Unit 1_Introduction to Playing_Lesson 2

The Music Alphabet

Each white key as a letter name from the music alphabet: A B C D E F G

Name that Key:

• Play and name aloud the white keys from lowest to highest. (Use L.H. finger 3 for lower notes; R.H. finger 3 for higher notes.) Listen to the sound going higher 

Middle C (The C in the middle of the keyboard)

• Find a "A" in the middle of the keyboard. (Look for the three-black-key group. The A key is between black keys town and three.)
• Play and sing the music alphabet up and down. Use R.H. finger 2.

a example is provided in the book...

Learning C-D-E

Use the 2-black-key group to locate C-D-E.

 

1. Begin in the MIDDLE of the piano. Play piano (p). Using R.H. fingers 2-3-4, play all the C-D-E's together going up, then down the keyboard.
2. Begin in the MIDDLE of the piano. Play forte (f). Using L.H. fingers 4-3-2, play all the C-D-E's together going down, then up the keyboard.

Interval

An interval is the distance between town keys, including the first and last key. From C up to E isn the interval of a third (3rd). The interval of a third spans three letter names.

3.  Begin in the MIDDLE of the keyboard. Use R.H. fingers 1 and 3. With the damper pedal down, play C and E broken, then blocked going higher and higher up the keyboard. Play forte (f).

• Repeat using R.H. fingers 2 and 4 on C and E. 
• Repeat using L.H. fingers 5 and 3 on C and E.

4. Begin in MIDDLE of the keyboard. USe L.H fingers 3 and 1. With the damper pedal down, play C and E broken, then blocked going lower and lower down the keyboard. Play piano (p).

• Repeat using L.H. fingers 4 and 2 on C and E.
• Repeat using L.H. fingers 5 and 3 on C and E.

Merrily We Roll Along

Practice Suggestions: 

1. Tap (or clap) the rhythm, counting aloud.
2. Playing in the middle of the piano, say or sing:

           a) finger numbers     b) letter names    c) counts

Check Hand Placement in book...  

Learning F-G-A-B

Use the 3-black-key group to locate F-G-A-B.

  

1. Begin in the MIDDLE of the keyboard. Play forte (f). Using R.H. fingers 2-3-4-5, play all the F-G-A-B's together going up, then down the keyboard.
2.  Begin in the MIDDLE of the keyboard. Play piano (p). Using L.H. fingers 5-4-3-2, play all the F-G-A-B's together going down, then up the keyboard.
3. Begin in the MIDDLE of the keyboard. Use R.H. fingers 1 and 3 on F and A. With the damper pedal down play F and A broken, then blocked going higher and higher up the keyboard. Play forte (f).

• Repeat using R.H. fingers 2 and 4 on F and A.
• Repeat using R.H. fingers 3 and 5 on F and A.

4. Begin in the Middle of the keyboard. Use L.H. fingers 3 and 1. With the damper pedal down play F and A broken, then blocked going lower and lower down the keyboard. Play forte (f).

• Repeat using L.H. fingers 4 and 2 on F and A.
• Repeat using L.H. fingers 5 and 3 on F and A. 

 Transoposing

Playing the same piece using different keys

is called transposing.

On page 13, you played Merrily We Roll Along 

 using keys C-D-E.

On the next page, Merrily We Roll Along

is Transposed to keys F-G-A.

 

The Measure 

A measure is a group of beats.

Measure within the same piece usually have the same number of beats.

Bar lines 

divide the music into measures.

Keep the rhythm flowing smoothly over the bar lines.

• Study the musical example below.

 

Merrily We Roll Along

• How many measures are in Merrily We Roll Along?
• How many beats are in each measure?
• Follow the Practice Suggestion on p. 13. 

 

Unit 1_Introduction to Playing_Lesson 1

1. Distance

• Sit straight on the front half of the bench with your body weight balanced.
• With your arms extended out, your knuckles should reach the fallboard. If you have to lean, move the bench forward.

2. Seating Height Check

• With shoulders relaxed, place your hands on the keys. Your forearms should be level with keyboard. adjust your seating height up or down, as needed.
• Are you sitting straight, yet with shoulders down and relaxed?

3. Hand Position

• Let your arms hang loosely at your sides. Notice the natural curve of your fingers.
• Now gently place your hands on the keys.

It is important to keep a relaxed, rounded hand position as you play the piano.

 

Finger Numbers

Each finger is given a number--1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The thumb is finger 1.

 

Finger Number Warm-ups:

1. Place your hands in a rounded hand position on your lap.

• Gently "scratch" finger 1's.
• Gently "scratch" finger 2's.
• Gently "scratch" finger 3's.
• Gently "scratch" finger 4's.
• Gently "scratch" finger 5's.

2. With a rounded hand position and firm fingertips:

• Choose any white key and play it with RIGHT HAND finger 1 (thumb), then 2, then 3, then 4, then 5. (Hint: Play the thumb on the side tip.)
• Choose any white key and play it with RIGHT HAND finger 5, then 4, then 3, then 2, then 1.
• Choose any white key and play it with LEFT HAND finger 1, then 2, then 3, then 4, then 5.
• Choose any white key and play it with LEFT HAND finger 5, then 4, then 3, then 2, then 1. 

The Damper Pedal

Depress the damper pedal with the ball of your right foot.

Keep your heel on the floor and your foot in contact with the surface of the pedal.

• Repeat Finger Number Warm-up 2 above using the damper pedal. Listen to the sustained sound. (Lift the pedal between each example.) 

High and Low on the Keyboard

The piano KEYBOARD has white keys and black keys.
Notice the black keys alternate between groups of two and three.

 
Raindrops (for R.H.)

• Use R.H. fingers 2 and 3 together. Play the 2-black-key groups going UP, then back DOWN the keyboard (higher, then lower).
• Beging and end in the Middle of the keyboard.
• Play piano (softly, sinking gently into the keys). Depress the damper pedal throughout.

piano is the Italian work for soft, quiet.

P is the abbreviation for piano.

Thunder (for L.H.)

• Use L.H. fingers 2 and 3 together. Play the 2-black-key groups going DOWN, then back UP the keyboard (lower, then higher).
• Begin and end in the MIDDLE of the keyboard.
• Play forte (loudly, dropping with the weight of your arm for a deep rich tone). Depress the damper pedal throughout.

forte (pronounced FOR-tay) is the Italian word for loud.

f is the abbreviation for forte.

Amazing Grace 

Words by John Newton Early American melody 

arranged

Play this famous melody to review finger numers.

Note: Numbers below the words indicate L.H. fingers.

          Numbers above the words indicate R.H. fingers.

          Extended lines int he lyrics show held tones. 

          The dots show quickly moving tones.

          Let your familiarity with the melody help guide you.

 

Rhythm

Note values indicated the duration of sound.

These durations are counted with a steady beat, creating RHYTHM.

You may wish to use a metronome for the Rhythm Chart below.

A metronome is a rhythmic device that provides a steady beat.

Adjustable settings allow a faster or slower beat. 

Directions:

1. Tap (or clap) the Rhythm Chart from top to bottom, counting aloud. Feel a steady beat. Each click represents a quarter note.
2. Choose any white key and play the notes in the Rhythm Chart from top to bottom, then bottom to top. Use finger 3. Feel a steady beat as you count and play.

Rhythm Chart

  

quarter note
count: "1"

   

half note

  count: "1-2"

                                            
                                            
                                          

dotted half note

  count: "1-2-3"

  whole note

    count: "1-2-3-4"

             

                                         

Camptown Races

Stephen Foster 

(1826-1864) 

arranged

 

Practiced Suggestions:

1. Tap the rhythm on the closed keyboard cover with the correct hand.

                    L.H. = stem down    R.H. = stem up

2. playing in the middle of the piano, say or sing:

                   a) finger numbers   b) counts   c) words

 

The Grand Piano

The Piano

 

Piano Lid
Horizontal Strings
Keyboard Cover
Keyboard
Una Corda Pedal
Sostenuto Pedal
Damper Pedal
Legs
Fallboard

 

The Piano is perhaps the world's most celebrated instrument. The standard acoustic piano boasts a range of sound that encompasses the longest string of a boooming low A to the shortest string of the hightest C, a dynamic range of hushed pianissimo (very soft) to thunderous fortissimo (very loud), and a unique capacity to play any number of notes at the same time.
The piano is a veritable orchestra at our fingertips. Since its invention around 1700 by Bartolomeo Cristofori, the piano has evolved to a magnificent instrument with over 10,000 parts. 

Strings Today;s piano uses high tension steel for the strings. There are three strings for each key, except in the bass (lower) register where there are two strings per key or a single string wrapped in coiled copper. The pitch of a string is determined by it legth and tension. The higher tones have shorter strings, while lower tones may have strings over three feet in length.
 The strings of a grand piano are horizontal, whereas an upright piano utilizes vertical strings to save floor space.

Keys The standard piano keyboard spans 88 keys. The keys mechanism resembles a seasaw, with each key being a lever. As the key is struck, a hinged happer on the other end comes up to strike the strings. At the moment of impact, the key also lifts the damper off the strings, allowing the string to continue to vibrate.
The white keys, formerly made of ivory, are plastic on today's piano. The black keys, formerly of ebony, are usually constructed of stained pear wood. 

Hammers The hammers (located underneath the strings) are covered with felt. The volume of sound is determined by the speed of the hammer striking the string. To play louder, the hammer must strike the string faster. To play softer, the hammer must strike the string slower.

Escapement The most brilliant and revolutionary feature of Cristofori's early piano was the escapement. This escapement action allows the hammer to fall away immediately after striking the string, thus letting the sound ring. Through continued improvement in the modern piano makes rapid repetition of a key possible. 

Soundboard The soundboard is located below the strings (behind the strings on an upright piano). The soundboard amplifies the tone of the vibrating strings through sympathetic vibration. Cracks can develop in the soundboard due to dryness or extreme temperature changes. Humidity control and stable temperatures preserve the health of the soundboard. 

Pedals Pianos have two or three pedals. The damper pedal (the pedal to the right) si used most often. It lifts the dampers off the strings, sustaining the shound until the pedal is released. The damper pedal adds a soulfulness to melodies, a richness to harmonies, and a shimmer to fast passagework.
The una corda or "soft pedal" (left pedal) shifts the keyboard to the right, causing the hammers to strike one less string. In addition to softening the sound, the una corda pedal changes the tone quality to a more muted, veiled sound.
If a piano has a sostenuto pedal, it is the pedal in the middle. the sostenuto pedal sustains the sound of those keys depressed when the pedal goes down. Notes played after this are not sustained. The sostenuto pedal is not essential for playing the piano repertoire.