This lesson plan includes activities for "Prelude in C" in Piano Adventures 4.
Watch the Chasing Butterflies video tips and imitate the empty fingers sound as you play the piano sections.
This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with Ecossaise in G by Beethoven WoO23 in Bastian Lit Vol 1.
An ecossaise is an energetic country dance in 2/2. Listen for the "Jump-Drops" in the Ecossaise in G by Beethoven WoO23. What do you imagine the dancers doing during this part of the music?
This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with March in D by CPE Bach (Schirmer JS Bach AMB, Bastian Piano Lit 1, Easy Classics to Moderns).
Because Baroque music had few expressive marks written in the original score, different performers may have varied dynamics, phrasing, articulation, tempo, and rubato as they choose how to add musicality to the piece.
This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with Minuet in G by Bach 114 in Bastian Lit 1, Schirmer JS Bach, Succeeding with the Masters Bk 1, Easy Classics to Moderns.
Browse the Minuet in G tutorial video to learn specific tips for learning this piece and play along to guide your practice sessions. Follow the bolded practice steps.
This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with Minuet in G Minor BWV 115 (Schirmer JS Bach AMB, Bastian Piano Lit 1, Easy C to M).
The minuet is a light airy dance with small steps. Although there were no dynamic or articulation marks written in the original score, pay attention to how the performers add subtle dynamic changes and vary the articulation to add expression and musicality to this piece.
This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with Minuet in G by Bach 116 in Bastian Lit Vol 1.
Baroque keyboard music was not actually played on the piano when it was composed, because the piano had not been invented yet. Listen to this performance of Minuet in G played on the clavichord. Can you hear the extra ornaments the performer added that are not in your music?
I find that most of my piano students prefer energetic pieces over calm flowing pieces, so creating a lively Irish Jig is a fun way to get them to create on the piano in March.
The free printable CR Irish Jig Composing by Chrissy Ricker provides the structure of a simple rhythm pattern in 3/4 time that elementary students can choose melody notes for to create their own jig.
Intermediate Students could use this same resource but add left-hand 5ths for harmony, create a contrasting B section, or convert their piece in 3/4 time into 6/8 by halving the value of each note and doubling the measure length.
Teach Piano Today's Saint Patrick's Day Improvisation for beginners includes a fun teacher duet to provide the backdrop for the student's choice of rhythm patterns using St. Patrick's Day phrases.
Irish Improv Activity #2
Watch Forrest Kinney's Ireland Sample Improvisation. Then choose a simplified Irish Improvisation worksheet to create your own Irish Jig.
Irish Backing Track- E minor (EF#GAB)
Irish Jig Backing Track - G major
