Wunderkeys Pop 2: The Road Home Practice Tips

 

The Road Home in D Major from Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book is a tranquil piece with several repetitive cadences. 

Piano Practice Tips

• Label the chords in your music. 
• Which "road is used the most?  vi-V-I or IV-V-I?
• Can you hear and spot the deceptive cadence IV-V-vi?

Theory

Learning About Cadences

Listen to the samples of different types of cadences in this Teoria Cadences tutorial.

Perfect Authentic: V-I Sounds like the end.

Imperfect Authentic: V-I + inversion Sounds like the end...but less final than perfect.

Half: I-V Sounds unfinished like a question.

Deceptive: V-vi or V-IV   V chord deceives you and doesn't lead to I. 

Plagal: IV-I  aka "Amen" cadence

Then try the Theta Flash Cadences game to practice identifying cadences.

Hint: Perfect Authentic Cadences end with the tonic (1st note of the scale) both in the melody and in the root of the bass.

Improvisation

If you like The Road Home you might like improvising with the different chord patterns in Create First Journey

Rohan Rising in B minor has a cinematic feeling including dramatic dynamic changes and left hand 1-5-8-5 repeating patterns.

• Watch out for the double treble clefs at the beginning.
• Use a flexible wrist aligning your arm behind the playing finger as you play the repetitive left- hand patterns. 

The Ninth Session in B-flat Major is a spinoff of Beethoven's classic Ode to Joy Theme with left-hand syncopated interrupting eighths that sound a bit like the Forrest Gump Theme.

• Tap a long with the rhythms as you listen to the performance to prep for the syncopation in the intro and outro.

The Minuet Session in G Minor begins with simple rhythms with a melodic motif borrowed from Bach's famous minuet but the pedaling and expression are definitely a diversion from Baroque style! 

• Notice the left-hand stride bass on the second page is like a root chord with the root thrown down an octave. Imagine a miniature ball being tossed across the keys as you leap up and down to aim for the roots and thirds.

Blue Stone in A Major is a calm expressive piece that includes many flowing 1-5-8-9-10 left-hand patterns and some rolled chords.

• Practice the left-hand broken chord groups "block style" to gain automaticity shifting up and down between chords groups with ease.
• If you are unfamiliar with rolled chords watch this quick video about arpeggiated chords
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• Adding lyrics to a piece can be helpful because it makes the distinct rhythms of the phrases more memorable. 
• If this piece had lyrics, what would it say to you?

Although this piece has no religious themes, it brought excerpts from some of my favorite scriptures (Isaiah 1:18, Helaman 5:12, D&C 6:36) to my mind that I loosely strung together to create the following lyrics for the first page. 

"Look unto me in every thought. Look unto me and cast your doubts and fears aside.

Look unto me and ye shall find rest. And when the storms shall beat upon you, you can trust The Rock.

I will take your hand I will guide you home. I will make your sins though scarlet be as wool.

I will take your hand, I will guide you home; back to The Father where he waits with open arms."

Taefa's Return in F# Minor begins with a sense of foreboding including many chords in alberti bass style. The piece intensifies with faster passages including "almost scales" in the melody line that are great for scale fingering practice and a few acciacaturas are scattered about. 

• Watch out for clef changes.
• Watch the video below to review how to play acciacaturas.

Sea of Stars in D Major is inspired by themes from Mozart's famous piano sonata.

• Watch the video below to hear the inspiration behind the motifs in this piece.

Aisling's Theme in B minor

• Even though this piece is written in a minor key listen for how occasional major chord patterns in this piece bring a glimmer of hope and shift the mood.
• Practice feeling the subtle rise and fall of the chords and use your peripheral vision when needed to see the larger chord shifts.

The Venise Session in B Flat Major

LH 1-5-10

Triplet Sixteenths

Castle Hill Kick Gm-BflatM

8vb 2 octave leaps

Strong Will in A Major

A Broken inversions 

The Penny Session in F Sharp Minor

Wolf in Bflat Major-GMinor

Watch out for the changing clefs!

Augmented Chords

Keep the inner voicing subdued with a relaxed wrist. Listen for the melody line to sing out clearly

Hand Crossovers

The Renewal in G minor

Left Hand Stride

Saorla Rising in B Minor

Listen to the performance as you tap the repeating syncopated rhythms in the left hand.

Watch out for the double Bass, Transfer to your left "sit bones" without scooting on the bench.

Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop Piano Performance 2 Review

Have you ever had any teen piano students that feel "stuck" in their method book? While some students really love the classics, I've found that branching out to other genres of their choice can really up their excitement and practice. I recently purchased Wunderkeys Intermediate Pop 2 Performance Book after one of my teen students was eager to learn more music like Nik Day's "Trust in the Lord" that I had assigned her as a supplementary choice piece. 

She was enthralled with the lyrical pop sound of the repetitive chordal accompaniment with intriguing syncopation and it boosted her rhythmic accuracy to a whole new level as she practiced over and over as an accompanist to the soundtrack. I had difficulty finding many pieces with a similar style in my collection of classical and supplementary music.

Performance Preparation Practices

Performing can be a shaky experience... literally.  That can definitely complicate things when you are a pianist and shaky fingers lead to wrong notes and then your mind starts feeling like a Jenga game where one slip leads to more shakiness and possibly a total collapse. 

I attended an informative UVMTA workshop this week presented by Dr Stephen Thomas including preparation tips for performance experiences to help you avoid freezing up with mental blocks. I loved many of the ideas he shared and mingled them with some of my own in my notetaking. A resource that kept coming to my mind was the book The Practice Revolution by Philip Johnston. It is loaded with different gamified strategies for structuring and improving practice quality and I find it especially helpful for children who may not naturally know how to organize their home practice sessions.  

My personal key takeaways were

Beginning Organ Playing Tips for Pianists

Almost every pianist who can play hymns in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will at some point be invited to be a ward organist. Unlike many church organists, this responsibility is unpaid and often comes with little training.  

Although I learned to use the foot pedals in my college organ class, the coupler button has become my best friend as I play the organ for church services! It allows me to play the organ much like I would the piano but transfers the sound of the bass line to the deeper foot pedal stops for a richer sound and a less stressful playing experience for me since I am not an organ foot pedal pro!

Thanksgiving Turkey Blues Improvisation

Jazzy Turkey Blues Improv

While Thanksgiving is a fun holiday for people, it might give a turkey the blues! For this improvisation, imagine a turkey is singing his Thanksgiving blues song. Use these lyrics or come up with some of your own.

Distant Bells by Streabbog and Hand Arcs

This post includes activities that correlate with Distant Bells by Streabbog in Keys to Artistic Performance or Piano Adventures 4 Performance Book.

Distant Bells by Streabbog in Keys to Artistic Performance

Musicianship Tips and Free Printables

Musicianship is the key to creating beautiful music instead of robotic flat performances. 

It's similar to the difference between hearing an engaging speaker reading your favorite book versus hearing the artificial intelligence robot voice chant with a monotone voice and little expression.

Following a few of the simple tips below can help you play with more expression and musicality.

Teaching Note Reading Games and Free Posters

 Sometimes cleaning out my piano files pays off! 

This week I browsed through old files and found some treasure ideas that will be great for our September group lesson focused on note reading. 

There are many approaches to teaching note-naming to music students.  I've found that although the "Every Good Boy Does Fine" approach worked for me, it is not ideal for a lot of transfer students who come to piano lessons with confusion about which sentence goes with treble or bass.

These fun posters and activities can help clear up that confusion!

I prefer to focus on landmark notes, musical chants, intervals and games to really help piano students to have strong note recognition skills.

BASS Lines Music and Movement Game

I'm eager to try this mashup of Bingo, Simon Says and Head Shoulders Knees and Toes at group lessons next week. Start by singing the lyrics below to the tune of Bingo while you and your students chant the bass lines and touch their body "head shoulders knees and toes" style, but backwards.  

Piano Pronto 5 Online Activities

 Piano Pronto Movement 5 Supplementary Activities

Choose the link below for lesson plans and activities that correlate with Piano Pronto Movement 5.

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 Victory Theme from Beethoven's Symphony 5 and E flat Major

#2 Autumn Theme No. 1 by Vivaldi and Voicing Thirds

#3 Battle Hymn of the Republic and LH Stride

#4 Brahms Waltz in A Flat Major

#5 Mexican Folk Medley and Spanish Music

#6 Vivaldi Violine Concerto in Am and 32nd Notes/Turns

#7 Radetzky March and 9th Intervals

#8 Chopin Prelude in Cm and Grave

#9 Pastoral Symphony Theme and Leggiero

#10 Pavane  and F minor

#11 Maple Leaf Rag and Ragtime Style

#12 O Mio Babbino Caro and E Major

#13 Come Back to Sorrento and Parallel Keys

#14 Sonata in C and Trills

#15 Wayfaring Stranger and Una Corda

#16 The Barber of Seville and Tempo Review

#17 Pavane and Impressionistic Music

#18 Bach Prelude No. 1 in C and Fractional Pedaling

#19 Autumn Theme by Vivaldi

#20 Russian Dance by Tchaikovsky and Tension Free Playing

#21 Pathetique Sonata by Beethoven and Cantabile

#22 Spring Theme and Fast Passage Practice

Piano Pronto 5 Spring Theme by Vivaldi and Fast Passages

 This post includes activities that correlate with Spring Theme by Vivaldi in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

Vivaldi Spring Line Rider

Listen to Classics for Kids About Vivaldi or Sound Effects in Spring.

Piano Pronto 5 Pathetique Sonata by Beethoven and Cantabile

 This post includes activities that correlate with Pathetique Sonata Theme by Beethoven in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

Pathetique Sonata Piano Adagio Cantabile performed by Yundi

Piano Pronto 5 Russian Dance by Tchaikovsky and Tension Free Playing

 This post includes activities that correlate with Russian Dance by Tchaikovsky in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

Trepak Russian Dance Line Rider

Label the form in your music as you watch the Trepak Animated Form Video.

Learn more about the Tchaikovsky's famous music as you listen to the Classics for Kids Podcast about the Nutcracker.

Technique

Watch the Pianistic Video About Tension Free Playing  (Taps, Lateral and Circular Movement)

Focus on playing tension-free with a flexible wrist to play the quick 3 note phrases in Russian Dance.

Related Posts

#19 Autumn Theme by Vivaldi

#21 Pathetique Sonata by Beethoven and Cantabile

#22 Spring Theme and Fast Passage Practice

Piano Pronto 5 Autumn Theme by Vivaldi

 This post includes activities that correlate with Autumn Theme by Vivaldi in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Samples and History

Vivaldi Autumn Theme No. 3

Piano Pronto5 Bach Prelude No 1 in C Major and Fractional Pedaling

 This post includes activities that correlate with Prelude No. 1 in C Major by Bach in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

Prelude in C Major by Bach performed by Lang Lang

Piano Pronto 5 Pavane by Ravel and Impressionistic Music

 This post includes activities that correlate with Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte by Ravel in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample and History

Pavane for a Dead Princess

Piano Pronto 5 The Barber of Seville and Tempo Review

 This post includes activities that correlate with The Barber of Seville in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

Barber of Seville - Bugs Bunny vs Elmer Fudd

Piano Pronto 5 Wayfaring Stranger and Una Corda

 This post includes activities that correlate with Wayfaring Stranger in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

Listen to the slower tempo that the performers use to create a solemn feeling for this piece.

Wayfaring Stranger Piano Guys and Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square

Piano Pronto 5 Sonata in C and Trills

 This post includes activities that correlate with Sonata in C by Mozart in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

Listen to Mozart's Sonata C Allegro Movement 1 performed by Lang Lang and listen for the trills and other ornament embellishments that he adds to the melody line to make it more interesting on the repeat. 

Piano Pronto 5 Come Back to Sorrento and Parallel Keys

 This post includes activities that correlate with Come Back to Sorrento by de Curtis in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

Browse some of the different performances of the Italian Song "Come Back to Sorrento" below.

Come Back to Sorrento Vocal Pavarotti

Piano Pronto 5 O Mio Babbino Caro and E Major

 This post includes activities that correlate with O Mio Babbino Caro by Puccini in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

O Mio Babbio Caro - Renaud Capuçon Violin and Piano

Blues Piano Free Resource Roundup

This month at group lessons piano students learned more about blues style and the 12 Bar Blues Pattern as we improvised melodies using some of the resources below.

Piano Pronto 5 Maple Leaf Rag

 This post includes activities that correlate with Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin in Piano Pronto 5.

Technique

Watch the videos to learn about the piano techniques you will use to play this piece.

PA Drop and Follow Through Video

PA Video Weighted Tone/Empty Fingers

Music Samples and History

Maple Leaf Rag

Piano Pronto 5 Pavane and F Minor

 This post includes activities that correlate with Pavane by Faure in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

Pavane by Gabriel Faure Orchestra

Piano Pronto 5 Pastoral Symphony and Leggiero

This post includes activities that correlate with the Pastoral Symphony Theme by Beethoven in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

Pastoral Theme Orchestra

Intermediate Piano Teaching Videos for Flipped Learning

After several years of music study, music I understood the basic rules of rhythm, note reading, and chords to tackle new pieces. I quickly learned that playing piano is much more of an art than a science with plenty of nuances and exceptions to the rules.

When is it OK to Break the Rules?

Keep your eyes on the music.

Lift the pedal at chord changes.

Keep your wrist level.

Play with a steady beat.

Make sure to follow the fingering in your music.

These rules can be helpful guidelines for beginners but intermediate playing requires the ability to fine-tune skills and adapt to the style of the music or even "break the rules" to achieve more artistry and avoid tension. 

Different fingerings might work better for one player than another, pedaling can be utilized more like a dimming switch than the flip of a light.

Just like a teenager is allowed a bit more freedom than a toddler, approaching music rules at the intermediate level requires more flexibility. On some topics I've discovered that not even the "experts" can agree on the rules. I think the best rule is a principle taught by my moral development teacher in college. Does it help or hurt?  

Piano Flipped Learning

The videos below address intermediate-level concepts such as rubato playing, fractional pedaling, levels of staccato, developing speed with clarity, and what to listen or look for during practice. I love the specific tips from the experts that help student practice sessions to become more effective so they can learn new music more quickly and play with expression, fluency, and attention to detail.

I embed these videos as part of my piano lab flipped learning lessons that correlate with method book pieces so students can learn specific tips relating to the pieces they are currently working on each week before they meet with me for private lessons.

Fingering and Speed

Switch fingering on repeated notes? 

Switch Fingering on repeated notes? or not?

Pianistic Tips for Playing Fast Passages (Finger Independence, Staccato, Micro Wrist Circles, Rhythms,

Graham Fitch Masterclass on Runs and Fast Passagework (Specific Practice Strategies to Prepare Fast Scalar Melody Lines)

To Look or Not to Look at Hands (Jumps, Muscle Memory, Mental Mapping, etc.)

Articulation and Technique

Graham Fitch Four Types of Staccato (Finger, Wrist, Forearm, Shoulder)

Graham Fitch and Wrist Movements (Position, Lateral Movements, Staccato, Drop-Roll, etc.)

Graham Fitch Masterclass on Arpeggio Playing Tips (Thumb Tuck Under or Shift Over, Target or Pivot Practice, Mountaineers Footstep, Arpeggio Bouquet, etc.)

Video tips about Accurate Jumps 

Pianistic Tension Free Playing  (Taps, Lateral and Circular Movement)

Pedaling

Pianistic Pedaling Rules (Hearing Clear Pedal Changes, Fractional Pedaling, Finger Pedaling, etc.)

Piano Pedaling in Baroque and Classical Music  by Graham Fitch (Clinging Fingers, Finger Pedaling)

Graham Fitch and Fractional Pedaling (Flutter Pedal, Half Pedal, 10 Levels of Pedal, etc.)

Graham Fitch and Una Corda and Sostenuto Pedaling (Explanation and Examples of Using Pedal)

Sight Reading

5 Steps for Accurate Sight Reading

Expression

Pianistic Techniques to Shape Your Music (Dynamics, Melodic Contour, Singing, Timing, Rubato, etc.)

Memorization

Pianistic How to Memorize Music without Hearing or Playing It (Analysis of Chords Form, Patterns, Audiation, 

Piano Pronto 5 Prelude in C Minor and Grave

 This post includes activities that correlate with Prelude in C Minor by Chopin in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

Listen for the dynamic variation in this performance of Chopin's Prelude in C Minor (Original Form).

Piano Pronto 5 Radetsky March and 9ths

 This post includes activities that correlate with Radetzky March by Strauss in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Samples

Radetsky March by Strauss

Piano Pronto 5 Violin Concerto and 32nd Notes/

 This post includes activities that correlate with Violin Concerto in A Minor by Vivaldi Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

Listen to the first few minutes of Violin Concerto in A Minor by Vivaldi.

Listen for the phrase endings or melodic ideas and divide your music in to small practice sections.

Piano Pronto 5: Mexican Folk Medley and Latin Music

 This post includes activities that correlate with Mexican Folk Medley in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

As you listen to the music for Mexican Stamping Dance, stamp on the accents and clap on the quarter rests in your music.

Piano Pronto 5: Waltz by Brahms and A Flat Major

 This post includes activities that correlate with Waltz in A Flat by Brahms in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

Listen for the waves of tension and resolution and rubato in this performance of Brahms' Waltz in A Flat Major.

Piano Pronto 5: Battle Hymn of the Republic and LH Stride

 This post includes activities that correlate with The Battle Hymn of the Republic in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

Choose a version of the Battle Hymn of the Republic below to listen to and tap the rhythm of the melody.

Battle Hymn of the Republic Tabernacle Choir 

Piano Pronto 5: Autumn Theme and Voicing Thirds

 This post includes activities that correlate with Autumn Theme by Vivaldi in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

Vivaldi's Autumn Theme (Orchestra)

Piano Pronto 5: Victory Theme and E Flat Major

 This post includes activities that correlate with Victory Theme by Beethoven in Piano Pronto 5.

Music Sample

The Secret to Beethoven's Fifth

Piano Chords and Patterns Group Lesson

Can you spot the pattern?

Musical styles from around the world often have repeating chord and scale patterns that make them distinct. Most famous pieces include repeating musical ideas including repeating rhythms, chords and melodic sequences.

The Secret to Beethoven's Fifth

Bastian Lit 1 Waltz by Kabalevsky

 This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with Waltz by Kabalevsky in Bastian Lit Vol 1.

Music Samples and History

Waltz by Kabalevsky

Technique and Artistry

Watch (starting at 1:30) the piano tutorial for tips on shaping the melody with dynamics and wrist floats and a softer left hand accompaniment.

Bastian Lit 1: The Lonely Traveler

This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with The Lonely Traveler by Bartok in Bastian Lit Vol 1.

Music Samples and History

The Lonely Traveler by Bela Bartok

Read the Classics for Kids Bio About Bela Bartok to learn more about this Hungarian composer from the Modern Era.

Bastian Lit 1: A Winter Tale by Bartok

 This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with A Winter Tale by Bartok in Bastian Lit Vol 1.

Music Samples and History

A Winter Tale by Bartok

Bastian Lit 1: March by Shostakovich and Direct Modulation

 This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with March by Shostakovich in Bastian Lit Vol 1.

Music Samples

As you listen to March by Shostakovich mark the musical form in your music.

Bastian Lit 1: A Little Song and Cantabile

This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with A Little Song by Kabalevsky in Bastian Lit Vol 1.

Music Samples

Watch A Little Song by Kabalevsky and listen for the singing quality of the cantabile lines.

Bastian Lit 1: Quick March by Kabalevsky and Energico

This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with Quick March by Kabalevsky in Bastian Lit Vol 1.

Music Samples

Watch Quick March by Kabalevsky (practice speed). Notice how the small intervals in this piece are played with a closed hand with quick hand shifts to adjust alignment. Playing with a flexible wrist helps to control tone and eliminate tension.

Bastian Lit 1: Dance by Kabalevsky and Modern Era

 This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with Dance by Kabalevsky in Bastian Lit Vol 1.

Music Samples and History

Watch the video to learn about Characteristics of Modern (Contemporary) Era Music.

As you watch the performance of Dance by Kabalevsky listen for the measures that have unexpected harmony in this piece. Contemporary piano music tends to be have unusual or surprising chord changes when compared to earlier era pieces.