Sitting well and finding the notes
Step 1 of L1. Sit in a balanced, relaxed way and find any white key from the black-key groups.
Skills: Keyboard geography, Posture, Relaxation
You are ready to move on when
- Set up your bench so your forearms are level with the keys, your feet are flat and your shoulders stay looseCheck yourself: Film yourself from the side for a minute while you play a few notes, then compare your position with the reference video.
- Forearms roughly level with the keys
- Feet flat on the floor or a footrest
- Shoulders low and loose
- Back upright without leaning in
- Find and play every C, F and G on the keyboard, from the lowest to the highest, without counting up from the bottomCheck yourself: Record yourself playing all the Cs, then all the Fs, then all the Gs, and check each one against the black-key groups shown in the reference lesson.
- Every note is the right one
- No counting keys from the bottom
- Each note found within about two seconds
- Play C, D, E, F, G and back with each hand, fingers 1 to 5, with curved fingers and a loose wristCheck yourself: Record each hand playing up and down the five notes and compare your hand shape with the reference video.
- Fingers gently curved, not flat or clawed
- Wrist level and loose
- Thumb plays on its side
- Each note sounds clearly