Keyboard Basics and Posture Guide

Study Notes

Good posture is crucial for playing the keyboard.
When sitting, position the chair to face the keyboard squarely.
Keep a straight back, relaxed shoulders.
Feet should be flat on the floor, with elbows slightly higher than the keyboard.
Knees should be bent slightly apart at about hip distance when standing.

The keyboard consists of black and white keys.
Black keys are grouped in sets of two or three.
The white keys are named using the first seven letters of the alphabet (A,B,C,D,E,F,G).
C is to the left of a group of two black keys, and F is to the left of a group of three black keys.
A full-size keyboard includes 88 keys (52 white and 36 black).
The notes A, B, C, D, E, F, G repeat in order from low to high.
Middle C is located near the center of the keyboard.

Bar lines are used to organize notes into measures.
The time signature indicates the number of beats per measure.
The top number of the time signature indicates the number of beats per measure.
The bottom number of the time signature indicates which note represents one beat.

Use correct finger numbers and play slowly initially.
Practice moving from one note to the next, repeating notes and skips.
When playing, use your right hand to play the melody initially.
The time signatures and rhythmic values of notes are important to understand what speed the music should be played.
Review the types of notes and their corresponding rhythmic values.