Printable Music Notes for Beginning Piano
"Wormies"
Printable music notes are really all these "Wormies" consist of: simple exercises that creep slowly along. This free sheet music for beginner pianists is a gentle, fun way to break into reading notes. No understanding of correct fingering required - use the "pointer" finger!
The only question is "Which way does the note go?"
These Wormies are an easy way for very young musicians to try their hand at notereading. Treating the musical staff like a ladder, students ask themselves, "Up? Down? Or the same?"
Start anywhere
Pick any key to start on -- you don't need to be able to find the correct place to start on the staff! The whole point of this exercise is just to determine the direction of the notes, not the actual note names.
Download Printable Music Notes Wormies
Forget about fingering
I ask students not to worry about good fingering. Using only their pointer finger (finger 2) and choosing any white note on which to begin, they go up or down the "ladder" as they read across each Wormie.
Don't play them too many times
Usually, I ask kids to play one Wormie a day just two times (to help prevent memorization!), and to try a different Wormie every day. At the next lesson, instead of hearing them play ALL the Wormies, I'll ask them to choose their favorite to play for me. It's usually number 4, because they know it's hardest!
No extra symbols to worry about
Notice that there are no clef symbols -- just a plain, uncluttered staff with lines and spaces. With notes made extra large on purpose, following the very short lines of "music" is pretty easy.
There's another version, longer & trickier
Snakes, which are just longer Wormies, is the next note-reading step. Very likely, your beginning notereaders can by-pass Wormies altogether...but even older beginners of ten and eleven love the simplicity of Wormies, and quickly grasp the principle of moving notes.
It's a beginning!
More songs especially for new beginners:
Black Keys songs - a whole page of songs set to lyrics and poems, all on black keys!
C&B & C&D - Left hand, then right hand, play little songs with lyrics that make them fool-proof.
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What Other Visitors Have Said
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Thanks for the Wormies! Not rated yet
Hi, I'm a music teacher working in Thailand and I have been frustrated that my students learn the song BEFORE they learn the notes. I mean they don't really …
Tanya:
Thank you so much for giving the letters to these songs. My girls are finally willing to touch the piano, and are now asking to take formal lessons, because they have realized that it is not as intimidating as they thought.
Carol:
I wanted to thank you. Several of the songs on this site work so well for some of my picky students and the ones who don't practice a lot.
Kelli:
I am so relieved to have found this site!! I have been struggling as a music student, not having any previous instruction in high school. I am starting from scratch and this is a wonderful tool!! Kudos to you!! God Bless you!
Debbie, Nashville, TN:
I have been looking for a very, very long time for a website like this! WOW! I have been teaching for over 20 years and it's nice to have a resource such as this!
Elania:
I have been slowly giving my oldest daughter whatever my memory can dredge up, scouring the internet for free music she can do, but your website with its instructions AND tips on how to teach pieces are going to help me SO much in this endeavor. I just wanted to tell you thank you. Really really! THANK YOU!
Yolanda:
I used to teach piano lessons, and then did not for a number of years. Now, suddenly, I have 3 beginning students and I am thrilled. I was looking for printable scales and found your wonderful website. Thank you so much. I know this will be a big help to me and my students.
Joy: I bought your Halloween Songs, wrote teacher accompaniment for some, and performed with 17 of my students in costume at an assisted living facility. It was a "win-win" situation. The kids and residents loved it and the parents were very pleased with the service aspect of their children's performance as well. Thank you for sharing these lovely pieces that introduce the minor key in a very simple and interesting way to early elementary students.
Paulette:
Thanks so much for your amazing website. :0 Can't wait to share with my students. I bought the more difficult arrangement of "The Moldau". Seems like a great recital piece for some lucky student!!
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