Did You Notice?

You may have noticed that most early piano books these days start the student on black keys. That approach helps the student to get a more naturally shaped hand. It also allows the student to have more opportunities for improvisation, since the 5- note scale (pentatonic scale) lends itself to song writing at this early stage. As YIENG CHYI CHEN states on page 4 of “A Comparison of The Music Tree, Piano Adventures, and Hal Leonard Student Library.” http://acumen.lib.ua.edu/content/u0015/0000001/0001199/u0015_0000001_0001199.pdf

These three methods follow the trend toward using black keys at the beginning of study as do most modern piano method books. This is not a new strategy: Chopin chose to start with black key scales in the nineteenth century. Jane Magrath writes that Chopin did not begin with C position because it is not the most natural hand position: “The scales with the most black keys were taught first because they felt more natural under the hand.” In the beginning of these three method books, pieces and exercises are all played on the groups of two and three black keys because these are easy to see and to find as music moves across octaves. Early playing on the black keys and the use of fingers 2, 3, and 4 may be helpful in creating a more natural hand position. The goal is to allow the hand and arm to be aligned with fingers in a gently curved position.

Meanwhile, the student is freed up to focus on rhythmic notation. They also learn that notes that are higher on the page go higher on the piano. Before long, they will be ready for the staff and for white notes.