Both Hands and the Grand Staff/Grand Stave
I use this when my learners are progressing to reading piano music for both hands rather than focussing on one stave with one clef for one hand at a time. It is purposefully as simple as can be and allows teachers or parents to check whether there is any problem noticing which hand should be playing at which time – if so I highlight the notes on the top stave in one colour and the bottom stave in another and match with a small post-it note on the back of the pupil’s hands. Once they are good at this they can then substitute all the C’s for other notes whilst making sure the correct hand is still playing the correct number and duration of the notes, and we notate their new version.
Jumping Up and Down
This is ideal for pupils beginning to use both hands together. I composed it using one pattern so it also reads very easily too.
G-Position Composition Starter
If learners have begun to learn pieces in a G position where they had previously been more familiar with a C position this is great to embed their reading skills in this new area of the stave as well as being a great opportunity to be creative at the piano.
BUNDLE – 9 Simple Piano Tunes in Middle C position – Hands sharing
These tunes are great for pupils who have learnt using a method that focuses on one hand at a time first, in middle C position and they have reached the point where they have begun to play music with both hands reading from the grand stave but with the hands playing at different times to one another – i.e. sharing the tune – rather than simultaneously. It’s worth getting young piano pupils really confident at doing this before moving on to the basic hands together work. All these simple piano pieces are great at that stage. There is Youtube video of them here too. Enjoy!
Away in a Manger – 2 versions
The first of these files is the very simplest version of this tune – just the melody line shared between two hands. Can be managed by young learners quite new to reading music. The left hand is in a five finger position with thumb on middle C, right hand has thumb on middle D.
The second version is for those who are further on and can handle a moving right hand plus some hands together playing plus an understanding of simple key signatures.
In the Hall of the Mountain King
An iconic classical piece of music that kids recognise and love playing around Halloween especially. This version has no hands-together work – it is just the melody shared between two hands. There are accidentals and some moving of the right hand outside of a middle C position. A more challenging version harmony is in the Initial to Grade 1 resources section.