A new perspective on piano teaching

Piano lessons at a young age have become popular. As piano teachers, how do we approach the first stages? Which methods do we use, and what sequence do we usually follow?

For preschool children who cannot yet read, we often use a colour-based keyboard method. We associate colours with notes and reinforce those associations through stories and examples. However, when introducing C with finger 1, the thumb, we sometimes encounter difficulties related to the child's developing hand control. Children may struggle to place and use the thumb, pressing the key with a different hand position from the one intended. Correcting this can take considerable effort. Let us consider another teaching sequence and look at the problem from a different perspective.

Starting with the thumb can make it difficult to establish the intended hand position. Instead of teaching notes in scale order, I suggest beginning with fingers the child can use more comfortably—for example, the third finger on E. I expect this to be easier than starting with the thumb, and a more accessible approach may change the child's experience of the piano. When children can succeed without excessive difficulty, they can continue learning with enjoyment. I have also observed difficulties with the fifth finger, or little finger. My proposed sequence therefore begins with E, D and F, using fingers 3, 2 and 4, and leaves C and G, using fingers 1 and 5, until later. The aim is to reduce initial problems with key control and hand placement and make teaching more effective.

Zeynep Fuçucuoğlu
Rekor Sanat – Piano Teacher