Is "How I Am" good for a child learning piano?

Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.

What age can start with "How I Am"?

Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.

Do we need a piano teacher to use this?

No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.

Can we print the sheet music?

Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.

How many chords does "How I Am" use?

Just 29 chords: A, Ab, Ab6, Abmaj7, Asus4, B, Bm, Bm7, +21 more. Take it one section at a time.

What other Mindi Dickstein songs work for kids?

Try "TAKE A CHANCE ON ME", "Could You", "Our Finest Dreams". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.

Super Simple Piano

How I Am

· by Mindi Dickstein

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Lyrics

She (D)asks how I am.

read And (Em7sus4)so how am I?

My (F#m7)days are the u su al (Bm7)days:

I wake (C)up; I go out.

What more Time goes (A7sus4)by.

My (G)days are ex act ly the (F#m7)days I have lived since ar (Bm7)riv ing here.

In (G)fact, how I am is a (F#m7)mazed how this com forts me (Bm)year by year.

I (C)work and I eat.

Life is muf fins and (A7sus4)jam.

The (Em7)house is nice and (F#m7)qui et now.

That is how I (D)am.

Five (D)years in these rooms

read ing (Em7sus4)He gel and Kant.

My (F#m7)mind is de vot ed to (Bm7)thoughts

of the (C)mean ing of life.

What more could I (A7sus4)want?

So (G)why is it late ly I (F#m7)find I’m un eas y all (Bm7)through the night?

And (G)why e ven now does my (F#m7)skin feel ex plo sive as (Bm)dy na mite?

Why (C)does my heart pound

like a bat ter ing (A7sus4)ram?

How (Em7)can she ask me (F#m7)how I am?

That is how I (D)am.

Five

How I am is (B)fine!

(B)Dear Miss March, there is (E)noth ing dra (B)mat ic or (F#)new to re (B)port.

(F#)This will be (B)short.

(B)Morn ing and eve ning I (E)live in my (B)u su al way.

On the (E)day you re (B)turn you will (F#)see for your (B)self!

(C)Tell me, Miss (C)March, are you (F)hap py so (C)far from the (Dm)clang and the (C)beat of our (F)tur bu lent (C)street?

Quite (F)of ten I (C)think of our (G5)days in New (C)York.

Though, of (Fmaj7)course, since you (C)went I have (G7sus4)been quite con (Ab)tent.

(Ab)Ach!

I wake in the morn ing and all that I hear is the (Ab)ab sence of (Gb)sound.

(Ab)Yes!

My peace is dis turbed, but the ruck us is me as my (Ab)thoughts run a (Gb)ground.

(Gb)I (B)want ed a life by my self in these rooms, but (A)now all a round me, an oth er life looms.

Who (G#m)asked her to come and to (F#)go and to leave me like (E)that?

And (C#m7)now she ex pects me to (D#m7)send her a note?

With (C#m7)words, if I spoke, that would (D#m7)stick in my throat!

Who (G)asked her to change how I live,

how I (Em7)think,

how I (Gm6)am?

She

That is how I (D)am.

How I Am by Mindi Dickstein — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “How I Am” by Mindi Dickstein in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of D at 98 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "How I Am" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "How I Am"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "How I Am" use?: Just 29 chords: A, Ab, Ab6, Abmaj7, Asus4, B, Bm, Bm7, +21 more. Take it one section at a time.
What other Mindi Dickstein songs work for kids?: Try "TAKE A CHANCE ON ME", "Could You", "Our Finest Dreams". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.