always saying, “Watch me!” as he dances, plays an instrument, or is riding his little scooter. It’s only natural for a young child’s creative expression to explore musical instruments… examining, experimenting, and often playing them in ways unintended 🙂 So when I created this Mothers Day gift idea, it is with the intention that a preschool age child can experiment and play any key on the piano to play the Mother’s Day Song, because this is how they learn!

A Mothers Day Song

This unique Mothers Day gift idea includes a song sheet that has a flower for each syllable of each word. It’s fun to see if the child hears that some syllables might be longer than others. Some young children may not notice and that is okay too!

To help the child with the words, I like to point to the flowers as I speak the words. A child can repeat each row like an echo. They even have fun moving a small toy (like a lego, mini eraser, etc.) from flower to flower.

Some Ideas How to Introduce this Activity to Kids

I am a huge fan of play-based learning, so allowing a child to experiment playing notes at the piano without rules is really important… there are no right or wrong notes when it is their own creation. There are so many developmental benefits of making music, so when children are encouraged to make music it catapults their brain into higher levels of cognitive development.

I always encourage parents to create a joyful home using children’s music. However, in this instance, I encourage parents resist the temptation to give a young child creative ideas. While these suggestions are usually not intended to impede the creating process, I find children become limited by these suggestions… thinking they must copy an example demonstrated by an adult.

Upon hearing their creation, it is fun to ask the child to tell you what thoughts they had about playing their song the way they did. Did they have any other ideas? Does the song move higher? Or lower? Are there some notes that are long? or short? Will their song sound better if it is played soft? medium? loud? a combination of some of those ideas? Talking about these kinds of musical thoughts may give them some more good ideas!

Some children may be absolutely brand new to the piano keyboard and anything they play is wonderful. Other children may already know a little bit about the piano and might like to write the music alphabet letters on their flowers. This helps them remember to play the song the same way each time. And of course, you can print the song sheet again if they change their mind!

A Mothers Day Card

Another part of this Mother’s Day gift idea is a greeting card.

Often young children want to get things for the people they love, and having a beautiful greeting card is special for them. On Mother’s Day, they will be able to play their song on the piano and also give a beautiful card that they can sign. Light gray words reading “I LOVE YOU” are inside the card. A child can choose to trace the letters, and they can also trace or color the butterflies on the back of the card.

Writing, tracing, coloring all encourage the development of fine motor skills which are super important to any young piano student. So I always encourage toys, games, and ideas to help young musicians get a head start.

I am offering this Mothers Day gift idea for free! By signing up on my mailing list, you will receive the digital files for the Mothers Day Song and the greeting card (envelope not included). You will also be notified of all the freebies, preschool music products, and videos I create to help you teach music to your child. I am sure your budding musician will love creating a one of a kind song and greeting card! Make this Mother’s Day a memorable day for your preschool child! And… the special mother in their life!

Itsy Bitsy Spider First Piano Song

Piano / By Cherie / November 19, 2020 September 13, 2021 / first piano song, preschool piano

Itsy Bitsy Spider is a great first piano song. Young children are very excited to learn to play a song they know. I love teaching preschoolers this familiar song, because their ear will guide them as they learn which notes to play. Children naturally know where the long and short sounds are in the song because they can sing the song. Often, young children only need to be shown which piano keys need to be played, or they can learn by seeing the alphabet letters.

Traditional piano lessons require students to learn to read notation. Learning to read notes is important, but many other experiences are more important than note reading when teaching preschool students.

Is learning to read music hard for beginners?

When reading music notation, a lot of things must happen simultaneously.

Students must identify the note name on the music staff.
They need to know which piano key the note on the paper corresponds to.
Students must also recognize the note value.
There is a finger number associated with that note.
Students have to make their finger cooperate and press the piano key.

Reading the notation, figuring out which piano key it refers to, and then pressing the correct piano key with the correct finger for the correct amount of time… Whew! This is a lot! And this is difficult! But it is even more difficult for preschoolers. So how can we make this simpler? Let’s focus on the music alphabet.

What is the music alphabet?

What is the music alphabet? The music alphabet is A, B, C, D, E, F, G. That’s it. Each letter coordinates to a white key that is positioned between other white and black keys. The piano keyboard is set up as a repeating pattern. When you know the name of the white key, it is identical up and down the keyboard.

Why is the music alphabet beneficial to preschoolers?

Many students are eager to play songs they know. Often these songs are more difficult than the preschooler’s ability to read notes. But, because their ear can guide them, preschoolers can easily learn songs using the music alphabet letters.

Children want to feel successful from the very beginning. They want to play songs they know, AND they don’t want to wait years to play these songs. Kids can reap the benefits of music early! Often, teachers feel familiar songs are too advanced or beyond the student’s reading ability. What they don’t realize is that there is more than one way to teach the piano. And to get preschoolers playing songs they are excited to learn means we should teach what they already know… the ABC’s.

How can children benefit from playing familiar songs?

If the first piano song a preschooler learns is a familiar one like Itsy Bitsy Spider, children can springboard from that song. Meaning… they can build upon what they learned from that song and creatively learn many new things. They can take a rhythm pattern from the song to play musical instruments or use the pattern to make a new song. They can create more verses to the story. They can explore the sounds on the piano by having the spider crawl up the piano. They can learn about the spider’s web and learn to play a glissando on the piano as a spider would go down its dropline. There are so many ways to springboard from this first piano song.

Are there songs for my preschooler?

One of the biggest requests I have seen from parents and piano teachers who desire to teach preschoolers is the lack of music available to teach. Teachers are begging for simple first piano songs, coloring pages, activity pages, and games that reinforce the concepts beginners are learning.

At this age, children need so much repetition. Additional activity pages and games allow children to experience the lesson over and over in new ways which help them internalize the ideas being taught.

Where can I find piano music for my preschooler?

Most preschool methods only teach a concept once, expecting a child to learn it and understand it in one week. But preschoolers need more time. They need more repetition. These methods also focus primarily on note reading. But, because most kids this age are not ready to learn to read, focusing on note reading seems silly. Let’s let young children explore the piano and figure out songs using the abilities they already have which includes knowing the alphabet.

My own preschool students rush through the door excited to show me a song they figured out at home… a first song, like Baby Shark or Chop Sticks. They want to play songs they know.

I decided to create preschool piano activities that are different. First piano songs which allow children to learn and re-learn all the foundational skills that need time to be mastered. Every time a new song is introduced, they can re-learn, remember, go into greater details and have new games and worksheets to explore.

Itsy Bitsy Spider is a wonderful first piano song. The song is introduced using alphabet letters. Activities and games included in the pack help teach and reinforce all the basic skills of the first year piano student. Because these skills are repeated as they learn additional songs, there is less of a progression, but more of an introduction, repetition, and mastery, while children are doing what they love… learning songs they already know.

Get your copy today! It’s on sale in my shop!

Are Reading Based Piano Lessons Good for Preschoolers?

Piano / By Cherie / November 13, 2020 September 8, 2021 / preschool piano

I have spent years watching preschool piano materials emerge to the forefront of piano teaching. Having taught from every single early beginner method, I have one thing to say. No matter how cute and colorful the pages are, preschool piano methods emphasize note reading. So are reading based piano lessons good for preschoolers?

I believe the answer lies in the teacher (or parent). If a teacher understands preschool ability, they can craft the piano lesson for success. But sadly, many people teaching preschool piano do not understand that preschool piano lessons should look radically different than 9 or 10 year old beginner lessons. Many teachers only teach out of the book which is flat and 2 dimensional. Preschool children are creative and need more 3-D experiences along with their lesson book. Preschoolers learn best by moving. They also want to play songs they already know.

Are piano lessons worth it?

I am a big believer that children learn best through play. And while you can follow the outline of a book, there should be lots and lots of other activities that reinforce what is being taught in the book, laying the foundation for future concepts being taught in the book. Reading based piano lessons ARE good if they include:

Movement Music: clapping, stepping, hopping, etc
Playing instruments
Learning to keep a steady beat
Games teaching right hand and left hand
Creative play at the piano (i.e. making bird sounds, elephant walking sounds, etc)
Learning basic rhythm patterns
Soft and loud sounds
Finger identification
Finger and hand strengthening
Activities that strengthen fine motor skills
Learning keyboard geography
Use of materials that de-emphasize success by completing a book
Singing and matching pitches
Counting
Pattern play
Learning the music alphabet
Learning songs using the alphabet letters
Learning songs by watching someone else play the piano
Playing games away from the piano bench

Should my child take piano lessons?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if parents and teachers actually acknowledged that learning and enjoying piano playing doesn’t have to fit in a one-size-fits-all mold and that preschoolers are learning without homework and formal lessons. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if preschoolers could play more and practice as their interest allows?

There is fear in the piano teaching world that parents will realize they can teach from the lesson book themselves. This is true.

I am a huge fan of parents teaching preschool piano to their own child for many reasons. Here are 10 ways parents can get your child ready for piano lessons. But the top reason for this belief is that when a parent isn’t paying for piano lessons, there is less pressure on the preschooler. The child can learn music concepts creatively, naturally explore the piano, play games, and just enjoy making music.

When parents pay for lessons, they feel children must practice at home practice like older students do. This is where the piano experience begins to melt down for preschoolers. Really! Preschoolers can take soccer lessons, gymnastics, swimming, and other types of lessons without a requirement of daily practice. Is there value in the lesson itself? Children DO learn in the piano lesson. So why do teachers and parents expect a requirement of daily practice with preschool piano lessons?

Are reading-based piano methods good for preschoolers?

Are reading based piano lessons good for preschoolers? It depends. It depends on parents and teachers meeting the needs of the child and allowing children the freedom to enjoy making music at the piano with fun activities and lots of reinforcement of concepts that don’t demand mastery.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if parents and teachers actually acknowledged that learning piano doesn’t have to fit in a one-size-fits-all mold and that preschoolers can learn without formal lessons and practice requirements. Not all children are ready to read in preschool. Using reading based methods may not be the right fit for every preschool child.

Where can I find Preschool Piano Resources?

Because I have taught from all the different preschool piano methods, I know where they fall short. As I read Facebook community pages discuss preschool piano, I was frustrated that so many teachers demand that preschoolers learn in the same way that a 10 year old would learn. So I finally decided to create the resources I wish I had when I first began teaching preschool piano.

This includes teaching children to play more songs (especially songs preschoolers know and love), activities, and games. Repetition, repetition, and more repetition is what children love and helps them master the basics. The topics currently taught in most preschool piano methods are covered, so parents and teachers can overlap, find more supplementary materials, and create a more balanced approach to preschool piano lessons.

I hope this article helps you decide if preschool piano is right for your child, know what to look for in a piano teacher, or helps you feel encouraged to play piano games with your child at home. Here are links for more information on why I created this blog, what I hope parents will get out of my blog, and top resources for teaching your child piano at home, and piano games you can play with your child.

Christmas Gifts that Prepare Preschoolers for Piano Lessons

Piano / By Cherie / November 2, 2020 September 8, 2021 / preschool piano

Many parents of preschoolers want their child to learn to play a musical instrument. Piano is often thought of as an approachable instrument for young children. This article will list fun, educational toys that make great Christmas Gifts that can help prepare preschoolers for piano lessons. These toys all help develop finger strength, hand strength, and fine motor skills and spark imagination and creativity– which are important in piano playing.

Preschoolers have small hands. Many children don’t have developed strength in their hands and fingers so they are not ready for piano lessons. I am amazed at how quickly a child can develop good hand strength with some of these toys – helping prepare preschoolers for piano lessons.

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To play the piano preschoolers have to develop fine motor skills. They can do this in many ways: playing outdoors, playing games, coloring and drawing, playing with play dough, etc.

The educational resources below all help develop the fingers and hands of preschoolers in ways that benefit the budding piano player. Best of all, children will have so much fun, they won’t even know that these activities will help them learn to play the piano.

If you discover your child is frustrated by working on fine motor skills, check out my blog post, 15 Toddler Music and Movement Songs. These songs encourage gross motor skills which include large movements like marching, hopping, twisting, clapping. Children love to play musical instruments along with these songs.

Toys That Build Fine Motor Skills

In subsequent blog posts I will be demonstrating how you can use these resources to help your child build fine motor skills and prepare for piano playing.

Sign up for my mailing list! I am offering a free game you can play with your child! “Piano Race Game” is THE game I teach every beginning piano student, and kids ask to play this game over and over. Kids select their favorite tiny little moving pieces (like legos or mini-erasers) and then take turns drawing music alphabet cards that send them racing across the piano keyboard. The moving pieces and small alphabet cards help build fine motor skills as the child draws cards and moves their piece to the next key. Best of all, they are also learning the music alphabet on the piano! Your child will love this game!

Leave me a comment if you have other fun games that your preschooler enjoys that help build fine motor skills. I’d love to add them to the list!

Easy Preschool Piano Lesson Game

Piano / By Cherie / September 17, 2020 September 13, 2021 / easy piano game, preschool piano, toddler piano

Parents have an advantage in teaching their own child preschool piano, because parents can capitalize on moments when a preschool child is well rested and ready to play piano games. Children learn extremely well when they play games and most children love to play games with their parents. The concepts that are taught to preschoolers are very basic such as high and low sounds, long and short sounds, loud and soft sounds, etc. By playing games that cover these learning activities with their child, parents are laying a wonderful foundation for formal lessons when the child is older.

Parents Can Teach Preschool Piano?

Parents absolutely can teach piano to their preschooler, because they have many different kinds of resources at their fingertips these days. Videos, playing games, singing movement songs with instruments, baskets filled with amazing musical instruments for preschoolers, etc. and can easily teach a child a lot in 3-5 minutes. Formal lessons require long lessons that often wear a child out. When a preschooler is having a good day, he may enjoy piano games and activities for a long length of time. But when a child is not having a great day, no amount of pressure will gain the cooperation that is desired, even for a minute.

One of the reasons I created this blog was to help parents find resources for music making in the home. Teaching preschool piano is kind of like teaching your child to read. No one needs a degree in education to read books to a child. Most children learn to read by being read to and by practicing reading together with an adult. Music is the same. Parents can build a solid piano foundation that formal instruction can later refine by taking time to make music together, playing games together, and providing musical instruments and activities for preschool children to explore.

How Do I Know When My Child is Ready to Learn Piano?

I often have parents in my early childhood education class ask what is the best age for a child to begin the piano. My usual response… it depends. Preschoolers learn and grow socially very quickly, but because each child is so unique, it really does depend on the child.

Can the child sit still and concentrate on something for 4-5 minutes?
Do they enjoy working with others?
Do they listen?
Are they working on fine motor skills?
Are they interested in the piano?

These are all questions I ask a parent before we begin talking about preschool piano lessons. For some children, just waiting another 6 – 12 months can make all the difference in piano playingreadiness.

Preschool Piano Activities: Match Game

Piano Match Game is a beginning piano game that reinforces the position of the music alphabet on the piano keyboard. This game explores the geography:

Identify groups of 2 Black Keys
Identify groups of 3 Black Keys
Identify the alphabet letter locations within the groups of 2 and 3 black keys
match colors (or more advanced only match location.

Every child LOVES playing this game and they are especially motivated if you have some super cute tiny yous to play with. Lego people, hatchables, squinkees, or mini erasers are great! Check out the video below to see how easy it is to play this game with your preschooler. Add this game to your piano teaching resources by clicking HERE.

Conclusion

The most important thing to remember is that making music and playing the piano should be joyful. In teaching preschoolers, all the components of learning music and the piano must be broken down into their simplest parts. Teaching the child through games helps them learn about each part individually.

For the preschool child, this might mean when he learns about loud sounds, he will stomp his feet and then play a stomping sound on the piano, or when he learns about soft sounds he may tiptoe around the room and then make a tip-toe sound at the piano. Moving the body helps a young child learn and will connect music making to things they already know. These simple parts of music making are accessible for every parent to teach.

Every child loves music! I hope you will enjoy building your library of musical activities and resources for teaching your child preschool piano.

Hi, Music Time Kids!

Happy Pinning!

preschool piano