Saturday, June 22, 2024

Piano Pronto 4: To a Wild Rose and A Major

 This post includes activities that correlate with To a Wild Rose by Edward McDowell in  Piano Pronto Movement 4.

Piano Pronto Movement 4 Free Piano Lesson Plans


Music Samples

Listen to the music samples below and imitate the peaceful mood as you practice.
To a Wild Rose (Piano)




Piano Pronto 4 Arabesque by Burgmuller

This post includes activities that correlate with Arabesque by Burgmuller in  Piano Pronto Movement 4.

Piano Pronto Movement 4 Free Piano Lesson Plans 

Music Sample

Arabesque by Burgmuller


Musical elements to focus on in this piece are steady tempo, clear articulation, balance voicing the melody. Watch an excerpt from the Practice Tips Video for Burgmuller Arabesque by Josh Wright starting at 2:30 to 4:45.



Piano Pronto 4 Arietta and E Flat Major

  This post includes activities that correlate with Arietta by Grieg in  Piano Pronto Movement 4.

Piano Pronto Movement 4 Free Piano Lesson Plans

Music Samples


Listen to the Classics for Kids podcast about Edvard Grieg to learn more about the Romantic composer.

Theory





Supplementary Music in E Flat Major

Rest by Nik Day (sheet music)

Piano Pronto 4: La Cumparsita and Tango

 This post includes activities that correlate with La Cumparsita in Piano Pronto Movement 4.

Piano Pronto Movement 4 Free Piano Lesson Plans

Music Samples and Style

Choose a music sample to listen to below and tap the rhythm of the theme.

La Cumparsita Julio Iglesias (Instrumental & Vocal)
OR

Explore more about Spanish style music with Viss Get Inspired 21 Spanish/Latin Music.

Theory

Watch the video to review 14 Types of Articulation slur, legato, phrases, tie, staccato, staccatissimo, portato, accent, sforzando, marcato, tenuto, fp, fermata

Improvisation

Watch the Create First Secret Dance video and then create your own improvisation using Latin syncopated rhythms.



Piano Pronto 4 Serenade and Term Review

 This post includes activities that correlate with Serenade by Schubert in  Piano Pronto Movement 4.

Piano Pronto Movement 4 Free Piano Lesson Plans

Music Samples


Listen the Classics for Kids podcast About Schubert to learn more about the Romantic composer's life and music. 

Theory

Watch the videos below if needed to review intermediate terms and signs and complete matching on page 37.
7 Common Tempo Terms - Largo-Presto, rit, rall, accelerando, poco, molto, a tempo

 

CK Intermediate Terms and Signs -   brief definitions and  memory aids for sempre, lento, larghetto, alla marcia, vivace, presto fp, sf and con moto



CK More Intermediate Expression and Articulation -  brief definitions and memory aids for giocoso, maestoso, espressivo, portato and marcato


CK Intermediate Terms and Signs - brief definitions of dolce, grazioso, cantabile, fermata, accent, staccato and  tenuto (stress), 8va, 8vb, 1st & 2nd endings

Supplementary Calm and Expressive Music




Reflection from Mulan in Disney Adult Piano 1

Piano Pronto 4: Ragtime Medley

This post includes activities that correlate with Hello! My Baby and Alexander's Ragtime Band in  Piano Pronto Movement 4.

Piano Pronto Movement 4 Free Piano Lesson Plans

Music Samples

Alexander's Ragtime Band  World Championship Old Time Piano Contest
Alexander's Ragtime Band (Piano and Vocal)

Music History 

Listen to the podcast to learn more about ragtime composer Scott Joplin or listen to the podcast to learn more about ragtime music.
Just for fun, listen to Tetris - Ragtime Style!


Supplementary Ragtime Music

Browse the Ragtime Pieces below and choose one you would like to learn if you love ragtime style.

Ragtime Do-Si-Do in Martha Mier Jazz Rags and Blues Bk 1


Downright Happy Rag  in Martha Mier Jazz Rags and Blues Bk 1













Yodeling Rag  Simply Jazzy Bk 2 (no video)




Piano Pronto 4: Turkish March and Giocoso

This post includes activities that correlate with Melody in F by Rubinstein in Piano Pronto Movement 4.

Piano Pronto Movement 4 Free Piano Lesson Plans

Music Samples 

Listen to a few excerpts of Beethoven's famous Turkish March below. It was composed for orchestra but has been adapted for piano and electronic instruments in some of the examples below. Which is played the most giocoso (humorously)?

Turkish March performed by Evgeny Kissin (Piano arrangement by Anton Rubinstein)
"Electronic" Turkish March Variation by Jean-Jacques Perrey(The Elephant Never Forgets)

Theory

Watch the Colourful Keys video with Intermediate Expression and Articulation  and draw a picture to represent each term.




Piano Pronto 4: Melody in F and Espressivo

This post includes activities that correlate with Melody in F by Rubinstein in Piano Pronto Movement 4.

Piano Pronto Movement 4 Free Piano Lesson Plans

Music Samples 

Listen to the original version of Melody in F by Rubinstein and imitate the expressive rubato as you practice this piece.
Theory
Playing expressivo (expressively) often means adding subtle changes to the tempo and dynamics to create more emotion. Watch the video to learn more about rubato.


Friday, June 21, 2024

Piano Pronto 4: Flying Solo and Ternary Form

 This post includes activities that correlate with Flying Solo in Piano Pronto Movement 4.

Piano Pronto Movement 4 Free Piano Lesson Plans


Theory

Binary and Ternary Form- hear examples of phrases, sections and form in music

Piano Pronto 4: Russian Medley and Key Signature Review

This post includes activities that correlate with Russian Composers Medley in Piano Pronto Movement 4.

Piano Pronto Movement 4 Free Piano Lesson Plans

Music Samples and History

Listen to part of each of the Polovetsian Dance and Young Prince and Princess videos below to hear the different moods created as composers arrange version of the same melody in different styles and timbres.
Polovetsian Dance by Alexander Borodin (Vocal and Orchestra)










Young Prince and Princess (Wind Instruments)




Theory

Learn how piano scales relate to the circle of 5ths in this Pianoanne Circle of Fifths video.


Sharpen your key signature skills with Teoria Key Signature Identification or Teoria Key Signature Construction.

Related Posts

Piano Pronto 4: Rage Over a Lost Penny and Sudden Shifts

This post includes activities that correlate with Rage Over the Lost Penny in Piano Pronto Movement 4.

Listen to Rage Over a Lost Penny  as you label the form in your music.

Piano Pronto 4: Solace

 This post includes activities that correlate with Solace by Scott Joplin in Piano Pronto Movement 4.

Music Samples

Choose a performance of Solace below to listen to and see if you can hear when "the theme excerpt" that the arrangement in your book is based on is introduced.



Listen to the podcast to learn more about ragtime composer Scott Joplin or listen to the podcast to learn more about ragtime music.

Supplementary Ragtime Music

Listen to the supplementary Ragtime Pieces below and choose one you would like to learn if you love ragtime style.

Ragtime Do-Si-Do in Martha Mier Jazz Rags and Blues Bk 1


Downright Happy Rag  in Martha Mier Jazz Rags and Blues Bk 1

Peacherine Rag in Marlais Jazz, Blues and Rags 3
Echoes from the Snowball Club in Marlais Jazz, Blues and Rags 3
Classical Rag Simply Jazzy Bk 2
Yodeling Rag  Simply Jazzy Bk 2

Related Posts


Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Piano Pronto 4: Heroic Symphony Theme and Double Treble

This post includes activities that correlate with Heroic Symphony Theme by Beethoven in Piano Pronto Movement 4.


Music Samples and History

Follow along in your music and listen to this sample performance of Heroic Symphony as if you were a piano teacher. Can you name 2 things the performer did well and make one suggestion for improvement? (Fingering, Expression, Notes, Rhythm, BAPDARP).


Listen to the podcast Classics for Kids: Beethoven's Symphonies to hear samples from his 9 symphonies.

Supplementary Music

Surprise Symphony by Haydn in A Night a the Symphony by Matz/Johnson
Beethoven's 5th Symphony in A Night a the Symphony by Matz/Johnson
Czerny Op 599 #11-30(Double Treble Sightreading)

Related Posts


Some of the products linked in my posts may be affiliate links, earning me a small commission on any products purchased via that link.

Piano Pronto 4: Patriotic Songs and Binary Form

 This post includes activities that correlate with Medley of Patriotic Songs in Piano Pronto Movement 4.


Music Samples and History

Choose a sample of each piece to listen to below as you tap the rhythm of the piece.


America the Beautiful by Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square

Piano Adventures 3B: The Gathering Storm and Hand over Hand Arpeggios

This post includes lesson plans for "The Gathering Storm" by Nancy Faber in Piano Adventures 3A Technique.


Music Samples

As you listen to The Gathering Storm label or color the primary chord arpeggios in your music (i-red, iv-blue, V-yellow).

Supplementary Music

Spooky Town by Chris Owens

Piano Adventures 3B: Loxodonta Africana and Technique Review

  This post includes lesson plans for "Loxodonta Africana" by Nancy Faber in Piano Adventures 3A Technique.


Music Samples

As you listen to Loxodonta Africana, Ghost tap the rhythms on your lap with more weight on accents, bounce on staccatos.


Sunday, June 9, 2024

Piano Adventures 4: A Midsummer Night's Dream

 This lesson plan includes activities and tips for playing "A MidSummer Night's Dream" in Piano Adventures 4 TECHNIQUE Book. 

Piano Adventures 4 Lesson Book Cover

Music Sample

Listen to both performance videos below. Watch for 3 good examples of technique or artistry in each and watch/listen for differences in expression. Is there anything you think might make the performance more expressive, accurate, or interesting?



Saturday, June 8, 2024

Piano Adventures 4: Caspian Sea and Balance

This lesson plan includes activities and tips for playing "Caspian Sea" in Piano Adventures 4 TECHNIQUE Book. 

Piano Adventures 4 Lesson Book Cover

Listen to the melody sing over the soft left-hand patterns in Caspian Sea.  

Use a paintbrush stroke for the left hand 1-5-10 patterns to avoid tension and release the left-hand eighth notes after the first beat of most measures instead of trying to hold out all 3 notes. 

Supplementary Music

Will Baily Wait for Me (click for audio) Free Sheet Music near the bottom
Will Baily Family Album (click for audio) Free Sheet Music near the middle
I Know That My Redeemer Lives in Simply Sacred arranged by Marshall McDonald
I Stand All Amazed in Simply Sacred arranged by Marshall McDonald

Piano Adventures 4: Return of the Scale Monster

This post includes activities that correlate with Czerny's "Return of the Scale Monster" from Piano Adventures 4 TECHNIQUE book. 

  Piano Adventures 4 Lesson Book Cover

Music Sample

Watch the sample video of Return of the Scale Monster.


PA Primer: A Joke for You and Bass Space C

 This post includes activities that correlate with "A Joke for You " in Piano Adventures Primer.

Music Sample

Click the links below to watch the Adventure Learning Videos play along with backing tracks or try the super student challenges.

PA Primer: Princess or Monster and Tempo

 This post includes activities that correlate with "Princess or Monster" in Piano Adventures Primer.

Music Sample

Click the links below to watch the Adventure Learning Videos play along with backing tracks or try the super student challenges. 
AL page 69

PA Primer: The Bugle Boys and Theory Review

 This post includes activities that correlate with "The Bugle Boys" in Piano Adventures Primer.

Music Sample

Click the links below to watch the Adventure Learning Videos play along with backing tracks or try the super student challenges. 

PA Primer: Come On Tigers and Quarter Rests

 This post includes activities that correlate with "Come on Tigers" in Piano Adventures Primer.

Music Sample

Click the links below to watch the Adventure Learning Videos play along with backing tracks or try the super student challenges.

PA Primer: Bells of Great Britain and Damper Pedal

 This post includes activities that correlate with "Bells of Great Britain " in Piano Adventures Primer.

Music Sample

Click the links below to watch the Adventure Learning Videos play along with backing tracks or try the super student challenges. 

Theory

Watch up to 2:15 of "What do the pedals on the piano do?"  to learn more about the damper pedal.

Improvisation

Watch the sample Create First Sunrise Video. Then create your own melodies on the black keys as you hold down the damper pedal to blend the sounds.

If you prefer a more calm haunting mystical mood watch the sample improvisation "Create First Moonrise." Then create your own melodies on the black keys.

Supplementary Music

Reminder Lyrics
Line 1 Glide Climb: "Gliding down to 2 black keys, Gliding down then climb up."
Line 2 Glide Repeat: "Gliding down to 2 black keys, Repeat, repeat, higher."
Line 3 Fly: "Flying high, Flying high, Flying in the sky"
Line 4 Glide Climb
Line 5 Glide Repeat
Line 6 Drop to Sleep "Getting softer, Getting softer, now its time to sleep"



Related Posts




PA Primer: All My Friends and Rhythm Review

 This post includes activities that correlate with "All My Friends" in Piano Adventures Primer.

Music Sample

Click the links below to watch the Adventure Learning Videos play along with backing tracks or try the super student challenges. 
AL page 66

PA Primer: Lemonade Stand and Ties

 This post includes activities that correlate with "Lemonade Stand" in Piano Adventures Primer.

Music Sample

Click the links below to watch the Adventure Learning Videos play along with backing tracks or try the super student challenges. 

PA Primer: Grandmother and Question Answer Phrases

 This post includes activities that correlate with "Grandmother" in Piano Adventures Primer.

Music Sample

Click the links below to watch the Adventure Learning Videos play along with backing tracks or try the super student challenges. 

Friday, June 7, 2024

PA Primer: Copy Cat and Staff Review

 This post includes activities that correlate with "Copy Cat" in Piano Adventures Primer.

Music Sample

Click the links below to watch the Adventure Learning Videos play along with backing tracks or try the super student challenges. 

PA Primer: Octavius the Octopus and Octaves

 This post includes activities that correlate with "Octavius the Octopus " in Piano Adventures Primer.

Music Sample

Click the links below to watch the Adventure Learning Videos play along with backing tracks or try the super student challenges.