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Welcome to How to Play Piano Lessons where you will learn how to read music on the grand staff and play all of

your favourite music expressively and with technical precision.

Each lesson consists of technical warm-ups, expressive exercises, learning new repertoire, reviewing old

repertoire and "pause and play" time so that you can practice your skills - just like a real-time lessons!

This set of notes is for the first 20 Piano Lessons. They contain hyperlinked video tutorials, sheet music and

concise written explanations to optimise your learning experience. Lesson 1 starts at the very beginning and

assumes no musical knowledge.

Don't hesitate to forward me your performance audio or video tracks via email [email protected] or

Skype for friendly, personalised support. You can also message me at the website www.simprov.biz.

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join this secret group and begin posting your performances for other How to Play Piano scholars to learn from

and enjoy.

You can also join our vibrant Beginner Piano WhatsApp Group here, dedicated to learning together and

supporting each other’s musical progress.

As you travel through the lessons, you will learn the meaning of a range of music notation. Have a pencil close

by so that you can jot down various notes onto your sheet music.

Don’t be in a hurry and feel that you have to rush through these lessons. Give yourself plenty of time and take

every opportunity to explore your creativity. It's the journey rather than the destination that is your goal.

Each lesson begins with a YouTube Piano Lesson. Click on the link to watch the lesson. The sheet music and

clearly written explanations of the relevant practical skills and music theory follow on from the hyperlink.

Let’s get onto the piano and have some fun!

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PIANO LESSONS – PRELIMINARY TUTORIAL

Click Here to Watch the Preliminary Tutorial

Before You Begin Playing

Your posture at the piano


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgVMzsWkomg&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI



PIANO LESSON 1 – Notes to Play and When to Play Them

Click Here to Watch the Online Lesson

Locating Middle C

The Middle C piano key is to the left of the 2 black keys located in the middle of the piano.

Music Staff & Treble Clef

The music staff is the 5 lines and 4 spaces upon which music is written.

The treble clef (or G clef) is the symbol that gives the names to the notes that are located mostly on the

upper half of the piano.

The First 5 Notes

The first 5 notes from Middle C to G are written on the treble staff as follows:

C D E F G

Bar lines

Bar lines are short lines that are drawn across the staff. They divide the music into equal parts called bars or

measures.

Time signature

A time signature is the two numbers that appear at the beginning of a piece of music. Time signatures indicate

the number of beats (top number) and the type of beats (bottom number) in each bar/measure.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ebux5CJ9zM&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI&index=2



The Semibreve/Whole Note

Semibreves, also called whole notes, are round open notes that are held for 4 beats

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

The Minim/Half Note

Minims, also called half notes, are round open notes with a stem that are held for 2 beats.

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4




The Crotchet/Quarter Note

Crotchets, also called quarter notes, are coloured in notes with a stem that are held for 1 beat.

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4




PIANO LESSON 2 – Let’s Play Some Tunes


Play through each example slowly using your right hand and fingers 1 to 5.

Count a steady 4 beat rhythm aloud as you play and listen to the sound that is coming from your piano.

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

Example 5

Example 6


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8TmzFhOcQk&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI&index=3



Example 7

Example 8

Example 9

Example 10

Example 11

Example 12




PIANO LESSON 3 – Let’s Play Some Longer Tunes


Play through each example slowly using your right hand and fingers 1 to 5.


Feel free to write in the fingers that you need to use above the notes.

(Remember don’t write in the letter names!)

Three Is Not A Crowd

Sweet and Short

Tango-ette


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH8xCryvhk0&index=4&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI



Mini Calypso




PIANO LESSON 4 – The Left Hand


The Bass Clef

The bass clef (or F clef) is the symbol that gives the names to the notes that are located mostly on the lower

half of the piano.

The First 5 Left Hand Notes

The first 5 notes from C to G are written on the bass staff as follows:

C D E F G

Left hand semibreves

Left hand minims

Left Hand crotchets


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hjj80zMXnU&index=5&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI



PIANO LESSON 5 – Let’s Play Some Left Hand Tunes


Play through each example slowly using your left hand and fingers 1 to 5.


Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

Example 5

Example 6


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu3-8rlx7OM&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI&index=6



PIANO LESSON 6 – Left Hand Tunes


Play through each example slowly using your left hand and fingers 1 to 5.


Feel free to write in the fingers that you need to use above the notes and the counting below the notes.


Au Claire De La Lune

Tisket, A Tasket

Aura Lee


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpIu3rfQMS0&index=7&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI



Ode to Joy




PIANO LESSON 7 – Taking Turns


The treble staff and bass staff can be joined together by a bracket to form the Grand Staff as shown in the

diagram below:

Playing on the Grand Staff

Play through each tune slowly using your left and right hands as indicated on the sheet music.


Feel free to write in the fingers that you need to use above the notes and the counting below the notes.


A bracket joins the

treble and bass staffs

together

These are repeat dots. In these tunes they indicate that the music is to be repeated from the beginning.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RFz4_iqZ-s&index=8&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI



Off We Go

Dancing Hats

This is the symbol for a crotchet rest. A rest is a sign meaning silence. When you come to a rest you raise

your hands from the keys. Like a crotchet note, a crotchet rests also lasts for 1 beat.

This is the symbol for a semibreve rest. It lasts for the whole bar.




PIANO LESSON 8 – Intervals


Practice each line slowly and once you are comfortable and the music is flowing, play the whole piece from

start to finish. (Don’t forget the repeat).


Feel free to write in the fingers that you need to use and the counting.


Then There Were Two


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ltOPGvPkck&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI&index=9



PIANO LESSON 9 – Let’s Get Together


Practice each line slowly, first with your right and left hands separately and then practice each line with your

hands together. Gradually work your way through the music one line at a time until you are practicing the piece

from start to finish. Spend more time on any small sections that are a proving to be a challenge. No need to

overly practice the parts that you can play well!




Up and Down We Go


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQfJr-dSBsE&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI&index=10



PIANO LESSON 10 – Playing Expressively


Play with your right and left hands separately using finger 3


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zWebWT2Ruw&index=11&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI



PIANO LESSON 11 – Then There Were Three


Practice each line slowly, first with your right and left hands separately and then practice each line with your

hands together. Gradually work your way through the music one line at a time until you are practicing the piece

from start to finish. Spend more time on any small sections that are a proving to be a challenge. No need to

overly practice the parts that you can play well!

Count a steady 4 beat rhythm aloud as you play and listen to the sound that is coming from your piano. Make

sure that your left hand chord notes sound together and that the right hand melody can be heard over the

left hand accompaniment. Also listen carefully to ensure that your right hand is playing this tune as legato

(connected) as possible even though your left hand is playing detached.



Then There Were Three


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5rBrfqKMjA&index=12&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5rBrfqKMjA&index=12&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI



PIANO LESSON 12 – Right Hand Chords


Expressive Development – Ding Dong Play “Ding Dong” with your right and left hands separately using finger 3.

Be very mindful of:

1) Using your relaxed wrist movement to interact with the keys

2) Engaging your hearing to become aware of the connection between your interaction with the keys and

the sound produced by your piano

3) Moving smoothly between the two keys

New Learning – Chord Fancy

Practice each line of music slowly, first with your right and left hands separately and then practice each line

with your hands together. Gradually work your way through the music one line at a time until you are practicing

the piece from start to finish. Spend more time on any small sections that are a proving to be a challenge. No

need to overly practice the parts that you can play well!


sure that your right hand chord notes sound together.

Also listen carefully to ensure that your left hand is playing this tune as legato (connected) as possible even

though your right hand is playing detached.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIGp83Evycc&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI&index=13

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIGp83Evycc&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI&index=13



Chord Fancy




PIANO LESSON 13 – Introducing Marianne


Expressive Development – Corn Flower Play “Corn Flower” with your right and left hands separately using finger 3.

Be very mindful of:




3) Moving smoothly between the keys

New Learning – Marianne

New Note

There is a new note, the B note, in each hand of this piece. For the left hand “B”, move your finger 5 (pinky finger) down one note to play the white note to the left of C.

For the right hand “B”. move your thumb down one note to play the white note to the left of Middle C.

G7 Chord

The new chord in the left hand is part a G7 chord. (More about this in future videos).

The Tie

A curved line that joins two notes that are the same is called a tie. The second note is not played but held for

its full value.

Practice Tips






sure that your right hand chord notes sound together.

Also listen carefully to ensure that your right hand is playing this tune as legato (connected) as possible even

though your left hand is playing detached.

There are repeat dots at the end of this piece indicating that you need to return to the beginning and play it a

second time. For some variation, consider playing the right hand notes an octave higher for the repeat.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OVjz-w6g1Q&index=14&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OVjz-w6g1Q&index=14&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI





Marianne




PIANO LESSON 14 – Let’s Get Dynamic


Expressive Development – In the Shadow of the Hill Play “In the Shadow of the Hill” with your right and left hands separately using fingers 2, 3 and 4.

Be very mindful of:





New Learning – Easy Walking

Musical Terms

Musical terms are used to provide some direction for performance with respect to the speed at which the

music is to be played (tempo), how loudly or softly the music is to be played (the strength of the tone), the

expression that is to be incorporated into the music, as well as other general directions, such as when and how

to repeat sections of the music (the form of the music).

Many musical terms are in Italian because many of the most important early composers were Italian.

These terms in Easy Walking indicate the strength of tone to be used:

pp – pianissimo – very soft

p – piano – soft

mf – mezzo forte – moderately loud

f – forte – loud

The term “Andante” means at “an easy walking pace” and indicates the tempo of the music.

Practice Tips






sure that your interval notes sound together.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf4C_UKjd00&index=15&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf4C_UKjd00&index=15&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI



Also listen carefully to ensure that the melody is played as legato (connected) as possible even though the

accompaniment intervals are played detached.



Easy Walking

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ashdflkashdflkashdf




PIANO LESSON 15 – The Romance of 3/4 Time


Expressive Development – The Green Meadow “The Green Meadow” is written on the grand staff with both hand playing notes in the treble clef.

Play the tune with your right and left hands using finger 3.

The dots at the end of the music indicate that it needs to be repeated.

Be very mindful of:





4) Creating flowing coordinated hand gestures

New Learning – What Can I Share

The Key of a Piece of Music

The key of the piece of music is based on the notes of the scale from which it is made.

This piece is only made up of the white notes on the keyboard, which are the notes of the C major scale. This

makes its key is C major.

Time Signature

The time signature of this piece is 3/4. The top number indicates the number of beats in each bar so for this

tune you only need to count to 3!

Legato Slur

Long curved lines under or over groups of notes are called legato slurs and indicate that the notes need to be

played smooth, even and connected.

Dotted Minim

Dots after notes increase their value by half. As a minim in usually held for 2 beats, a dotted minim is held for

3 beats. (Half of 2 is 1 and 2 + 1 = 3)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzgbGQWzezw&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI&index=16

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzgbGQWzezw&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI&index=16



Tie

Curved lines that are between two notes that are the same are called ties. The second note is not played but

held down for its full value.

Practice Tips






sure that your chord notes sound together.

Listen carefully to ensure that the melody is played as legato (connected) as possible even though the

accompaniment chords are played detached.

Also listen to see if the first half of the piece is sounding moderately loud and the second half of the piece is

soft.






What Can I Share




PIANO LESSON 16 – New Notes


Expressive Development – Rabbit “Rabbit” is written on the grand staff with both hand playing notes in the treble clef.

Play the tune with your right and left hands using the fingers shown on the sheet music.

The dots at the end of the music indicate that it needs to be repeated.

Be very mindful of:




3) Moving smoothly between the keys using the fingers shown on the sheet music


New Learning – A True Friend

New Notes

These tunes have notes written higher on the treble and bass staves. Use your favourite memorisation

technique to learn them. There are some great apps available that might assist.

B C D E F G A B C D

B C D E F G A B C D


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwWwHwg8nbg&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI&index=17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwWwHwg8nbg&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI&index=17



Pick Up Notes / Anacrusis

The time signature of this piece shows that there are 4 beats in every bar. The first bar of music is

incomplete as it only contains 3 crotchet notes instead of 4. These notes are called pick up notes (or in

classical music, an anacrusis). They provide some anticipation before the start of the music.

The last bar of music is also incomplete as it contains 1 crotchet instead of 4. The last bar of music combines

with the first pick up bar and together they make one full bar of music containing 4 crotchet beats.

Practice Tips






sure that your chord notes sound together.

Listen carefully to ensure that the melody is played as legato (connected) as possible even though the

accompaniment chords are played detached.



A True Friend




Independent Learning – The Happy Traveler Using all of our learning techniques (analysis, followed by separate hands then hands together slow practice on

small sections at a time) have a go at learning this piece of music yourself.

Compare your interpretation with mine next lesson.




PIANO LESSON 17 – Accidentals Are No Accident


Expressive Development – Rain

“Rain” is written on the grand staff with both hand playing notes in the treble clef.

Play the tune with your right and left hands using the fingers shown on the sheet music.

The dots in the middle of the music to the left of the double bar lines indicate that you need to repeat the

first half of the music from the beginning. The dots at the end of the music indicate that you need to repeat

from the preceeding dots (to the right of the double bar line in the middle of the music) meaning that you

need to repeat the second half of the music as well. All in all, the first half of the tune needs to be played

twice and this is followed by the second half of the tune that also needs to be played twice.

Be very mindful of:






New Learning – Money Cant But Everything

The Sharp

A sharp symbol indicates that a note needs to be raised by one semitone. That means playing the note that is

immediately above (or to the right) of the note that follows the sharp symbol.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3zJRENvGfg&index=18&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3zJRENvGfg&index=18&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI



Practice Tips






sure that your interval notes sound together.

Play the first half of the song forte (loud) and the second half of the song piano (soft) with a big forte (loud)

finish at the end.



Money Cant But Everything




PIANO LESSON 18 – A New Key


New Learning – Happily Strolling

Key Signatures and Keys

Key signatures are the sharps or flats that appear at the beginning of each stave of music after the clef.

They indicate the key in which the music is written.

The key of a piece of music is determined by the notes of the scale from which the music is based.

The tune “Happily Strolling” has a key signature of F sharp (F#).

The key signature of G major is one sharp F and as this song begins with a G chord in the bass and ends with G

notes in the treble and bass, it is in the key of G major.

The Slur

A curved line between 2 notes that are different is called a slur. A slur is played by accenting the first note

and playing the second note lightly.

Practice Tips






sure that your chord notes sound together. Also listen to make sure that all of the notes covered by a legato

slur are being played smooth, even and connected.

Feel free to write in the fingers that you need to use and the counting. If you are forgetting to play F sharps

instead of F notes, write sharp symbols onto the music before all of the F notes.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMdM3a9g9BI&index=19&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMdM3a9g9BI&index=19&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI



Happily Strolling




PIANO LESSON 19 – And it Goes Ooom Pah Pah


New Learning – Beautiful Brown Eyes

Oom Pah Pah

The left hand bass pattern in bars 3 and 4 is commonly used in music with 3 beats in a bar such as waltzes. You

can choose to hold down the left hand note played on beat 1 of this “ooom pah pah” pattern whilst you play the

interval notes on beats 2 and 3 to fill out the bass sound.

Legato Slurs and Phrase Lines

In this tune, each line of treble notes is covered by a long legato slur to indicate that the notes should be

played smooth, even and connected.

Coincidently, these legato slurs also outline the musical phrases that make up this piece of music. Musical

phrases are the smaller musical ideas that make up a piece of music as a whole, a little like sentences make up

a larger paragraph.

Each line of music in “Beautiful Brown Eyes” is one musical phrase or idea. Legato slurs do not always indicate

the start and end of musical phrases in a piece of music. In this sheet music though, they do just that!

Practice Tips






sure that your chord notes and interval notes sound together. Also listen to make sure that all of the notes

covered by a legato slur are being played smooth, even and connected.

Feel free to write in the fingers that you need to use and the counting. If you are forgetting to play F sharps

instead of F notes, write sharp symbols onto the music before all of the F notes.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUt-XCveoGQ&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI&index=20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUt-XCveoGQ&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI&index=20



Beautiful Brown Eyes

mf




PIANO LESSON 20 – Do It Gradually


Expressive Development – Silver Sledges

“Silver Sledges” is written on the grand staff with both hand playing notes in the treble clef.

Play the tune with your right and left hands using the fingers shown on the sheet music. Play the notes in a

detached manner (or with a mezzo staccato articulatiob).

The symbol at the end of the music is a “diminuendo” or “descescendo” symbol indicating that you

need to play the notes over which it is written, gradually softer. Progressively channel less arm weight through

your relaxed wrist and curved fingers as you press down the keys to gradually soften the sound of each

successive note.

Be very mindful of:







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enEE5vjGwCQ&list=PLtkCp7SVL7DpyurHMnxeZ9l03AtfpAtLI&index=21



New Learning – Waltz Time

Dynamic Signs and Symbols

Music is often filled with text other than the notes on the page. Abbreviations, signs and symbols are

generally scattered throughout written music to indicate various articulations (ways of playing the keys),

dynamics (levels of sound) and tempos (speeds).

Crescendo and Diminuendo (or Decrescendo)

diminuendo or decrescendo – gradually softer

crescendo – gradually louder

To play gradually softer or louder as indicated in the sheet music, progressively channel less (or more) arm

weight through your relaxed wrist and curved fingers as you press down the keys to gradually soften (or

louden) the sound of each successive note.

Practice Tips






sure that your interval notes sound together. Also listen to make sure that all of the notes covered by a legato

slur are being played smooth, even and connected.






Waltz Time


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