Keyboard Techniques For Young Fingers

A NJMEA (New Jersey Music Education Association) Workshop sponsored by JBK Music Publishing Co, February 2010

Clinician: Judy Kagel, Monmouth Academy of Musical Arts, Morganville, NJ.

Judy Kagel shared many of her creative ideas and techniques for teaching group keyboard in the classroom to grades K-2. Part of the workshop involved hands-on activities such as techniques to help students maintain a steady beat and musical games to improve listening skills. Judy used musical selections from the Keyboard Beginnings series to demonstrate examples of harmony, form and improvisation. She showed how the keyboard is a wonderful tool for introducing children to the orchestra. The workshop was geared for younger grades; however, the same teaching techniques could be adapted for older students, and students with special needs.

Judy Kagel
Keyboard Beginnings

Parents and Music Instructors

Book I

Keyboard Beginnings introduces children to their first playing experience on the piano and keyboard as a solo and ensemble instrument. Children are gradually introduced to note and rhythm notation through the repetition of note patterns and simple rhythms in each song. The books include activity pages for reviewing concepts taught in each song.

The repertoire in Keyboard Beginnings includes original melodies and lyrics in addition to traditional folk music and the music of well-known composers. The program was created for and tested with pre-school children as well as early elementary school students to assure student motivation and enthusiasm.

The goal of Keyboard Beginnings is to develop in each student the beginning of a lifelong appreciation of music and the pleasure of performing for one s own enjoyment.

Keyboard Beginnings is suitable for home schooled instruction guided by parent, private lessons with music teacher, or group classroom training.

Book I package includes an instructional CD featuring the voices of young children. Each of the songs is recorded at two tempos: a slower tempo for practice and a faster tempo for presentation.

Judy Kagel
Originator and Composer
Keyboard Beginnings