Play the Keyboard

1. Play the Keyboard Green Level: Lesson 2 Press a key, or click the mouse to change each slide.

2. Learning Objectives In this lesson you will: • Learn to play tunes with all five fingers • Strengthen and control your fingers • Learn more about rhythm • Think about how you practice

3. Duration (length) of notes This note lasts 1 beat 1 Crotchet (Quarter note) These are 1/2 beats 2 Quavers (Eighth notes) Clap or tap this rhythm Count 1 2 3 4 1 & 2 3 4 2 claps in one beat

4. Finger strength and control Put your fingers on the keyboard like this. Fingers bent and relaxed. See Green 1 Play each note, one at time. You should release each note before playing the next. C D E F G F E D C Try saying the name of each note as you play. Do this five times before you play. Here’s how we number fingers: Thumb is finger 1, little finger is 5 1 2 3 4 5

5. Ode to Joy by Beethoven Here is a simple piece. Every note is a next door note – they “move by step”. Keep your fingers on the notes. The hardest note is G, why? Hint: You will be a better keyboard player if you keep your fingers like this – don’t play with just one finger.

6. Theme from the New World Using all five fingers – play this simple piece. Make sure you hold each note for its correct length. Count 1 2 3 4 E G E D C D E G E D D E D C This semibreve lasts for 4 beats Keep your hand like this, don’t let your fingers move off their keys.

7. Lightly Row Still use those five fingers in the same position.

8. Well done! Green Level: Lesson 2 You have finished. Ask your teacher to listen to you play the last tune. Move on to Lesson 3.