‘Balalaika’ a Russian traditional song for preschoolers learning piano by Piano Comics

You can teach this song in a music classroom training rhythm and body orchestra like in this video. 

Another way I’ve taught it was to have preschoolers play only the first 2 keys of each phrase, which are the same notes going down step by step.  A 3rd way was to give it to a piano beginner ( his 4th piano lesson) after he had learnt the easy part (previous way) with his own initiative he finished the whole song since ‘Well, I already know half the song so only half is left.’ as he stated himself. One more way to teach it is to add a simple left hand like in this video as accompaniment. And lastly, you can teach it as a piano duet for a richer harmonic and rhythmic musical weave.

tip: Don’t underestimate the process of drawing keys in front of your student as you sing along soflty and slowly, especially that easy part where the 2 keys are the same and go down step by step. Let the future musician see for himself how music is depicted in real time, space so that he realises it’s not something complex, or only for grown-ups or ‘talented people’ because whatever gets explained, revealed, gets to become possible in a childs’ mind.

 Overmore, try and find this piece from different keys ( transporto in other tonalities) and train the students’ musical ear and finger movements. Because it’s an easy piece architecturally, has the same motifs and neighbour keys and movements.

Have a fun practice, Hei Hoi!

Download all levels and versions of ‘Balalaika’ here: