Primer Level Lesson Book, Pg. 58, Football Game First there’s a warm-up to the warm-up! Philip practices the left-hand trick (skipping up and down from the new bass C), then the right-hand trick (playing the broken fifth). That reinforces the skipping finger feel and prepares him for those measures in…
Read more →
Video of the Week
Level 3A-3B, FunTime Jazz and Blues, Love Potion No. 9 Who doesn’t like to have fun playing pop tunes with crazy lyrics and zippy syncopations? Sam clearly enjoys the modal flavors and bouncy rhythms that are served up in this love potion concocted by “that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth.”…
Read more →
Level 2B Performance Book, Pg. 28-29, Horseman’s Night Ride This horse knows where he’s going! The right hand keeps a steady hold on the rein while the left hand hoof beats gallop with softer “clops” over the leaves in the forest. The piece can be learned in an andante 3/4 until the…
Read more →
Primer Level Lesson Book, Pg. 45, Frogs on Logs Jumping frogs might land in different places. The first test of finger 2 moving to other keys sets up the action. By circling the repeated notes, Vivian sees that these frogs are really hopping! After she learns the pattern in the…
Read more →
Developing Artist Preparatory Piano Literature, Pg. 16, Circle Dance Warming up with A Minor five-finger scales, Sam is learning to express “con moto.” He clearly makes his “con moto” approach a musical shape, and he applies this idea to Circle Dance with natural ease. It’s evident that he is thinking…
Read more →
Level 1 Lesson Book, Pg. 56, Bongo Drummers Kai and Nancy make a great team of bongo drummers as they groove together! In this video, Kai navigates the keyboard with ease as she transfers between each octave. Her “O-shaped” hand helps her drop into the key as she feels the…
Read more →
Level 1 Lesson Book, Pg. 58, Dinosaur Stomp Stomp like a dinosaur tail! Vivian melts into a ball of giggles as she imagines her arm as the dinosaur’s tail playing the last note. She’s got the hang of the weighted arm drop as she plays a robust fortissimo low C…
Read more →
Level 2B Lesson Book, Pg. 32, Camptown Races This dynamic duo is off to the races! Philip puts into practice his learning of tonic and dominant chords as he plays the accompaniment for Camp Town Races for his teacher. Philip stays steady as a rock as Nancy creates fun and…
Read more →
Level 2A, Performance Book, Pg. 6-7, Theme and Variation Listen to this Theme and Variation become a piece of chamber music! With the accompaniment providing supportive and contrapuntal lines, and with a flute doubling the melodic line, Kai learns how it feels and sounds to be part of a small…
Read more →
Level 2B, Lesson Book, Pg. 30, Viva la France Viva la France gets a “face lift” as Philip transposes this piece with a “jazzed-up” rhythm in different keys. Many pieces at Levels 1 through 2B are written to allow the student to transpose, moving the hand between familiar positions. This…
Read more →