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.