Choose at least 6 pieces to listen to. Write the name of the piece, then click the link to hear it and answer the following questions on your Festival Samples Listening Assignment Sheet: 1. Write 2 or more words to describe the mood of this piece. 2. What is the tempo (speed) of this piece (Adagio, Andante, Allegro, Presto, etc.)? 3. What articulation do you hear in this piece (staccato, legato, accents, pedaling etc.)? 4. Choose your personal rating for this piece from the following: 1- I have no interest in learning to play this. 2 - This piece is okay 3 - Nice, but not my favorite 4 - I would like to play this piece. 5. I would love to learn to play this.
Every year I love to revisit student favorite Halloween Piano Resources. I was delighted today to discover and add several new spooky composing and improvisation resources to the list that I am eager to try out with my students.
Halloween Piano Composing Printables
Teach Piano Today just posted this Mummy Music Free Printable that is a perfect quick win for beginning students. It centers around middle C hands separate. I love how students can gain confidence composing by just having to create a short motif to "fill in the blanks." Its the perfect activity for hesitant composers because of the guided process.
Halloween Piano Improvisation Tutorial Videos
I love these leveled tutorial videos for creating spooky music at rebeccaspianokeys.com for more experienced elementary, intermediate or advanced students. They are perfect for piano lab or at home exploration because Rebecca gives specific step by step tips and instructions for success with musical samples throughout.
Level 1 introduces interval qualities including minor and tritones to be used in a hands separate "conversation" style spooky improv.
Level 2 includes more hands together playing including minor alberti bass style chords.
Level 3 describes the process of adding more expressive details including dynamics, tempo changes, pitch, etc.
Although Forrest Kinney's Create First Improvisation was not created specifically for Halloween, these improvisation video can be used to create music with a spooky Halloween flavor.
Two important skills for reading new music quickly include identifying notes and intervals with speed and accuracy. This month's group lesson focus and piano studio challenge is for student's to level up their note naming and/or interval id skills by earning a new 60 second challenge badge.
In addition to practicing with TonicTutor.com or racing to say and play the note naming sheets in their folders, students can try some of these online games to sharpen their skills.