Pick a route before picking more lessons
| Your goal | First musical task | What not to prioritize yet |
|---|---|---|
| Play chords beneath songs | Play C–Am–F–G in four counted bars | Complex solos |
| Sing and accompany | Hit simple chord on beat 1 without covering the melody | Dense right-hand fills |
| Read repertoire | Find middle C; distinguish quarters and halves | Memorizing many chord inversions |
Check that your instrument has clearly playable keys, a comfortable seating arrangement and enough range for low bass and middle-register chords. A touch-sensitive keyboard is helpful; the merchant recommends at least 61 full-sized touch-sensitive keys and a sustain pedal for its curriculum, but the elementary exercises here need neither an expensive brand nor an app subscription.
Four milestone checkpoints
Milestone 1 — orientation: label the repeating seven white-key letters, find C in two octaves and play C major (C–E–G). Self-test: can you find the same note again after looking away?
Milestone 2 — movement: alternate C (C–E–G) and Am (A–C–E) without losing a four-count. Accuracy beats tempo.
Milestone 3 — arrangement: add left-hand bass on beat 1; reserve right-hand chords for beats 1 and 3. Keep each bar four beats.
Milestone 4 — finish something: perform four bars twice, record them on a phone and mark any unplanned pause. Revisit only the problematic transition.
A 15-minute routine
Two minutes locating notes; four minutes on one chord transition; five minutes on a counted two- or four-bar loop; two minutes recording; two minutes noting one improvement for next session. A 30-minute version repeats the trouble transition with slow counting rather than doubling the number of new concepts.
Self-assessment
Score each item as steady / inconsistent / not yet attempted: find the starting root; name the three chord tones; change on the bar line; maintain four beats; stop without hand tension. If the notes are steady but rhythm isn't, practice clapping away from the keys. If pain or recurring tension persists, stop and ask a qualified teacher or clinician for guidance. Don't force an arbitrary calendar schedule.
When you know what needs structured sequencing, read the adult course comparison. For immediate practice, use keyboard orientation, first chords and the 28-day practice worksheet.
Sources and scope
Source and topic references checked 28 October 2026. The linked articles/course outlines substantiate the indicated general principles and coverage, not our precise original exercise, performance effectiveness, or a first-hand review. Music studies here were independently composed for this site; external musician review before publishing is still outstanding.
- Berklee Online — Music for Beginners syllabus — foundation in rhythm, melody, pitch, keyboard and basic chords; not a validation of this page’s original practice schedule.