Will Labeling Piano Keys Speed Up The Learning Process?

Did you know that labeling the piano keys can help you to learn the instrument faster? Everybody wants to learn the piano quickly and become a master pianist but as a newbie struggling to learn different keys on the piano this could take a while.

Based on most seasoned pianists advice, they will tell you that labeling the keys can help plenty. Sure, most of the pundits in the musical education industry do applaud this fact as beneficial to learning.

But even then, controversy still exists, and some believe that labeling the piano keys will do the opposite; not aid the pianist but have them over-rely on these stickers.

Now, don’t fret – there’s never a right answer, and every method works differently for each person. So, let us discuss whether labeling your piano keys is the right choice!

FAQs About Labeling the Piano Keys

What are Piano Keys?

Piano keys are a set of a button on a specially designed board that usually comes in two colors – black and white – which represent the natural and sharp/flat notes. The piano keys come in three different sizes they are 61 keys, 76 keys, and 88 keys. The piano keys were originally made of ivory but the modern type of keyboard or digital piano mostly uses high-quality plastic that looks and feels like ivory called “Ivorite”.

To Label or Not to Label the Piano Keys?

Our straight-up answer is yes, and no. This method depends from person to person. Those with strong memorization skills will probably not have to label their piano keys; everything automatically pops into their head and makes it easier to play the instrument with a natural flow.

Whereas, those who find it hard to memorize all the keys at once may struggle to play an entire piece in the beginning. Usually, the younger children are the ones who fall into the latter group. It can be tough for them to master everything at the same time; playing the instrument itself, learning the music pieces, synchronization, and so on.

Aside from knowing where they can brush up on their piano skills – such as attending piano classes for toddlers or kids, depending on the child’s age. Parents can feedback to the music instructor to add labels or come out with some other simple way to help a child grasp the piano keys. Children will definitely require more guidance and time to get the hang of the musical instrument as compared to adults.

Meanwhile, most would only advise those who are complete beginners to use labels as an adult. After all, if you aspire to be a pianist at a higher level, you can’t have the labels there.

So, regardless of whether you’re an adult or a child – you may have to consider joining basic piano lessons for beginners to get you started. Labels do plenty, but an experienced music instructor can do even more.

What to Use to Label a Piano Keyboard?

Once you have decided to label your piano keyboard, the next step will be labeling the keys. Obviously, you don’t want to damage/ruin the beautiful piano keys just by drawing them with a marker right?! Using pre-printed colored stickers is the answer.

Colored stickers can help you memorize each key placement. These stickers can be found anywhere, you can buy them in a book store, stationery store, or at our online store, check this page to learn more: ABC or 123 Piano Stickers. You can write each key name on the stickers, and once you have advanced, the stickers can be easily removed.

How to Label a Piano Keyboard? Color-coding!

So, let’s throw in another question: is there an ideal way of labeling the keys on the piano? According to professionals, using coded colors as a label for the keys is better than letters and images on the keys.

Nonetheless, all three methods will help you in the memorization process – so you can pick the one that is most convenient for you. But, let’s go into the color-coding method a little.

Using color coding even solidifies your memory skills further. For example, when you label the keys using red dots on the G’s and yellow stickers on the C’s, you will still need to recall which colors refer to which letters and keys on the piano.

The aim is not to play the piano using the marked keys forever. Instead, it is to learn how to play the piano faster.

Using color codes, in itself, helps to boost your memory and makes you learn even faster. Another impressive way to use labeling is to mark a few keys on the keyboard while ignoring others.

For instance, you can label the F’s, C’s, and A’s, while leaving the rest blank. This makes a student learn faster while still preserving their mastering skills.

Conclusion

Be it a digital piano, an acoustic piano, or an electronic keyboard – labeling can be applied to any of these musical instruments. However, you will still need to remove the labels gradually. The end goal is to make sure students play the piano professionally without referring to any labels.