Free Piano Teaching Game: V Chord Family Reunion

I love to introduce the concept of chord symbols early on to my piano students. The freedom of playing from lead sheets not only allows them to play more interesting music early on with basic primary chord progressions, but it also opens the door for them to create and improvise using different left-hand patterns. 

Remembering all of the traditional chord symbols can be a bit overwhelming for younger students.

I created this Free Printable V Chord Family Reunion Game to help my piano students solidify their knowledge of triad and seventh chord inversion symbols that are introduced in Piano Pronto Movement 2.  It can be played with a music teacher and student for a quick lesson opener or be played with a larger group at group lessons. If you were choosing the family reunion fun would you rather parachute or hike? In this game you get to do both!

V Family Reunion Gameboard

Wunderkeys Pop 2: Wolf

  

Wolf in Bflat Major-GMinor from Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book includes changing clefs, augmented chords, inner voicing and frequent hand crossovers.

Technique Practice Tips

• For the first section use a loose wrist brushstroke motion for the left arpeggios.
• Starting at measure 15 play the right hand repeated 3rds with a flexible light relaxed wrist.
• To more easily keep a steady flow as you play the crossover notes in the treble, anticipate by glancing at the target keys before you cross your left hand over to grab them. 

Supplementary Music in B-Flat Major/ G Minor

Minuet in B-Flat by Johann Christian Bach in Piano Town 3

Spinning Straw in Gold in Piano Town 3

Alla Gitana in Gold in Piano Town 3

Minuet in Gm 115 by Johann Sebastian Bach in Bastian Piano Lit 1

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Wunderkeys Pop 2: The Penny Session and F Sharp Minor

 

The Penny Session in F Sharp Minor from Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book borrows musical ideas from Beethoven's "Rage Over a Lost Penny." Listen to the 2 pieces below and compare their similarities and differences.

Listen to Rondo A Capriccio Op 129 aka Rage Over a Lost Penny. What elements of this piece did Andrea Dow borrow to create the Penny Session? How did she change the mood?

Listen to the Classics for Kids podcast about Beethoven the Pianist.

Related Posts

Wunderkeys Pop 2 Performance Book Review

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Wunderkeys Pop 2: Strong Will and Broken Inversions

 

Strong Will in A Major in Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book begins with a variation of A Major Broken inversions. 

Wunderkeys 2 Pop: Castle Hill Kick and Looking Ahead

Castle Hill Kick in G minor and B-flat Major from Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book includes large 2 octave left-hand leaps.

Wunderkeys Pop 2: The Venise Session and LH Pivots

The Venise Session in B Flat Major from Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book includes several left-hand patterns that require a pivot or crossover motion.

Technique

Watch the Pivot Notes Tutorial (first 5 minutes) and pivot rather than stretch on the 1-5-10 left-hand patterns to eliminate tension in measures 1-4 and similar patterns throughout the piece.

Rhythm

Watch the Quick Rhythm tip video about Sixteenth note triplets (similar to those on the last line of this piece).

Improvisation

Choose a backing track below and play the scale along with it or improvise melodies using notes from the B-flat Major Scale. Remember to play all of the B's and E's Flat!

B-Flat Backing Track Ballad Guitar

B-Flat Backing Track Smooth Jazz Guitar

Supplementary Music in B Flat Major

Risoluto by Bach in Piano Adventures 5

When the Sun Rises in Piano Adventures 5

Fanfare on America  in Piano Adventures 5

King Arthur in Piano Town 3

Queen Guinevere in Piano Town 3

Wunderkeys Pop 2: Aisling's Theme Practice Tips

Aisling's Theme in B minor  from Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book includes multiple mood shifts. Tap the rhythms as you listen to the performance.

• Even though this piece is written in a minor key listen for how occasional major chord patterns in this piece bring a glimmer of hope and shift the mood.
• Practice feeling the subtle rise and fall of the chords and use your peripheral vision when needed to see the larger chord shifts.
• Remember to add the expressive dynamic changes and ritardando to convey emotion in this piece.
• Watch out for the clef changes/left hand crossovers on the bottom of the first and second page.

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