Keyboard Fun (damentals)

Objective: To give students an opportunity to learn music reading skills, and expose them to an instrument using technology (electric keyboards)
1. Keyboard music playing in classroom as students enter classroom. Keyboard posters displayed in front of class.
2. Teacher plays a little ditty on electric keyboard as they are sitting down. "Yes, each of you can learn to play with some practice and a little instruction .
3.Introduce the instrument, highlighting some of the features: "Look at poster, do you see a pattern of white and black keys?" Discuss features like on/off, volume, tempo, and wide variety of instrument sounds.
4. Cover cost and respectful use of instrument and headphones.(If you abuse, you lose privelege of playing.)
5. Allow time for exploration of features mentioned above.
6. Introduce middle C and where it is located on the keyboard...."Here is a little saying I would like you to learn....two black keys, CDE. Let's try saying it together."
7. Have them all go to keyboard and find all of the CDE's on their keyboard. Then each student can try to locate middle C.Teacher will travel around the room checking each student on this skill.

This is only the beginning lesson of a 4-6 week sequence of instruction, that will include notation reading,and rhythmic counting exercises. Later, each student will be issued a progress assessment sheet where they will check off each instructional sheet/song they complete as they journey through the keyboard curriculm sequentially numbered box at the front of the room....

It is amazing how many students do learn how to read music and can successfully play simple songs in 6 weeks time.