Session 1: Meet Your Keyboard

Overview

• Phase: 1 — Foundation
• Duration: 1 hour
• Prerequisites: None. This is your very first session. Welcome!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

1. Sit at the keyboard with correct posture and hand position
2. Identify all 5 finger numbers on each hand
3. Play “Hot Cross Buns” with your right hand by rote (by ear, no reading)
4. Demonstrate the difference between loud and soft using touch response
5. Navigate to the Grand Piano tone and adjust volume on the CT-X9000IN

Materials Needed

• Casio CT-X9000IN keyboard (powered on, Grand Piano tone — Tone 000)
• A stable bench or adjustable chair — your elbows should be level with the keys when your arms hang naturally
• This lesson plan open beside you (on a tablet, laptop, or printed)

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Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Since this is your very first session, we do not have scales or exercises to review. Instead, your warm-up is physical preparation.

Posture Check

1. Sit at the centre of the keyboard. Find the word “CASIO” printed above the keys — sit directly in front of it.
2. Your feet should be flat on the floor, about shoulder width apart.
3. Sit on the front half of the bench — do not lean against a backrest.
4. Your back should be straight but relaxed. Imagine a string gently pulling the top of your head toward the ceiling.
5. Let your arms hang loosely at your sides. Now bend at the elbows and bring your hands to the keys. Your forearms should be roughly parallel to the floor. If your elbows are much higher or lower than the key surface, adjust your seat height.

Hand Shape

1. Let your hands hang at your sides and notice their natural, relaxed curve. Your fingers are slightly bent — not straight, not clenched.
2. Now place your right hand (RH) on the keys. Your fingers should curve gently, as if you are holding a small ball or an orange.
3. Your fingertips — not the flat pads — should contact the keys.
4. Your wrist should be level with your forearm. Not drooping below the keys, not arched high above them. Flat and relaxed.
5. Repeat with your left hand (LH).

Finger Numbers

This is one of the most important things you will learn today. Every finger has a number, and these numbers are the same for both hands:

Left Hand (LH)          Right Hand (RH)
5 - Pinky               1 - Thumb
4 - Ring                 2 - Index
3 - Middle               3 - Middle
2 - Index                4 - Ring
1 - Thumb                5 - Pinky

Notice: Thumb is always 1 and pinky is always 5, on both hands. Say them out loud while wiggling each finger: “One, two, three, four, five.”

Finger Tap Exercise

Place your RH on any five white keys. Now tap each finger one at a time:

RH: 1 (thumb), 2 (index), 3 (middle), 4 (ring), 5 (pinky)

• Then reverse: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Repeat with your LH on five white keys:

LH: 1 (thumb), 2 (index), 3 (middle), 4 (ring), 5 (pinky)

• Then reverse: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Do this slowly. Feel each finger move independently. If finger 4 (ring) feels stiff or wants to move with finger 3, that is completely normal. It will improve with practice.

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Theory (10 minutes)

Meet the Keyboard Layout

Look at your keyboard. You see white keys and black keys. The black keys are arranged in a repeating pattern:

C

D

E

F

G

A

B

C

Ignore the names above for now. Just notice the PATTERN:

• Groups of 2 black keys alternating with groups of 3 black keys
• This pattern repeats across the entire keyboard

This pattern is your map. It never changes. Once you can see it, you can find any note.

Finding Middle C

Middle C is the most important note to find first. Here is how:

1. Look at your keyboard and find a group of 2 black keys near the centre.
2. The white key immediately to the LEFT of that group of 2 black keys is C.
3. The C closest to the exact centre of your 61-key keyboard is Middle C. On the CT-X9000IN, this is roughly below the display screen.

Press Middle C now with your RH thumb (finger 1). Listen to the sound. This is your home base.

Loud vs. Soft: Touch Response

Your CT-X9000IN has touch response — it senses how hard you press the keys.

Try this:

1. Press Middle C very gently with RH finger 1. Listen — it is quiet.
2. Now press Middle C firmly (not slamming — just with confidence). Listen — it is louder.
3. Try three levels: whisper-soft, medium, and strong. Notice how the volume changes.

This is called dynamics in music. Even from Day 1, you are already controlling expression. A pianist who plays everything at the same volume sounds like a robot. You will not be that pianist.

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Technique (15 minutes)

Finding C-D-E with Your Right Hand

You already found Middle C. Now find the two white keys immediately to its right:

• C = the white key to the left of the 2-black-key group (you know this one)
• D = the white key between the 2 black keys
• E = the white key to the right of the 2-black-key group

Place your RH on these three keys:

• Finger 1 (thumb) on C
• Finger 2 (index) on D
• Finger 3 (middle) on E

Three-Note Exercise

Play this pattern slowly, one note at a time. Say each note name out loud as you play:

X:1 T:Three-Note Exercise M:4/4 L:1/4 K:C "3"E "2"D "1"C z | "3"E "2"D "1"C z |]

Repeat this 5 times. Keep your fingers curved. Keep your wrist level. Press each key firmly enough to make a clear sound, then release before playing the next note.

Now play the reverse:

X:1 T:Three-Note Exercise (Ascending) M:4/4 L:1/4 K:C "1"C "2"D "3"E z | "1"C "2"D "3"E z |]

Repeat 5 times. You are now playing three notes fluently in both directions. That is real progress.

Adding B

Now find B — it is the white key immediately to the LEFT of C:

C

D

E

F

G

A

B

C

D

E

You do not need to play B with a specific finger yet. Just know where it is. Press it with RH finger 1 (thumb). Hear how it sounds lower than C.

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Repertoire (20 minutes)

“Hot Cross Buns” — Full Arrangement

You are about to play your first recognizable melody. You will learn it by rote — meaning by following the instructions below, not by reading sheet music. Reading comes in Session 2 and 3.

Tempo: Slow and steady — about 80 BPM (one note per beat). Do not worry about counting precisely yet. Just keep an even, walking pace.

Key: C position (starting on E)

Right Hand Only:

Place your RH with:

• Finger 1 (thumb) on C (Middle C)
• Finger 2 (index) on D
• Finger 3 (middle) on E

Here is the melody, measure by measure:

Right Hand (Treble):

X:1 T:Hot Cross Buns M:4/4 L:1/4 K:C "3"E "2"D "1"C2 | "3"E "2"D "1"C2 | "1"C "1"C "1"C "1"C | "2"D "2"D "2"D "2"D | "3"E "2"D "1"C2 |]

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Play Measure 1: Press E with finger 3, then D with finger 2, then C with finger 1. Hold C for two beats — it is a half note. Think: “Hot — Cross — Buuuns.”
2. Play Measure 2: Exact same thing. E(3), D(2), C(1) held. “Hot — Cross — Buuuns.”
3. Play Measure 3: Four C notes in a row with finger 1. Even rhythm. “One-a-pen-ny.”
4. Play Measure 4: Four D notes in a row with finger 2. Same even rhythm. “Two-a-pen-ny.”
5. Play Measure 5: Same as Measures 1 and 2. E(3), D(2), C(1) held. “Hot — Cross — Buuuns.”

Practice approach:

• First, play Measures 1-2 five times until they feel easy.
• Then play Measures 3-4 five times.
• Then play Measure 5 (same as 1-2, so it should be easy).
• Finally, play all 5 measures together from start to finish.

Adding Dynamics: Once you can play the melody from start to finish, try this:

• Play Measures 1-2 at medium volume.
• Play Measures 3-4 a little softer.
• Play Measure 5 a little louder — make it feel like a confident ending.

Congratulations — you just played your first melody on the piano. You are a pianist now.

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Review & Homework (10 minutes)

Summary

Today you learned:

• Correct sitting posture and hand shape
• Finger numbers 1-5 on both hands
• How to find C, D, E, and B on the keyboard using the black-key pattern
• That pressing harder = louder and pressing softer = quieter (touch response)
• “Hot Cross Buns” with your right hand — your first melody

Ear Training Exercise

Before you wrap up, try this listening exercise:

1. Play any key on the far LEFT side of the keyboard. Listen.
2. Now play any key on the far RIGHT side. Listen.
3. Which sounds higher? Which sounds lower? (Right side = higher, left side = lower.)
4. Now try the touch response test: play any note softly, then the same note loudly. Can you hear the difference clearly?

Do 5 pairs of high/low comparisons. Point to the higher one each time.

Self-Check Questions

1. What finger number is your thumb? (Answer: 1, on both hands)
2. How do you find the note C on the keyboard? (Answer: It is the white key immediately to the left of a group of 2 black keys)
3. What are the three notes in “Hot Cross Buns”? (Answer: E, D, and C)

Practice Homework (Before Next Session)

• Finger taps — RH: 1-2-3-4-5 and 5-4-3-2-1, then LH same. Do 10 repetitions each hand. (3 minutes daily)
• “Hot Cross Buns” — Play the full melody 5 times in a row without stopping. (5 minutes daily)
• Dynamic practice — Play “Hot Cross Buns” soft, then medium, then loud. (2 minutes daily)
• Keyboard exploration — Find every C on the keyboard (there are several — one for each group of 2 black keys). Press each one and listen to how they sound higher or lower. (2 minutes daily)
• Read Motivation And Mindset before your next session.

Total daily practice: approximately 12-15 minutes. Keep it short and enjoyable this week.

Common Mistakes to Watch For

• Flat fingers: If your fingers are straight and flat, you are pressing with the pads instead of the tips. Curve them gently — think of the orange in your hand.
• Wrist too high or too low: Your wrist should be level with your forearm. If it droops below the keys, you will strain your tendons. If it is arched high, you will lose control.
• Pressing too hard: Touch response does not mean smashing. Even “loud” should feel controlled. If your hand or forearm feels tense, shake it out and try again more gently.
• Rushing: “Hot Cross Buns” sounds best at a steady, even pace. If you speed up on the easy parts and slow down on the harder parts, practice the harder parts more.

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CT-X9000IN Tips

Powering On and Setting Up

1. Press the POWER button. The display lights up.
2. The keyboard defaults to Grand Piano (Tone 000). This is the best tone for learning. If you see a different tone number, press the TONE button, then use the number keys to type 000, then press ENTER.
3. Set the volume to a comfortable level using the VOLUME slider on the left side. Start at about 60% — you want to hear clearly without the sound being harsh.

Exploring Touch Response

Your keyboard’s touch response should be ON by default. To verify:

1. Press the FUNCTION button.
2. Navigate to the Touch Response setting.
3. It should be set to one of the sensitivity levels (Normal is fine for now). If it says OFF, change it to Normal.
4. With touch response on, experiment with how hard you press. This is the foundation of musical expression.

Tone Exploration (Reward Activity)

After you have practiced “Hot Cross Buns” on Grand Piano, try playing the same melody with different tones as a fun reward:

• Tone 049 (Strings) — your melody will sound orchestral
• Tone 026 (Electric Piano) — a jazzy, warm sound
• Tone 195 (Sitar) — an Indian string instrument sound

To change tones: Press TONE, type the three-digit number, press ENTER. Then play your melody and hear how different it sounds. Always return to Tone 000 (Grand Piano) for your main practice.