Piano Slash Chords for Beginners

 

Lead sheets are music that includes a melody with chord symbols written above. They often include slash chords instead of Roman Numerals to tell you which notes to play in the left hand.

Music Scale Degree Names and Free Printable Games

Degrees of C and G Major Scales

 Chords can be built on each note or degree of a scale.

4 Tips for Playing Piano Expressively with Group Lesson Activities

Add Dynamics 

This Pianote Dynamics Video has an excellent explanation of how dynamics can add feeling to your piano performance and help you play with expression.

Exaggerate Tempo and Articulation Markings

Sometimes the details of loud and soft, staccato, ritardando, etc. are overlooked or barely noticeable if all you pay attention to is rhythm and pitch. If you exaggerate them in your practice they are easier to remember in your performance and really make the piece come alive.

Watch Performances or Play with Backing Tracks

Watching performances of your piece or listening to backing tracks can help you play more expressively as you imitate the dynamic, articulation, and tempo changes.

Explore some of Will Baily's Free Piano Tunes and choose one to play along with the backing track or use Piano Pronto Backing Tracks with your lesson book pieces.

Imagine a Story the Music Tells

Listen to the recording of a piece and imagine what would be happening if it were movie music. Add descriptive labels or pictures above the sections.

You could create a music map (William Tell) or add lyrics (Pagoda Bells)

The movie Fantasia and Silly Symphonies are great examples of how music classical music can be used to tell a story.

Group Games: 

In the Manner of the Music Term 

One player chooses a music expression flashcard (staccato, legato, accelerando, forte, etc.) and says a funny sentence in that manner. Other players try to guess the term.

For example: "My music teacher likes to eat broccoli with hot fudge sauce for breakfast."

Pictionary or Charades

Take turns sculpting, drawing, or acting out words from this Expressive Music Terms Poster Free Printable as other players guess the word.

Related Posts:

Elementary Music Terms and Signs Videos

Piano Composing Tutorial Videos: Melodies

By following a few simple steps you can combine notes to create effective memorable melodies for music in multiple styles. 

Watch the videos below to learn simple tips about how to compose melodies and hear and see them in action.

Mr M How to Write a Melody

Time Signature Tutorials

 Time Signatures are included at the beginning of every piece of music but are often overlooked.

Following are helpful videos explaining the concept of time signatures including musical examples and rhythm practice videos.

How to Transpose Music on the Piano

Watch this Tranposition Tutorial to learn how to transpose by ear or by thinking of the whole/half step patterns.

Will Baily Free Printable Piano Pieces with Backing Tracks

Recently I was thrilled to discover Will Baily's Piano Tunes website.

It is full of engaging piano pieces in a variety of styles and levels. I love how many expressive pieces are pattern based with changing positions or octaves. Most are very lyrical and give you a movie soundtrack vibe.

Not only does he offer free printable pdfs of so many pieces, but there are also engaging backing tracks that really help bring the pieces to life and provide great support for some of the tricky rhythms.

I have organized some of my favorites below by concept and level with notes below about the main teaching elements of each piece. 

Primer Level 1

Piano Pronto Movement 1 Lesson Plans and Activities

Piano Pronto Movement 1 Supplementary Activities

Choose the link below for lesson plans and activities that correlate with Piano Pronto Movement 1.

The theory, improvisation, and music and movement activities can be done in private lessons, group lessons, piano lab, or assigned for at-home practice.

 #1 Clementine and Upbeat/Swing Style

 #2 Mexican Hand Clapping and Staccato/2 Note Slurs

 #3 Love Somebody and Parallel/Contrary Motion

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #28 Fur Elise and Syncopated Pedaling

  This lesson plan includes activities for Beethoven's "Fur Elise" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.    

Music Samples and History

Listen to a video of your choice below that features variations of Beethoven's famous piece Fur Elise.

Fur Elise Jam Piano Guys

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #27 Brahms Symphony and Scale Review

  This lesson plan includes activities for "Theme from Symphony 1" in Piano Pronto Movement 1. 

Music Samples

Tap the rhythms as you listen to Brahms Symphony Theme on the Piano.

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #26 Trumpet Voluntary and D.C. al Fine

  This lesson plan includes activities for Clarke's "Trumpet Voluntary" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.    

Music and Movement

Listen to the audio of a video of your choice below as you march a steady beat with your feet and clap the rhythm of the melody.
This song is sometimes called “Prince of Denmark’s March.”

Prince of Denmark's March- Orchestra 

Trumpet Voluntary Piano Cover Joseph Martin

Trumpet Voluntary Organ

Listen to Classics .for Kids Marches Not Written for Bands or Parades to hear a trumpet variation and more march music.

Theory

Color the I, IV and V7 left hand chord pieces.

Watch the  D.C. al Fine Video and color the D.C. Al Fine sign Green (keep going) and Fine sign red (stop the second time).

Watch this video about perfect and major intervals if needed to help you complete #26 Power Pages.

Related Posts

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #23 F Scale Stomp and F 1 Octave Major Scale

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #24 Ode to Joy and F Major Key Signature

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #25 Simple Gifts and Key Signatures

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #27 Theme from Symphony No.1 and Scale Review

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #28 Fur Elise and Syncopated Pedaling

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #25 Simple Gifts and F Major Primary Chords

  This lesson plan includes activities for "Simple Gifts" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.    

Music Samples and History

Choose a variation of "Simple Gifts" to listen to below or listen to the podcast Classics for Kids About Aaron Copland and listen for the “Simple Gifts” melody.

Simple Gifts Cello Yo-Yo Ma and Vocalist

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #24 Ode to Joy and F Major Key Signature

 This lesson plan includes activities for Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.    

Music Samples and History

Explore these creative variations including Beethoven's famous Ode to Joy theme.

Ode to Joy Animated Joke

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #23 F Scale Stomp

 This lesson plan includes activities for "F Scale Stomp" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.  

Music and Movement

Watch the F Major Scale Reminder Video.

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #22 Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star and F Major Pentascale

This lesson plan includes activities for "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" in Piano Pronto Movement 1. 

Music Samples 

Listen to some excerpts from Variations of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and draw artwork to represent a few of your favorite styles. See variation titles below or add your own.

Piano Pronto Movement 1: # 21 Bach M&M Medley, Primary Chords and Major/minor Triads

 This lesson plan includes activities for "Musette" & "Minuet in G" in Piano Pronto Movement 1. 

Theory

Counting half steps can help you identify major and minor chords on page 47.

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #20 Spring Theme and Triad Inversions

This lesson plan includes activities for "Spring Theme" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.  

Music and Movement

Spy and color 6 Staccato-Accents (bounce-drops) on page 55-56. Listen to the audio as you follow along in your music and bounce your wrist on the staccatos and drop with arm weight on the accents.

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #19 O, My Dear Augustin and Key Signatures

 This lesson plan includes activities for "O, My Dear Augustin" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.  

Music and Movement

Tap the rhythm with your left and right hand as you listen to O, My Dear Augustin Piano.

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #18 G Scale Stomp

 This lesson plan includes activities for "G Scale Stomp" in Piano Pronto Movement 1. 

Remember this major scale pattern? 

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #17 Alouette and Transposition/Tempo

 This lesson plan includes activities for Alouette in Piano Pronto Movement 1. 

Music Samples

Listen to this Alouette Animated Variation

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #16 Frere Jacques and G Major Scale

  This lesson plan includes activities for Frere Jacques in Piano Pronto Movement 1. 

Music and Movement

Listen to the audio for Frere Jacques as you move your hand or body up and down to match the direction of the melody line.

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #15 Surprise Symphony and Ritardando/Sforzando

 This lesson plan includes activities for Haydn's"Surprise Symphony" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.

Music and Movement

Choose a listening map to clap along with. Notice how the quarter notes in your music are changed to eighth notes but the theme pattern of | short, short, short short| short short LONG| is the same.

Surprise Symphony Listening Map Emoji

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #14 Non Piu Andrai and Perfect Intervals/Sequences

 This lesson plan includes activities for Non Piu Andrai in Piano Pronto Movement 1. 

 Music History

Watch the first part of the Opera/Orchestra version of Non Piu Andrai by Mozart. The title means "You won't go anymore!"

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #13 Can Can and Tempo Terms

This lesson plan includes activities for "Can Can" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.

Music Samples 

Choose a Can Can video to watch below. How many Descending 1 Octave Scales can you hear?

Can Can Line Video

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #12 C Scale Stomp

 This lesson plan includes activities for C Scale Stomp in Piano Pronto Movement 1. 

Music Theory

Play the melody of the Free Printable Major Scale Pattern Sheet Music as you sing these lyrics.

"The pattern of the major scale starts with the Tonic - Whole Whole Half -Whole Whole Whole Half. That's a major scale!"

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #11 Cowboy Song Medley and Eighth Rests

This lesson plan includes activities for Turkey in the Straw and Whoopee Ti-yi-yo in Piano Pronto Movement 1.

 

Music Samples

Choose a fun variation of Turkey in the Straw to watch below.

This version of Turkey in the Straw  has a fun improvisation section in between the verses.

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #10 Little Sonatina in C and Crescendo/Diminuendo

This lesson plan includes activities for "Little Sonatina in C" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.

Music Samples and History

Listen to the expressive dynamics in Clementi Sonatina in C Original Form played by Lang Lang.

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #9 When the Saints, Strong/Weak Beats and Melody vs Harmony

 This lesson plan includes activities for "When the Saints Go Marching In" in Piano Pronto Movement

Music Samples and History

Listen to the audio track (solo piano) or video as you follow along with your music. Tap the left-hand harmony lightly. Count aloud or say rhythm bug names "beetle, bug, bug, slug."

Can you spot and circle in red 6 C Major broken chords in the melody?

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #8 The Star-Spangled Banner and Accidentals

 This lesson plan includes activities for The Star-Spangled Banner in Piano Pronto Movement 1. 

Theory

Watch the Video about Accidentals and then circle them in your music (Sharps or Flats not in the Key Signature). Color the L.H. “chord pieces” (I, IV and V7) on page 19-20.

Star Spangled Banner Piano

Music Sample and History

Watch the The Story of the Star Spangled Banner as you listen to the orchestral version of this piece.

Improvisation

Watch Create First Arabian Nights Duet and Solo.  Then create your own melodies using white keys and G#.

Supplementary Music:

One Scary Night by Kim Williams (audio) - Sheet Music

Rockin' the Blues by Edwin McClean - Marlais In Recital with Jazz, Blues and Rags Book 2

Nothin' to Do Blues by Martha Mier - Martha Mier's Favorite Solos Book 1

Related Posts:

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #7 Hometown Pride

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #9 When the Saints

Free 4th of July Music Resources Roundup

Piano Teaching Lesson Plans: Sharps and Flats

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Piano Pronto Movement 1: #7 Hometown Pride and Ending Systems

This lesson plan includes activities for William Tell Overture in Piano Pronto Movement 1. 

Theory

Label and color I, IV, V(7) chord pieces in the left hand with colored chord symbols. 

Watch Watch 1st and 2nd Endings Video.

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #6 William Tell Overture and Accents/Music Maps

This lesson plan includes activities for William Tell Overture in Piano Pronto Movement 1. 

Theory

Color Accents Red and Label V7 Chord pieces.

Try the Music Tech Teacher Ties//Slurs  activity to review the difference between ties and slurs.

Creating a story and music map like this can help you to memorize pieces more quickly.

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #5 Yankee Doodle and Musicality/Finger Crossings

 This lesson plan includes activities for Yankee Doodle in Piano Pronto Movement 1. 

Theory and Analysis

Label and color I, IV, V(7) chord pieces in the left hand.

Add slurs (phrase marks) and float offs (phrase endings). 

Music and Movement

Listen to the audio as you tap the rhythms with the correct hand.

Yankee Doodle Movement 1

Watch the Thinking Theory Note Values Video if needed to help you complete Power Pages #5.

Patriotic Music 

Optional: Explore more about patriotic music at Leila'sViss Get Inspired Patriotic Music or listen to the Classics for Kids Patriotic Music podcast.

Related Posts:

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #4 For He's  Jolly Good Fellow

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #6 William Tell Overture and Accents/Music Maps

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #7 Hometown Pride and Ending Systems

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #8 Star Spangled Banner and Accidentals 

Free 4th of July Music Resources Roundup

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #4 For He's a Jolly Good Fellow and Shaping Phrases

This lesson plan has supplementary activities for "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.

Theory Analysis

Watch the first 3 minutes of the  Shaping Phrases Video.

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #3 Love Somebody and Parallel/Contrary Motion

This lesson plan has supplementary activities for Piano Pronto Movement 1 Love Somebody.

Theory

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #2 Mexican Hand Clapping and Staccato/2 Note Slurs

This lesson plan has supplementary activities that correlate with Piano Pronto Movement 1 Mexican Hand Clapping Song.

Music Samples

As you listen to the backing track or video, tap the rhythm of the piece with left and right hands chanting "bounce" for staccato notes and "float-off" for 2 notes slurs.

Use a bouncy wrist for the staccatos and drop lift motion for the slurs.

Mexican Hand Clapping Piano 

Theory

On Page 6, Color the L.H.  3rds and 5ths Red and 2nds Yellow

Improvisation

Watch Create First: Hot Sand, Cool Waters Duet or Solo.  Then create your own songs using both staccato and legato sounds on the black keys.

Supplementary Music

Cinnamon Popcorn!

Related Posts:

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #1 Clementine

#3 Love Somebody and Parallel/Contrary Motion

#4 For He's  Jolly Good Fellow

#5 Yankee Doodle and Musicality/Finger Crossings

Lesson Plans: Teaching Legato and Staccato

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #1 Clementine and Upbeats/Swing Style

This lesson plan has supplementary activities that correlate with Piano Pronto Movement 1 Clementine.

Music Sample

Clementine Swing Style

Listen for the long-short eighth note pairs in the video. 
Clap the beat with the backing track or video (Down, Up Up or Partner, Lap, Clap) or conduct the song in ¾ time. 

Remember to start with an upbeat motion on beat 3.
After learning Clementine, try to play it "swing style" for a more country feel.  

Tools for Composing Melodies and Free Printable Melodic Motif Bingo

 

Musical Motifs

Memorable melodies often use repetitive variations of a short musical idea or motif. Using these same tools as you compose melodies can help you develop a musical idea into a longer interesting piece with a common idea woven throughout.