Saturday, January 11, 2014

Maggie's Piano Lessons 1 & 2

Last Saturday (the first of this year!) I started teaching Maggie the piano.

I'm not actually very proficient at the piano myself, but I did learn when I was younger and although I didn't keep it up much, I know the basics.

Our plan is to teach her until I am in over my head, and then pass her on to Tammy to become amazing :)  Like Tammy :)

I just wanted to write up what I do each week with her, for my own reference next time I'm teaching the piano to someone from scratch (like Ana, starting the first day of next year...) and so Tammy can come on and tell me if I'm doing stuff way wrong! :)

So Week 1:

Learnt that the notes correspond with letters A-G.  Learned how to find middle C, and place both thumbs on middle C and the rest of the fingers on the other notes in basic piano position.

Week 2:

Learnt a basic scale just with the right hand - singing 1-2-3-4-5 as she went up.  When she had mastered up, learnt down.  Had some trouble and tears - said it was too hard.  I got on and played some Disney songs she recognised (like, one handed lol) to show her how fun piano can be when you learn it, then sat with her to have another go, and helped place her fingers a few times.  By the end of the lesson she got it, and was very excitedly playing her 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1 over and over.  If she masters it this week I plan on teaching her to do it with her left hand next lesson, and start introducing the notes on paper afterwards.

4 comments:

Bec said...

WOW! She's a clever girl!
I cant play the piano (or any other instrument...wait! I DID learn the recorder once, does that count??) so I'm completely in awe of such a bright young girl getting the basics down. *high five* Maggie!! :)

Beth and Robbie said...

Recorder totally counts Bec :)
Good stuff Abs!! I think I learnt more piano than you but I'm terrible and can't remember everything. Totally wouldn't know how to teach it! You reminded me about the middle C thing :P
Maggie is such a smart cookie, she'll get it in no time!! So excited for her :) xo

Tammy Lorna said...

Yay! Second generation piano players! :)
xoxo

Sandy M. said...

It is really exciting to me to watch each of the grandchildren grow and learn and develop :) I can't imagine Maggie not being able to do anything she set her mind to! :)
xoxo