Make a Keyboard Puzzle

Sometimes we explain a concept to students, they understand, and it’s done. But it doesn’t always work that way. I remember asking a student something and she said, “Mrs. Paradis, I have never heard of that in my life.” This was a second year student and she wasn’t one of my early childhood beginners. So I turned back a few pages to show her where I had explained it. We had a good laugh! It also reminded me that just because we think a student understands a concept, if we don’t keep reviewing it constantly, they will forget.

The concept of black keys having groups of two and three is so easy we sometimes mention it once and move on. But for young beginners, we have to be a lot more repetitive.

The simplest way to use this keyboard is to call it a puzzle and let students put it together. Even when they have circled groups of 2 and 3 black keys, sometimes they don’t know how the black keys line up on the white. This is true even for my older beginners.

I use it to help teach C and F. I know there are many really cute ways to teach the names of the keys with pictures and graphics. But young students have a hard time remembering long streams of words that they hear only once a week. It is easier to memorize where C and later F are located as taught by the Fabers in My First Piano Adventures.

This printable will last longer if you print with card stock and laminate.

Find it here in the store.