Introduction to Online Keyboard Classes
Online keyboard classes for beginners are a great place to start if you’re looking to learn a new productive skill or hobby or if learning the keyboard has been your long-time dream. The possibilities for creating and playing music are endless, with features such as tones, styles, fills, loops, and so much more. For beginners, all this may seem a little overwhelming. While the keyboard may seem complicated, the basics are simple and common for anyone looking to get started with the instrument.
What You Should Know About Online Keyboard Classes for Beginners
For beginners, here are a few points to keep in mind for those who want to start learning online keyboard classes.
Online keyboard classes for beginners teach you the right posture.
Getting into the right posture is one of the first and most important steps in learning any instrument. Before playing the instrument, online keyboard classes teach beginners how to sit in front of the keyboard and keep their bodies and fingers properly positioned. You can start by sitting on a bench in the center of the keyboard. As soon as your hands are on the keys, make sure your knees are under the keyboard, and the bench is at a comfortable height for your forearms to be parallel to the ground. Keep your palms curved up as if you were holding a ball while placing your fingers on the keys.
Online keyboard classes for beginners teach you Musical Alphabets.
Online keyboard classes for beginners inform you about the 12 different notes in music across all instruments. These 12 notes are represented by white and black keys on the keyboard. Of these 12, 7 are alphabets (A B C D E F G) which are represented on the white keys, whereas the remaining 5 are represented as sharps and flats on the black keys. These notes are repeated at different registers/octaves across the keyboard. The lower register keys are on the left side, while the higher register keys are on the right of the keyboard
Online keyboard classes for beginners help you find notes on the keyboard.
In online keyboard classes for beginners, your instructor may ask you to notice a repeated pattern of 2 and 3 black keys across the keyboard. The first white key before the pair of black keys is called C. Now that you've found C, the rest of the alphabet is in subsequent order on the keyboard. Thus, the white keynotes will be D E F G A B C D E F G A B C, and so on. The C in the center of your keyboard is called Middle C, and it's an important note position to remember.
Online keyboard classes for beginners teach you about note values.
There are 3 basic note values to get started with. In terms of counts or beats, these note values tell us how long each note should be played. The first is called the Whole note or Semibreve, which is an empty round note head. This note should be played for 4 counts. The second is called the Half note or Minim, and it looks like a whole note but also has a stem attached to it. This note has two counts. The third note is called the Crotchet or Quarter note. This note is 1 count long. The notehead for a Crotchet is filled in the black and has a stem attached to it.
Online keyboard classes for beginners teach you about finger numbers.
During online keyboard classes for beginners, your instructor may denote a number to each finger in both hands. These finger numbers help you develop the right technique and learn pieces accurately and efficiently. In both hands, the thumb is finger number 1. The index finger is finger number 2. The middle finger is finger number 3. The ring finger is finger number 4. The little finger is finger number 5. It's important to note that both hands have the same order. Being familiarized with these finger numbers will also help you in the future.
Simple 5-finger exercise
Now that you know the right posture, musical notes, note values, and finger numbers, you can start by training yourself with the keys with a simple 5-finger exercise. It's best to start with just your right hand, then your left hand, and then both hands together.
Simply place your right-hand thumb or finger number 1 on the note Middle C to start this exercise. Then rest your other 4 fingers on the other 4 white keys. Thus, finger 1 is on C, finger 2 is on D, finger 3 is on E, finger 4 is on F, and finger 5 is on G. Simply play each note from C to G for 4 counts at a very slow and comfortable pace. The goal is to keep your palms curled up, each note playing individually (don't press 2 notes at the same time), and your fingers accurately aligned with the relevant notes. Play C through G and back for about 3 to 5 times in a row, then take a break. You can now repeat the process with your left hand.
However, for the left hand, the little finger will be placed on C and the thumb on G. Thus, finger 5 is on C, finger 4 is on D, finger 3 is on E, finger 2 is on F, and finger 1 is on G. Play from C through G and back for about 3 to 5 times, counting 4 counts for each note and making sure you only play one note at a time.
When you are confident in playing hands separately and can feel your hands and fingers playing with a little more independence, you can try this exercise with both hands. While playing both hands at the same time, make sure your right hand is on Middle C, and your left hand is on the lower octave C.
Final Words
As a beginner, these few points will help you in your online keyboard classes for beginners. Also, finding the right teacher to guide you is important when learning the instrument. At Mela Music School, you get access to trained and experienced music educators who will guide you through this journey and make sure you learn in a fun and engaging way. So go ahead and dive into the magical world of online keyboard classes and start your first class with Mela Music School today!