The saying goes, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression."
A first piano lesson is our chance to make a great first impression with a new student and to let them see how much fun learning an instrument can be!
Today, I am sharing a lesson plan for a first lesson with a brand-new beginner. The ideas in this lesson plan are easy, educational, and most of all fun--and included are several freebies to help bring this lesson plan to life!
Keep reading to see more....
A first piano lesson is our chance to make a great first impression with a new student and to let them see how much fun learning an instrument can be!
Today, I am sharing a lesson plan for a first lesson with a brand-new beginner. The ideas in this lesson plan are easy, educational, and most of all fun--and included are several freebies to help bring this lesson plan to life!
Keep reading to see more....
1. Breaking the Ice
The very first thing I like to do in a lesson with a new student is to take a few minutes to just chat and put the student at ease. A first lesson can feel scary, so I want to make sure students feel comfortable before we jump into learning something new. Here are a few questions I might ask a new student:
Of course, these questions may very depending on the age of the student, but I find these questions are good initial ice breakers that help me and the student get to know each other a bit.
The very first thing I like to do in a lesson with a new student is to take a few minutes to just chat and put the student at ease. A first lesson can feel scary, so I want to make sure students feel comfortable before we jump into learning something new. Here are a few questions I might ask a new student:
- Have you ever played piano before? Can you show me something you already know?
- What are your goals for piano lessons?
- What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?
- What other activities do you enjoy?
- What questions would you like to ask me about piano lessons?
Of course, these questions may very depending on the age of the student, but I find these questions are good initial ice breakers that help me and the student get to know each other a bit.
| 2. Piano Scavenger Hunt The next activity I love to do in a first lesson is to give the student a chance to explore the piano and learn how it works by doing a fun piano scavenger hunt! Not only does this activity help students learn the correct terminology for the different parts of the piano, it also gives you the opportunity to introduce concepts like high/low, loud/soft, moving up and down the piano, and more. It also gives the student a chance to get comfortable playing the instrument before they have to play an actual piece of music. Get your FREE copy of this piano scavenger hunt worksheet HERE. |  |
3. Black Key Improv Activity
Now that we've broken the ice and explored the piano, let's do some improv! A black key improv activity gives you the opportunity to introduce many important concepts in a fun way:
In this activity, the student improvises a melody using only the black keys played with fingers 2, 3, and 4. I like to have students first play only quarter notes, then once they are comfortable they may try playing a quarter-quarter-half note pattern.
I like to first play along with students using the simple 12 bar blues accompaniment shown on the worksheet below. If time allows, encourage the student to try playing along with the backing track below (found on YouTube) as well!
Get your FREE copy of this black key improv worksheet HERE.
Now that we've broken the ice and explored the piano, let's do some improv! A black key improv activity gives you the opportunity to introduce many important concepts in a fun way:
- Finding groups of 2 and 3 black keys
- Learning the finger numbers
- Learning to play quarter notes and half notes
- Keeping a steady beat while playing with an accompaniment
- Modeling good piano posture and relaxed hand shape
In this activity, the student improvises a melody using only the black keys played with fingers 2, 3, and 4. I like to have students first play only quarter notes, then once they are comfortable they may try playing a quarter-quarter-half note pattern.
I like to first play along with students using the simple 12 bar blues accompaniment shown on the worksheet below. If time allows, encourage the student to try playing along with the backing track below (found on YouTube) as well!
Get your FREE copy of this black key improv worksheet HERE.
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4. Learn a familiar song
I always like to help a student learn to play a familiar song at their very first lesson. This could be a song taught by rote or from a piece of pre-reading sheet music. Whatever format you use, learning a familiar song is a motivating way to help students kick off their studies with you, and it also gives them something to practice at home after your lesson together.
Here are a few familiar songs that work well for a first lesson and can be taught by reading or rote. Click on the images to get your FREE PDF copies!
I always like to help a student learn to play a familiar song at their very first lesson. This could be a song taught by rote or from a piece of pre-reading sheet music. Whatever format you use, learning a familiar song is a motivating way to help students kick off their studies with you, and it also gives them something to practice at home after your lesson together.
Here are a few familiar songs that work well for a first lesson and can be taught by reading or rote. Click on the images to get your FREE PDF copies!
 Black keys only. |  Introduces C, D, E in the right hand. |  Introduces G, A, B in the left hand. |
5. End the lesson with a fun review game
If you've followed this lesson plan, you've introduced quite a few concepts to your new student! Let's wrap things up with a fun review game that solidifies all of this new information and ends the lesson on a high note.
You may already have some fun apps or board games in your teaching toolbox. If not, here are 2 fun game ideas that don't require any extra materials:
Simon Says: "Simon Says" play a high note, play a low note, play a group of 2 black keys, clap a half note, wiggle your 2 finger, etc.
I Spy: "I Spy" a note that gets one beat, a pedal that makes the notes sound longer, a key that makes a very low sound, a finger that we call number 1, etc.
What do you think? Do you use any of these activities in your first piano lessons? What other ideas would you add to this list? I would love to hear from you in the comments!
If you've followed this lesson plan, you've introduced quite a few concepts to your new student! Let's wrap things up with a fun review game that solidifies all of this new information and ends the lesson on a high note.
You may already have some fun apps or board games in your teaching toolbox. If not, here are 2 fun game ideas that don't require any extra materials:
Simon Says: "Simon Says" play a high note, play a low note, play a group of 2 black keys, clap a half note, wiggle your 2 finger, etc.
I Spy: "I Spy" a note that gets one beat, a pedal that makes the notes sound longer, a key that makes a very low sound, a finger that we call number 1, etc.
What do you think? Do you use any of these activities in your first piano lessons? What other ideas would you add to this list? I would love to hear from you in the comments!
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