Categories: Piano Help

Piano Level 1 Help

Beginner Piano Level 1

In Level 1 both hands play the melody (tune) where required. Your thumbs always share middle C. You will be reading the musical notes for both the right hand and left hand simultaneously. The right hand reads from the top stave using the treble clef. The left hand reads from the bottom stave using the bass clef. The pieces of piano sheet music in Level 1 have either 4 beats in a bar or 3 beats in a bar.

Piano Level 1 Help – symbols and explanations

Icon	Description
	Dotted crotchet or dotted quarter note A dot written after a note adds on half of its value. The dotted crotchet is worth 1 + ½ = 1½ beats. It is also displayed the other way up. A dotted crotchet teams up with a single quaver and forms the first part of a tango rhythm!
	Quaver or eighth note The quaver is a rhythm symbol worth ½ beat. It is also displayed the other way up. It is a quick running note. It forms the second part of a tango rhythm!
	2 quavers or 2 eighth notes 2 quavers can be joined together with a beam. They are also displayed the other way up. Quavers are quick running notes worth ½ a beat each. When you see 2 quavers say “Cof-fee”
	4 quavers or 4 eighth notes 4 quavers can be joined together with a beam. They are also displayed the other way up. Quavers are quick running notes worth ½ a beat each. When you see 4 quavers say “Cof-fee cof-fee”
	Backwards repeat If this appears on its own, repeat all of the music from the beginning.
	Forwards and backwards repeat marks If both of these are written in the piece, repeat all of the music between these two repeat marks.
	Final Bar Line This symbol means that you have reached the end of the piece. It is the equivalent of a musical full stop, or writing “The end” in a story!
	Sharp This is a sharp. It is written in front of a musical note. If it is written in front of the note F, it is called “F sharp”. To play F sharp play the next black key to the right. The sound of F sharp is one note higher than the sound of F. Technically to sharp a note, you raise it by one semitone or one step.
	Flat This is a flat. It is written in front of a musical note. If it is written in front of the note B it is called “B flat”. To play B flat play the next black key to the left. The sound of B flat is one note lower than the sound of B. Technically to flat a note, you lower it by one semitone or one step.
	Metronome