Beginner Piano Lesson Worksheet for 14-Year-Olds | Music Practice & Theory

Instructions

Welcome to your first piano worksheet! This will help you learn the essential building blocks of playing the piano. Read each section carefully and fill in the blanks. Take your time and have fun!

Part 1: The Keyboard Landscape

The piano keyboard has a repeating pattern of white and black keys. The black keys are grouped in sets of two and three. This pattern is your map to finding any note!

Hint: The note C is always the white key just to the left of the group of two black keys.

Activity: Using the hint above, fill in the names of the white keys (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) in the blanks below this keyboard diagram. The first C is done for you.

      [#] [#]   [#] [#] [#]   [#] [#]
     /   \   /   \   \   /   \ 
    [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
    _C_ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Part 2: Finger Fitness

To play efficiently, pianists number their fingers. This helps you know exactly which finger to use for each note. The numbering is the same for both the left and right hands.

• 1 = Thumb
• 2 = Index Finger
• 3 = Middle Finger
• 4 = Ring Finger
• 5 = Pinky Finger

Activity: Answer the following questions about finger numbers.

1. Your Ring Finger is number: _____
2. Finger number 3 is your: __________________
3. Place your right hand on the keys so your thumb (1) is on C, index finger (2) is on D, and so on. Which finger would play the note F? _____
4. Using the same hand position as above, which note would your pinky finger (5) play? _____

Part 3: Reading the Music - The Grand Staff

Music is written on a staff. For piano, we use the Grand Staff, which is two staves joined together. The top staff uses a Treble Clef (for higher notes, often played by the right hand) and the bottom staff uses a Bass Clef (for lower notes, often played by the left hand).

The Treble Clef (♫)

To remember the notes on the lines and spaces, use these mnemonics:

• Lines: Every Good Boy Does Fine (from bottom to top: E, G, B, D, F)
• Spaces: The letters spell FACE (from bottom to top: F, A, C, E)

Activity: Identify the notes marked with an "o" on the Treble Clef below.

    ------o--F--            ---------D--            ------o--F--
    ----o----D--            ---o-----B--            ---o-----B--
    --o------B--            -o-------G--            ----------G--
    o--------G--            ----------E--            o--------E--
    ---------E--            -----------            -----------
     (Space 3)                (Line 4)                 (Line 1)

1. Note: ____            2. Note: ____            3. Note: ____

The Bass Clef (♬)

Here are the mnemonics for the Bass Clef:

• Lines: Good Boys Do Fine Always (G, B, D, F, A)
• Spaces: All Cows Eat Grass (A, C, E, G)

Activity: Identify the notes marked with an "o" on the Bass Clef below.

    ------o--A--            ---------A--            ------o--A--
    ----o----F--            ---o-----F--            ---------F--
    --o------D--            -o-------D--            ---o-----D--
    o--------B--            ----------B--            -o-------B--
    ---------G--            o--------G--            ----------G--
     (Space 4)                (Line 1)                 (Line 3)

4. Note: ____            5. Note: ____            6. Note: ____

Part 4: Rhythm Basics

Notes don't just tell you what to play, but also for how long. Here are the most common note values:

• Whole Note: Lasts for 4 beats
• Half Note: Lasts for 2 beats
• Quarter Note: Lasts for 1 beat

Activity: Do some simple "musical math" to test your knowledge of rhythms.

1. A whole note is worth the same as _______ half notes.
2. A half note + two quarter notes = _______ beats.
3. How many quarter notes do you need to equal the length of one whole note? _______
4. A whole note - a quarter note = _______ beats.

Answer Key

Part 1: The Keyboard Landscape

      [#] [#]   [#] [#] [#]   [#] [#]
     /   \   /   \   \   /   \ 
    [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
    _C_ _D_ _E_ _F_ _G_ _A_ _B_ _C_ _D_ _E_

Part 2: Finger Fitness

1. 4
2. Middle Finger
3. 4 (Ring Finger)
4. G

Part 3: Reading the Music - The Grand Staff

1. C (Space 3 in Treble Clef)
2. D (Line 4 in Treble Clef)
3. E (Line 1 in Treble Clef)
4. G (Space 4 in Bass Clef)
5. G (Line 1 in Bass Clef)
6. D (Line 3 in Bass Clef)

Part 4: Rhythm Basics

1. 2
2. 4 beats
3. 4
4. 3 beats