What method books do you use?

Over the years, we've upgraded our piano teaching methods to ensure we keep up with what clicks with children and their curiosity, interests, and joy for learning. We customize a program specifically for your child's learning and while we emphasize the value of learning the traditional elements of classical piano, we also love to make sure your child's FIRST piano learning experience is fun, engaging, and child-centered. This could include singing, improvisation, art, games, videos, apps, and more! 

Our Happy Keys Music & Piano group piano for kids programs offer a cyclical and consistent structure approach to teaching and learning which allows students to revisit concepts and deepen their understanding each week. Along with our levelled challenges, students of various abilities are able to be in a group class. This also allows us to intake new students throughout the year and add new times and dates.

Our piano school uses a combination of tried and tested method books, technology, and follows pedagogical and examinable requirements. These method books may include a combination of Wunderkeys, Alfred’s Piano, Piano Adventures, Supersonics Piano, Piano Maestro, and the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) and many other applications through the iPad such as Tonara. We are authorized to offer the KeyNotes Group Piano Program (4+) and Harmony Road Music Program exclusively and these are group piano programs that are internationally recognized. We invest in these programs yearly to ensure we keep up to date with what our students' needs are.

Early Years Music & Piano (3.5-4.5 y.o.)

Join our Wunderbies friends and meet Beethoven Bear and Mozart Mouse in a fun group piano and musical adventure through the Music for Little Mozarts and WunderKeys for Preschoolers Piano Program! 

This group lesson includes: singing, listening, movement, rhythm activities, and beginning activities on the keyboard.

​This group piano program has 3 levels with each level consisting of 13 sessions each.

This program is best suited for children who have been to childcare or preschool and have shown an interest in learning the piano and developing their find motor skills.

Program Duration: 25 min per week

Practice Commitment: 40 to 50 minutes per week in total

Parent Participation: Required for online at all times. For in-person, last 5 minutes of each lesson.

Sample Skills & Concepts

Musical Elements
  • Dynamics: concept of loud/soft
  • Tempo: concept of fast/slow
  • Structure: 2-bar repeated melody
  • Pitch: concept of high/low/middle
  • Melodies: move by step
  • Math Concepts: Numbers 1-5, one-to-one correspondence, patterns (AB/ABA/AABB)
​
Pitch Names/Notation
  • Pre-reader – melodic contour with rhythmic notation
  • All note names as animals
  • Focus on black keys

Listening
  • Classical music, traditional folk music, and music composed for lessons while colouring pages with illustrations of the lesson

Singing
  • Folk Songs for interests
  • Songs with words with a focus on rhythm and/or melody
  • Songs to expressive musical elements for creativity

Movement
  • Songs with words and motions
  • Creative movements
  • Structured movements
Techniques & Articulation on Piano
  • Bubble hand
  • LH and RH Recognition
  • Finger Independence
  • Concept of held notes and short
    notes 

Rhythms & Time Signatures
  • Quarter Notes, Half Notes, Whole Notes
  • Songs mainly in 4/4
​
Keys
  • Introduction to note names on the keys

Musical Instruments
  • Body Percussion (stamps, claps, etc)
  • Percussion Instruments (hand drums, sticks and wood blocks, shakers, jingle bells, triangles,etc)
    • Adding "colour" to stories and songs
    • Illustrate pattern changes
  • Pitched Instruments (xylophones)

How do virtual sessions work?

  • Sessions: 13 
    • 13 weekly
  • Time: 30 minutes total weekly
    • 15 minutes live lessons
    • 15 minutes video lessons
  • Workbooks: WunderKeys Piano For Preschoolers, Book 1 
    • Purchase on Amazon.


Young Beginner's Piano (4.5-5.5 y.o.)

​We are super excited to offer the Little KeyNotes Group Piano program for ages 4.5-5.5, providing foundations of piano playing for our budding learners, using songs, and games.

​This program introduces students to musical elements (i.e., dynamics, tempo, structure, pitch, melodies, pre-reader - keyboard notes, technique (i.e., bubble hand, 5 Finger Scales), rhythm, time signatures, and songs!

Students will obtain secure knowledge of keyboard geography, finger independence, basic rhythms, and the ability to apply learning to other activities and tasks.

This program is best suited for students who are learning notes on the keyboard, building keyboard awareness, and are ready to have fun learning with others.

There are 5 levels in this program. We recommend taking "Animal Alphabets" first, and then you can choose in any order after. Students do not need to complete all 5 levels in order to move onto the next program level.

Practice Commitment: 60 to 75 min per week in total

Parent Participation: Required for online at all times. For in-person, last 5 minutes of each lesson.

Please Note: ​Students need to know their alphabets A-G and numbers 1-5 in order to fully start the Young Beginner's Piano Program.

Skills, Concepts and Theory

Musical Elements
  • Dynamics: loud/soft
  • Tempo: fast/slow
  • Structure: ABA
  • Pitch: high/low
  • Melodies: move

Repertoire
  • Individual song choices

Composition

Singing
  • Sing while playing their song
  • Sing with expression 
  • Beginning Solfege hand signs

Pitch Names/Notation
  • Pre-reader - melodic contour with rhythmic notation
  • All note names as letters
  • Reader version includes treble clef notation
Music Appreciation
​
Techniques & Articulation
  • Bubble hand
  • Staccato
  • Floating wrist
  • Long sounds

Rhythms & Time Signatures
  • Quarter Notes, Half Notes, Whole Notes and Eighth notes
  • Songs in 4/4, 3/4 and 2/4
  • Tie Notes
​
Scales, Chords & Keys
  • Songs in C Major and A Minor
  • 5-finger scales
  • Chords I and Vb
  • Broken Chords

Sample Session

  • Game or song to introduce new concept
  • Making a virtual piano with laminated keyboards and using pompoms to find the note for the lesson
  • Finding the note on the piano, colouring it in on our workbook and drawing the letter name
  • Singing and playing the song for the lesson, singing lyrics, finger numbers and letter names
  • Children practice at their home keyboards (with headphones) and perform their piece as both a solo and ensemble once they are all ready
  • Lesson ends with a game/song!

Elementary Beginner's Piano (6-11 y.o.)

​We are super excited to offer the KeyNotes Storytellers Group Piano program for ages 6-12, providing foundations of piano playing for our budding learners, using songs, and games. There are 4 fun fairytale-based story workbooks in this program and at the end of our 12 weeks, we will do a group performance called "Watching Week" on our 13th class.

Meet new friends, jump right into line notes, learn at your own pace, and most importantly, learn a new musical skill!

This program is best suited for students who are ready to learn notes on the staff, enjoy fairytale stories, and are ready to grow their ensemble playing skills and piano technique.

There are 5 fun workbooks in this program and at the end of our 12 weeks, we will do a group performance called "Watching Week" on our 13th class. There are 3 levels in the Foundations One program.

Successful completion of book of Foundations One may lead to Prep A / Prep B Royal Conservatory of Music Piano. Companion books will be used in addition to the lesson books which will include: music theory, technique sight-reading, and repertoire. Students will be encouraged to take their first RCM Prep A/B exam as a part of completing the Elementary Piano Level.

Program Duration: ​50 min per week

Practice Commitment: 75 to 90 min per week in total

Parent Participation: Required for online at all times. For in-person, last 5 minutes of each lesson.
Please Note: Students who have completed the Little KeyNotes Program can join Storytellers. Students have have never had piano lessons before can also join the Storytellers. 
First Session: Goldilocks & the 3 Bears (Recommended)

Next Sessions: Jack & the Beanstalk, The Gingerbread Man, The Three Little Pigs, Tortoise and the Hare (Taken in any order)

In addition, we may combine additional method books and materials to supplement our group class learners. Piano Adventures® (5+)

For students taking their first exam, an additional "add on" RCM prep group or private sessions will be required.

Never miss a lesson again!

If you happen to miss a class,
​you can rewatch the live lesson and learn at your own time.

Skills, Concepts and Theory

Musical Elements
  • Dynamics: pp, p, f, ff, crescendo, mp, mf, szf
  • Tempo: Adagio, Andante, Allegro, Presto, ​Allegretto, Maestoso
  • Structure: Using A, B and C to describe sections; AB Binary form; finished and unfinished phrases. Question and answer phrasing / call and response, repeat signs
  • Pitch: Middle C, treble C to high A
  • Melodies: move by step, 2nds, 3rds, 5ths and octaves, use all interval
  • ​Accents
​
​Pieces
  • Individual Song Choices
  • RCM Prep A or Prep B

Composition

Singing
  • Sing while playing their song and with the ensemble
  • Sing with confidence
  • Solfege hand signs

​Technique & Articulation
  • Position shifts
  • Long, sustained sounds
  • Continuing work on staccato and legato technique
  • Left-hand melodies
Music Appreciation

​Pitch Names/Notation
  • Bubble hand
  • 5-finger C position – RH
  • Moving hand position
  • Playing in octaves (across RH and LH)
  • Concept of staccato and legato, beginning technique
  • Treble clef notation – middle C to high A
  • Bass clef notation - Low E to middle C
  • Grand staff and concept of space notes and line notes
  • Mnemonics – FACE, Every Green Bus Drives Fast
  • Relative reading – sight reading
  • Melodies that move by step and 3rds, then 4ths/5ths

Rhythms & Time Signatures
  • Eighth, Quarter, Half, Whole notes and Half rest and Whole rests
  • Dotted rhythms
  • Songs in 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4, occasional 6/8
​
Scales, Chords & Keys
  • Songs in C major, A minor, G major, F major, E minor
  • 5-finger scales in C major, D major, F major, E minor, D minor
  • One-octave scales in C major, G major, A minor
  • Chords I and Vb in C major, G major, A minor​
  • Primary chords in C major and G major

Ear Training
  • Clapback
  • Chords
  • Playback

Intermediate Piano (Grade 1 to 4)

​We are super excited to offer the KeyNotes Foundations Group Piano program for students who have successfully completed the Happy Keys Piano Elementary Beginner's Piano Program. 

This program is best suited for students who are ready to further develop their piano reading fluency skills, exploring various genres of music, and engaging in topic-based songs, games, and of course the group setting.

There are 5 fun workbooks in this program and at the end of our 12 weeks, we will do a group performance called "Watching Week" on our 13th class. There are 2 levels in the Foundations Two program.

Successful completion of book of Foundations Two may lead to Grade 1 Royal Conservatory of Music Piano. Companion books will be used in addition to the lesson books which will include: music theory, technique sight-reading, and repertoire. Students will be encouraged to take their RCM Prep Grade 1 and Grade 3 exam as a part of completing the Intermediate Piano Level.

​For those who are older and are learning piano for leisure and fun, students can continue into the Progressions One program, we can work on chord playing, composition, building technique, specific pieces, and/or anything that you would like to learn!

Program Duration: 90 min per week

Practice Commitment: 120 to 200+ min per week in total

Parent Participation: Required for online at all time to be nearby. For in-person, last 5 minutes of each lesson.

​Please Note: Students who have successfully completed the Elementary Piano Program will be invited to join. Transfer students who have already started Grade 1 RCM may join depending on availability.

​For students taking their first exam, an additional "add on" RCM prep group or private sessions will be required.

Skills, Concepts and Theory

Musical Elements
  • Dynamics: use all 
  • Tempo: use all
  • Structure: AB, ABA, ABBA, and all
  • Pitch: use all
  • Melodies: use all interval
​
​Pieces
  • Individual Song Choices
  • RCM Exam Grade 1 to Grade 4

Composition & Improvisation

Singing
  • Sing while playing their song and with the ensemble
  • Sing with confidence
  • Sing in the head along with tapping or clapping a beat

​Technique & Articulation
  • Position shifts
  • Detailed Slurs
  • Touch techniques
  • Pedalling

Exams and Festivals
  • Participate in Grade 1  or Grade 2 RCM
  • Participate in Grade 3 or Grade 4 RCM
  • Participate in all.
Music Appreciation

Sight Reading
  • 60 Seconds Club
  • Melodies beyond 5-finger scales in C major, G major, F major, A minor, D minor
  • Four-measure passage hands together:
    • C major, G major, D major, F major, A minor, D minor, E minor

Rhythms & Time Signatures
  • Eighth, Dotted Eighth, Quarter, Dotted Quarter, Half, Dotted Half, Sixteenth, Whole notes,  and Half rest and Whole rests
  • Dotted rhythms
  • Songs in 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4, occasional 6/8
​
Scales, Chords & Keys
  • 5-finger scales in C major, D major, F major, E minor, D minor
  • Two-octave scales
    • C major, G major, F major, A minor, E minor, D minor
    • G major, F major, B(flat) major, E minor, D minor, G minor
    • D major, F major, B(flat) major, B minor, D minor, G minor
    • D major, A major, B(flat) major, E(flat) major, B minor, G minor, C minor
  • Chromatic Scales
  • Contrary Motion Scales
  • Formula Patterns
  • Arpeggios
    • D major, A major, B(flat) major, E(flat) major, B minor, G minor, C minor
  • Chords (Solid/Broken)
    • C major, G major, F major, A minor, E minor, D minor
    • G major, F major, B(flat) major, E minor, D minor, G minor
    • D major, F major, B(flat) major, B minor, D minor, G minor
    • D major, A major, B(flat) major, E(flat) major, B minor, G minor, C minor
Ear Training
  • Chords: Major or Minor Triads in Root Position
  • Clapback / Playback
    • 5 notes in keys of C major, G major, A minor
    • 5 notes in keys of C major, F major, D minor, recognize tonic and dominant
    • 5 to 6 notes in keys of D major, F major, D minor, G minor; recognize tonic, mediant, and dominant
    • 6 to 8 notes in keys of D major, A major, G minor, C minor; recognize tonic, mediant, and dominant
  • Intervals
    • Major 3rd, Minor 3rd
    • Perfect 5th
    • Perfect 4th
    • Perfect 8th

Have a question about our program?

We'd love to answer any questions for you.
⭐Be creative. Be committed. Be the best you!⭐​