Piano Teaching Lesson Plans: Introducing Intervals

Using online piano lesson assignments including virtual links allows my students easy access to learning videos and song samples all in one place. By sharing a google doc with the parents and students, students can access the document from week to week as I add their newest assignment to the top of the page. This post includes specific instructions for pieces in the Piano Adventures Lesson Book 1 but many of the activities could also be used with other pieces for introducing intervals. Scroll to the bottom to view lesson plan links for other concepts.

UNIT 4: Naming Intervals

Lesson: Red LB 26 Traffic Jam 2nds

*Remember to play the scales using contrary motion.
Watch Create First Shark Music Solo and Duet. Then create your own shark music that includes some dissonant seconds (E and F together?).
Supplementary: Piano Safari Outer Space or Crocodile in the Nile Reminder and Performance
Game: VMT Symbol Splash

Focus Goal/New Concepts: Interval of a 2nd and Dissonance

Lesson: Red LB 27 This is Not Jingle Bells

Watch “Musical Intervals”. Challenge * How many intervals can you sing or play along on the piano as you listen to the song? (A sec-ond, a third, a fourth, etc.)
Optional Rote Piece First Snowflake of Winter Blue Gold Star/ Chopsticks
Watch Create First 2 Taking the Path I Love Solo and Duet. Then create your own piece that uses 3rd in the right hand.

Focus Goal/New Concepts: Interval of a 3rd

Lesson: Red LB 28 Kites in the Sky

Draw a line over each measure that has only 3rds. What intervals do all the other parts of the song use?
*Can you glide your left hand over right hand like a rainbow and still play this song with steady rhythm until the ritardando (slow down section at the end)?
*Optional Rote Piece Melodic Thirds Piano Safari Skip to My Lou
Create First 2 This Will Pass Solo and Duet
Choose an interval game to play at home (Over the Edge, Interval Towers, VMT Pit Stop, M&M Staff Intervals, Interval Slap, Interval Sprinterval Schminterval, Interval Speed Sort, Interval Sorry)

Lesson: Red LB 30 A Mixed Up Song

Can you find all of the Harmonic 4ths in your music and color them? Choose a different color and draw a line between the Melodic 4ths
Watch Create First Improv 42 Private Music Solo or Duet. Then create your own music that includes harmonic 4ths.
Game: Interval Slap - Using the Over the Edge Cards Race your partner to slap all of the 4ths first

Focus Goal/New Concepts: Interval of 4th

Lesson: Red LB 32 Flute of the Andes

Color the dynamics in your music.
*Can you play expressively by following the dynamics and floating an octave higher at the end?
Watch Create First Pagoda Solo and Duet or Private Music Solo and Duet. Create your own melodies using harmonic 4ths.

Focus Goal/New Concepts: Octave Sign

Lesson: Red LB 33 Runaway Rabbit

Color all the harmonic and melodic 4ths in your music.
*Did you play steadily with expressive slurs and staccatos?
Watch Creature Sounds by Wynn Ann Rossi. Choose a creature and make up your own song or begin the Animal Menagerie Composing Project.

Lesson: Red LB 34 Rain Forest

Watch Create First 2 Garden Solo or Cathedral Solo and Duet. Then Create your own music using Harmonic 5ths.
*Count aloud and be sure to hold the longer notes for their full value to prepare for playing a round at your next lesson.
Game: PN Over the Edge or Interval Towers

Focus Goal/New Concepts:Interval of a 5th

Lesson: Red LB 35 Lightly Row

*Play the 2 note slurs with a down up wrist motion.
Watch Create First 2 Sharing Solo and Duet . Then create your own song using 5ths.
Game: TPT Pursuit of Happiness or M &M Staff Intervals