Fun First Lesson Activities for Beginners

Ah, the excitement of a very first piano lesson! Getting to know a brand-new student and watching them explore the piano for the very first time is always so special. It is one of my favorite things about being a teacher!

Today I am sharing a few of my all-time favorite "first lesson" activities! These activities are fun, educational, and sure to be a hit with new students of all ages. Best of all, almost every activity is available as a free download, so you can use these right away and even send students home with their own copy if you like!

Keep reading to join in the "first lesson" fun!

---

The Piano Scavenger Hunt

The first lesson is a perfect opportunity to explore the mechanics of the piano, learn what the various parts of the piano are called, and figure out what they do. This simple "scavenger hunt" will help students learn how the piano works.

Click HERE for your free PDF.

The Bear and the Bird

This story-telling activity is great for preschool and elementary school students and gives beginners a chance to explore the entire piano keyboard as well as the concepts of high/low, fast/slow, loud/soft.

​Click HERE for your free PDF.

12 Bar Blues Improv Activity

This fun improv activity works for all ages--even adults! Students practice finding and playing groups of black keys, keeping a steady beat, and playing along with a duet part. 

​Click HERE for your free PDF.

Pop-Its for Technique

I recently shared a "2 Minute Teaching Tip" video about how I use the popular "pop-it" fidget toy to work on technique with beginners.

​Use this activity in the first lesson to introduce the concepts of finger numbers, round finger shape, and landing on a firm fingertip.

Note Match Game

This card game is a fun way to introduce treble and bass clef, the white keys on the piano, and finger numbers! It is also easy to customize: for example, start with just fingers 2 and 3 and the letters C, D, and E.
​
​Click HERE for your free PDF.​

Landmark Note Worksheets


These worksheets are great for older beginners and adults who will be reading notes on the staff right away. I like to pair these with puzzle erasers so students can practice finding these landmark notes on the keyboard too!

Click the links to download your free PDFS: treble G and bass F or 3 landmark C's.

Sheet Music for a First Lesson
​
Finally, I love to send students home from their very first lesson with a piece of sheet music to practice! Below are a few fun options that your students will be excited to play at their first lesson:

• The Halloween Song  ("trick-or-treat, smell my feet...") - a pre-reading version on the black keys, perfect for young beginners!
• Jingle Bells - a pre-reading version using C-G in the right hand, great for elementary school-age beginners.

• G Major Music Theory's "First Pieces" - lots of familiar tunes (arranged by Gilbert DeBenedetti) can be found here. Options for black keys only, pre-reading with white keys, and simple on-staff pieces, too!
• Solar Storm - this sophisticated sounding, pattern-based piece (available for purchase at Piano Pronto) would be ideal for a first lesson with older students and adults and can be taught by rote! Students get to experiment with the damper pedal, moving between the 3 landmark C's on the piano, and playing clusters of both black and white keys.

​What do you think? Do you have any "go-to" activities you like to include in a first lesson with new students? I would love to hear from you in the comments!