Introduction to Piano – Pacing Guide

Unit 1 – (two days) - Introduction to playing the piano: position at the keyboard, finger numbers,
the keyboard, naming the keys.

Unit 2 – (1 week) - C Major Position – Right Hand C Position, Treble Clef, key signatures,
quarter notes & half notes, measure, bar line, double bar, Ode to Joy, Left hand C position, bass
clef signature, whole note, Aura Lee.

Unit 3 – The Grand Staff – The grand staff, time signature, whole rest, repeat sign.
Songs: Rock Along, Mexican Hat Dance.

Unit 4 – Playing C-G on the Grand Staff – quarter rests, melodic intervals 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th,
dynamic signs, harmonic intervals, Jingle Bells.
Unit 5 – Introduction to Chords, the C Major Chord for left hand and right hand, rhythmic chords,
extended C position with the letter B for left hand and right hand, G7 chords, MARY ANN, tied
notes, ¾ time signature, slurs, legato, THE PEANUT SONG, F major chords for both left and
right hand, OLD COUNTRY MUSIC.
ASSESSMENT #1 – Midterm – playing test of Old Country Music, written test on terminology
from lesson 1 – 5.
Unit 6 – G Major Position – Intervals in G Position, sharps, fermata, G Major and d7 chords for
both hands, Money Can’t Buy Everything, sustain pedal, new C Major position, extending to E
for left and right hands, Alpine Melody.
Unit 7 – New note values, introducing 8th notes, Skip to My Lou, Syncopated notes, dotted
quarter notes, Kum Ba Yah!
Assessment #2 – Final Exam – playing test Kum Ba Yah, Think About the Happy Days.