So, you’ve already bought your child their first piano, and if you have, we’re sure that they are having an amazing time making some cool sounds out of it. If you’ve already found some great ways to teach them some basics, they’re probably getting to the stage where they are ready to tackle their first songs.
Once your child has gotten the hang of the keys, and for younger piano players we recommend having stickers with the note on each key, there’s really nothing to hold them back from trying to learn a simple song, little itsy bitsy spider. The best songs for this are the simplest ones, with maybe only 4 or 5 different notes so as not to get too confusing. If you give your child something too complex, you risk shattering their confidence and making the piano seem like a chore rather than a joy.
You are going to have to take it very slowly, and your child will need lots of encouragement and positive reinforcement. They will make mistakes, and it might even take weeks and weeks of practice, so they will need the gentle and loving encouragement of the family in order to get a grip of it. However, there is NOTHING like seeing the sense of wonder and accomplishment of a child who just master their first song, no matter how simple that is.
In order to help you out and save you time, we’ve made a list of 7 easy to teach piano songs (plus videos) for your little Mozart to practice as they take their first steps into the creative and fascinating world of music.
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
This is probably the best song to start your child off with. We’re sure they will already know the melody, and as everything is repeated once, it keeps everything nice and simple.
Twinkle, twinkle little star
C C G G A A G
How I wonder what you are
F F E E D D C
Up above the world so high
G G F F E E D
Like a diamond in the sky
G G F F E E D
Twinkle, twinkle little star
C C G G A A G
How I wonder what you are
F F E E D D C
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Another classic nursery song that children just can’t get enough of. They can also do the actions for this song as they play it.
The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout
G C C C D E E E D C D E C
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
E E F G G F E F G E
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
C C D E E D C D E C
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again
G G C C C D E E E D C D E C
Old MacDonald Had a Farm
This is another great song for your kids to begin learning the piano on. We really recommend this one as the second some to teach them as in many parts they have to play the same key 2 or three times in a row, so they’ll start to build up confidence by playing these simple lines. Plus if your kids are anything like mine, they’ll have a blast barking and mooing as you go through.
Old MacDonald had a farm
G G G D E E D
E I E I O
B B A A G
And on that farm he had a cow
D G G G D E E D
E I E I O
B B A A G
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there
D D G G G D D G G G
Here a moo, there a moo
G G G G G G
Everywhere a moo moo
G G G G G G
If You’re Happy and You Know It
A favorite of kids and toddlers all around the globe, this song will really get your kids energy pumping, and they can dance and clap as they play. The only tricky part of this song is the B flat (Bb), which is the black key in between B and A but you can easily leave it out, especially if you have a toy or toddler piano. Just have them play a B instead
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands
C C F F F F F F E F G
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands
C C G G G G G G F G A
If you’re happy and you know it,
A A Bb Bb Bb Bb D D
Then your face will surely show it
Bb Bb A A A G F F
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands
A A G G G F E E D E F
Happy Birthday
Another brilliant simple song for your kids to learn. Plus, they will just love singing this for their parents or siblings on their real birthdays
Happy Birthday to you
G G A G C B
Happy birthday to you
G G A G D C
Happy birthday dear (Name)
G G G E C B A
Happy Birthday to you
F F E C D C
Yankee Doodle
A real American classic and another nice little tune for beginner pianists, we are sure your child learned this either at home in in kindergarten, and with its simple melody and fun bouncy rhythm, it won’t be too challenging for them.
Yankee Doodle went to town
C C D E C E D
Riding on a pony
G C C D E C B
Stuck a feather in his hat
G C C D E F E D
And called it macaroni
C B G A B C C
Wheels on the bus go round and round
Another favorite that children love to sing when they’re in the car with parents or on the school bus. Its also a brilliant simple little number that toddlers and kids can get the hang of with a little help from mum or dad.
The wheels on the bus go round and round
C F F F F A C A F
Round and round, round and round
G E C C A F
The wheels on the bus go round and round
C F F F F A C A F
All through the town
G C F
