Top 10 things to know
Level 3B Concepts
- Units grouped by major and relative minor keys
- Am, Dm, and Em natural and harmonic minor scales with primary chords (i, iv, V7)
- Motive and sequence
- Octave playing and one-octave arpeggios
- Major/minor 3rds and 12 major and minor triads
- 12-bar blues chord progression
- Root position and 1st and 2nd chord inversions
- 16th-note rhythm patterns
- Four Level 3B Technique Secrets:
– Closed Hand for Scale Passages
– The Up-Touch
– Voicing the Melody
– Open Hand for Extensions - For play-along Audio fun:pianoadventures.com/audio
Top 5 things to do
Level 3B Teaching Actions
- Once students have learned relative minor, ask for both the major and relative minor key as you start a piece. Coach to name the correct key by noting the harmony and final measure.
- Find where the Technique Secrets apply in the pieces. Discuss to improve artistry.
- Memorize a piece, a section of a piece, or an exercise in every unit.
- Challenge students to memorize Am, Em, and Dm 2-octave minor scales. Play at lessons as a warm-up — each scale 3 times up and down without stopping.
- Consider the 3B Sightreading Book also as a transposing book for other major and minor keys.
The best advice
A great technique involves the “two powerhouses,” scales and arpeggios. Consider creating a daily warm-up in which the student leads with ideas for content. Watch finger agility grow weekly!