Beginner piece
How to play Hot Cross Buns on piano
A street cry from London, and the first tune many students play. It uses only three notes, E, D and C, so it is a good first test of reading the staff.
- Composer
- Traditional
- Level
- Beginner
- Key
- C major
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Hands
- Right hand
What makes it tricky
- The tune has a lot of repeated notes. Count the long notes out loud so a held note does not turn into two.
- Keep the hand still. Three fingers on three neighbouring keys, no hopping.
A three-step practice plan
- Say the note names aloud, then play them: E D C.
- Play it slowly, saying the beat count (1 2 3 4) as you go.
- Play it three times in a row without a wrong note before you speed up.