Lesson Plans
-
Anatomy of a Melody, Part 1
Posted on May 20th, 2008 No commentsSummary:
Using balance to create a successful melodic line — You are given a chord and a matching scale and told, “Now go improvise!” You begin to play and just cannot seem to express anything remotely satisfying. You figure maybe your ear is no good, or maybe you just don’t have what it takes to be a good improviser. Sound familiar? Don’t lose hope just yet! Improvising using chords and scales gets easier if you take some time to examine what really makes a solid melody. The key to crafting a successful melody lies in understanding one simple concept: balance.
read more... -
4-Step Practice Guide
Posted on May 31st, 2001 No commentsSummary:
Step 1: Divide the song into smaller sections.
read more...
Step 2: Practice and learn each section, one at a time.
Step 3: Combine sections, two at a time.
Step 4: Practice the whole song. -
How to Practice: A Summary
Posted on May 31st, 2001 No commentsSummary:
DECIDE which parts you play well and which parts still need work.
read more...
PRACTICE the PROBLEM SPOTS the most.
Work on ONE PROBLEM AT A TIME.
Practice smaller PHRASES, one at a time.
SLOW DOWN. -
How to Practice Effectively and Learn That Song!
Posted on May 31st, 2001 No commentsSummary:
The time you spend with your piano teacher can be really fun and exciting. You get to learn new songs and a whole lot of other details about music making. The time you spend away from your teacher — your practice time — can be just as inspiring. Practicing gives you a chance to learn your assignments and to have fun on your own with your piano. I think it is exciting to approach each new song in the same way that you would approach a crossword puzzle or word search: approach it as a challenge. The great thing about learning the piano is that each new song you learn can make you an even better piano player. Your goal with every piece you practice should be to perform the piece confidently, correctly, and with feeling. The song should be played with accurate rhythms, correct fingerings, and not only the right notes, but with a clear knowledge and recognition of what letter each note on the page receives.
read more... -
An Introduction to The Grand Staff
Posted on May 31st, 2001 No commentsSummary:
Piano players read notes on one big staff made up of ten lines. This is called a grand staff. Because we use two hands to play the piano, the grand staff is split into two staffs made up of five lines each. The upper staff is usually played by the right hand. It is usually seen with a treble clef in front of it. The lower staff is usually played by the left hand. It is usually seen with a bass clef in front of it.
read more...