With a little help from a parent, children can become self taught on the piano.
Many parents wish their children to have the ability to play the piano. Not all parents can afford lessons for their children, however. Thanks to the wealth of resources available on the Internet, children who are motivated or who have parents to guide them can learn a certain amount of piano on their own.
Learning the Note Names
Even without a diagram, a child can figure out the note names of the white keys on the piano. When you look at the piano, you will see that in most places the keys alternate between white and black, and in others there are two white keys together. You should see that they keys alternate in sets. You will see some sets where there are three black keys before a double white, and somewhere there are two black keys before a double white. Put your finger on the middle black key in any set of three. Then, play the white key immediately to its right. This is an "A." Next, play the next white key to the right of A. This is "B." The white keys continue to the right in the same order as the alphabet: "C," "D," "E," "F" and "G." When you reach "G," the pattern starts over again on the next key with another "A."
Legato Playing
Self taught piano lessons must include proper fingering technique right from the start. Your wrists should be strong and come straight out from the backs of your hands. Do not let the wrists break and drop down towards the base of the keyboard. Place your thumb on the C closest to the middle of the piano. This is called "middle C." You are going to play five notes, forwards and backwards. Play "C," "D," "E," "F" and "G," in that order. Starting with your thumb on "C," assign each following finger to the following key. Each finger should only play the note that it is assigned to. Play the notes as smoothly as possible, up and down the sequence. Be sure to give an equal amount of time to each tone.
The C Major Sale
From middle "C," play the notes in this order: "D," "E," "F," "G," "A," "B" and C." Play the first "C" with your right hand thumb, the "D" with your index finger and the "E" with your middle finger. Then, slide your thumb under your other fingers until it is on "F." Play "F" with your thumb, "G" with your index, "A" with your middle, "B" with your ring and the final "C" with your pinkie finger. Repeat the scale backwards and forwards.
The Major Chord
Place the pinkie finger of your left hand on a "C" note somewhere below "middle C." Then, with your middle finger, play the first "E" note to the right of your pinkie. Your thumb will play the "G" note. Play all three notes together. This is a "C major" chord. You can also use this pattern to play a "G" major chord, and an "F" major chord. Simply start with your pinkie on the "G" or the "F" and play the note that falls under your middle finger and thumb.
