Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Are you having a tough time reading piano notes for the left hand? (Or are you a piano teacher who have students that can’t read the left hand notes?) Many piano students quit piano because of the hurdle of reading two different clefs. Color coding can bridge the gap and help piano students master the instrument. Keep reading to learn about playing piano with color coded left hand notes.
Don’t have a music keyboard? Not a problem! Try this online keyboard:
I wrote the post, Playing the Piano with Color Coded Notes, as a practical example of color coded music.
- It shows how the different color coded elements work together to help students learn.
- However, it only deals with the notes played by the right hand.
- Today’s post will focus on the left hand.
This article uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Playing Piano with Color Coded Left Hand Notes: Why Color Coding?
Why play piano with color coded left hand notes? Because musical notation is counter intuitive.
- Siu-Lan Tan found that non-musicians usually thought that music notation would function the opposite way than it does in actual practice.
- This means that beginning students will often struggle to grasp how the sheet music works.
This goes double for ADD, LD, ASD, and special needs music students.
- George L. Rogers found that color coded notes allowed LD and special needs students to score better than typical learner students.
- However, they failed to read the music at all with the color coding absent.
- Nevertheless, color coding doesn’t need to be limited to LD and special needs students.
For more on color coding read:
The Hand Position and Playing Piano with Color Coded Left Hand Notes
Mobile users: for best results reading the music, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
Hand Icon (churien.deviantart.com/art/hand-template-blank-272630198) by Churien is licensed under CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0). Modified by Geoffrey Keith.
Before you try to play piano with color coded left hand notes, we need to talk about fingering.
Here’s the left hand fingering for G position:
- First Finger: The thumb goes on the D (gray) key
- Second Finger: The pointer finger goes on the C (orange) key
- Third Finger: The middle man goes on the B (blue) key
- Fourth Finger: The ring finger goes on the A (purple) key
- Fifth Finger: The pinky goes on the G (green) key
Color coding the instrument and the fingers pulls everything together:
- For instance, the student presses the purple finger, on the purple key, reading the purple note in the score.
For further info:
Merrily We Roll Along and Playing Piano with Color Coded Left Hand Notes
As you attempt to play piano with color coded left hand notes, say and play the note names to a steady beat.
- In addition, say and play the finger numbers (the black numbers).
- Clap and count the rhythm (the red and blue numbers).
For a review of counting rhythm read:
In addition, I’ve included a sound track for Merrily We Roll Along.
- Don’t listen to the track before you attempt the song.
- Instead, listen to the sound track after you’ve tried the song to see if you got it right.
Your core skills for early piano lessons:
- Notes
- Fingering
- Rhythm
Playing and saying the notes and finger numbers works on note and finger skills respectively. Clapping the notes develops your rhythms skills.
Merrily We Roll Along:
Playing Piano with Color Coded Left Hand Notes: Quiz
Once you’ve mastered the Merrily We Roll Along version of playing piano with color coded left hand notes, you can attempt the quiz. Be sure to say and play the notes.
Conclusion
The more you play piano with color coded left hand notes, the more you’ll gain self assurance.
Eventually, students will graduate from the color coding, including most autistic, LD, and other special needs students.
© 2022 Geoffrey Keith
Join me for in-person or online lessons today!
Glossary
What Is a Good Instrument for a Dyslexic Child to Learn?
Has your child been asking about music lessons? Have you worried about how it will go? Learning how to play an instrument will help build your child’s self-confidence and self-concept. But what types of instruments will work best with your child’s learning style? In today’s post, we’ll discuss what you should consider when selecting an instrument. Click to answer the question, “What is a good instrument for a dyslexic child to learn?” Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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The Top 10 Best Music Souvenir Gifts
Are you stumped for what to get the musicians in your life? Are you looking for musical gift ideas? Music souvenirs are perfect for music teacher appreciation gifts as well as presents for adult and kid musicians. Even for yourself! Click to learn about the top 10 best music souvenir gifts. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
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12 Easy Piano Songs (Including Twinkle Twinkle Little Star)
Are you looking for easy songs to play on piano? This post has videos of 12 easy piano songs for young beginners, including “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” This will be a good first introduction to playing keyboard instruments, so you can find out if your child likes playing music. Keep reading to learn these 12 basic piano songs. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
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Color Coded Eighth Note Clapping
Does reading eighth note rhythm notation give you fits? (Or do your students struggle with eighth notes?) Many musicians have trouble reading rhythm, especially ADD, ASD, LD, and special needs students. Read more to learn color coded eighth note clapping. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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