(This page is part of a set. Click here to return to the main kids music lessons page.)

I. Introduction, Rhythm, and Notes

Welcome; introduction to pianos and keyboards; sitting position; hand position; numbering fingers; hopping up and down groups of black keys; the Up or Down Game; notes; rests; playing on black keys; Mary Had a Little Lamb; rhythm; clapping and counting; Go Tell Aunt Rhody; Au Clair de la Lune; Alouette; Li’l Liza Jane; the Counting Game; make up your own song.

II. Introduction to Reading Notation, Landmark Notes, Steps

Notes on the staff; treble and bass clefs; the grand staff; Clef Signs and Music Staff Game; find the notes on the keyboard; landmark notes (Middle C, F for the left hand, G for the right hand); The Landmark Note Game; new notes for the right hand; Up We Go to G Song; new notes for the left hand; Walking Up to C Song; the middle C position; steps; the Treble Clef Notes Game; time signatures, measures and bar lines; Stepping Tune in 4/4 Time; Stepping Waltz in 3/4 Time; Ode to Joy; The Up or Down Stepping Game

III. Clef Exercises, Skips, Repeated Notes

Names of notes; treble clef exercises; bass clef exercises; Alouette; the Bass Clef Notes Game; skips; Skipping Tune; Skip and Hop Tune; Wedding March; the Up or Down Skipping Game; repeated notes; Surprise Symphony; Humpty Dumpty; Steps, Skips or Repeated Notes Game; Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star; Pop! Goes the Weasel

IV. Tempo, Dynamics

Tempo Markings; Good Morning to You!; clap and count tied notes; Minuet; Slower or Faster? Game; Red River Valley; clap and count eighth notes; Home on the Range; What Tempo is This? Game; Give My Regards to Broadway; dynamic signs; playing Forte and Piano; When the Saints Go Marching In; playing crescendo and diminuendo; Long, Long Ago; O Come All Ye Faithful; What Dynamic is This? Game

V. Melody, Harmony, Accompaniment

Melody; harmony; playing songs with accompaniment; New World Symphony; Surprise Symphony; Entr’acte from Rosamunde; Cathedral Bells; Softer or Louder? Game; Jolly Old St. Nicholas; Dreydel; In the Evening by the Moonlight; What Note is This? All Notes! Game; Amazing Grace; Jingle Bells; La Donna è Mobile

I. Introduction, About the Guitar, Preparing to Play

Welcome; introduction to guitars; guitar sizes; guitar strings; tuning the guitar; holding the guitar; right and left hand and finger positions; string, fret, and finger numbering; reading chord charts; Animated Fretboard

II. First Chords and Songs, Simple Strumming

Introducing the G Chord; Brother John; the C and G7 chords; Skip to My Lou; The Three Musketeers Game; chords for the Mystery Tune; the D and A7 chords; Down in the Valley; The Clouds in the Wind Game; chords for Mystery Tune 2; Red River Valley; Silent Night; The Sunny Morning Game; chords for Mystery Tune 3

III. Double Strum, Adding Accents, New Chords, 3/4 Time

The double strum, Marianne; Jingle Bells; The Summer Shower Game; chords for Mystery Tune 4; adding accents; Go Tell Aunt Rhody; Careless Love; Swing Low, Sweet Chariot; The Mountain Climber Game; chords for Mystery Tune 5; shifting the accents; She’ll Be Comin’ Around the Mountain; Oh, Susanna; introducing 3/4 accented time; Amazing Grace; My Darling Clementine; Scarborough Fair; The Victory Tune Game; chords for Mystery Tune 6

IV. Playing Melodies, Tablature, and Notation

Introduction to Tablature; playing melodies with a pick; playing melodies with the fingers; plucking exercises; playing melodies with the left hand; left hand exercises; basic rhythm notation; Alouette; Ode to Joy; Au Clair de la Lune; Aura Lee; Yankee Doodle

I. Introduction, About the Violin, Practice Before Playing

Welcome; introduction to the violin; choosing a violin; the bow; caring for a violin; the strings; tuning the violin; Up and Down Plucking Song; holding a “box” violin; holding a “stick” bow; bow exercises using a pencil; preparing fingers to play; bow exercises using a straw; chin rest pad; holding the violin; tightening and loosening the bow hair; how to rosin the bow hair; holding the bow

II. Clap and Sing, Playing Your First Songs

I Like You – clap and sing; get ready to play; I Like You – each string; Which String is This? Game; more songs for each string; make up your own song; Magic Songs Game – One String; songs for string crossing; make up a string-crossing song; songs for two strings played together; Magic Songs Game – Two Strings

III. Using the Left Hand Fingers; Songs for Fingers 1, 2, and 3

Numbering the left-hand fingers; using the Finger Tracker; adding the 1st finger; songs for the 1st finger; Magic Songs Game – 1st Finger; adding the 2nd finger; songs for the 2nd finger; Magic Songs Game – 2nd finger; adding the 3rd finger; songs for the 3rd finger; Magic Songs Game – 3rd finger

IV. New Songs, Adding the 4th Finger, First Scales

Alouette; Hot Cross Buns; Mary Had a Little Lamb, playing short strokes, Mark Is Jumping, What Sign Is This? Game; adding the 4th finger; On the Bridge at Avignon; Sleep, Baby, Sleep; A Major scale; Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star; Jingle Bells; D Major scale; London Bridge is Falling Down; Which Part of the Bow Is It? Game; wrist motion; Rain Dance; G Major scale; Magic Songs Game – Pick the Strings; Go Tell Aunt Rhody; Sneaky Fox; Lightly Row

V. Introduction to Reading Notation

Notes; rhythm; The Rhythm Note Game; time signatures; bar lines; measures; the Note System Game; the strings; Open Strings Songs; Which String is This? Game; names of notes; fingering chart; notes on E and A strings; songs for E and A strings include: Lazy Mary, Go Tell Aunt Rhody, Au Clair de la Lune, and more.

VI. Introduction to Reading Notation

Notes on D and G strings; rests; D Major scale; the D String Game; rests; the Rhythm Rest Game; Magic Songs Game – Reading Notes; G Major scale; the G String Game: Magic Songs Game – All Strings; songs for D and G strings include: Long, Long Ago; Diddle, Diddle Dumpling; When the Saints Go Marching In; the Wedding March; Jolly Old St. Nicholas; Teasing Song; Old MacDonald Had a Farm; Brother John; Row, Row, Row Your Boat; and more.