Playing music from a lead sheet opens up a new world of possibilities so that you can make familiar tunes have their own special flare.
Free Christmas Lead Sheets
These free Christmas lead sheets from Michael Kravchuk allow pianists to practice chords or prep to accompany a Christmas sing a long. Starting with the key of C is definitely easier for a beginner pianist, but playing in other keys can sometimes make it easier to sing along. Here are a few familiar favorites I like to star with but there are over 30 to choose from on MichaelKravchuk.com with options to select from multiple keys for each song.
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:
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.
Choosing correct fingering can help you play legato phrases without awkward finger twists, leaps or tension. These steps are helpful in playing Simplified Hymns but can apply to other piano music as well.
1. Identify and mark the melodic phrases in the song.
Use the words and punctuation as your clues.
Most phrases for hymns are 2-4 measures in length.
2. "Block" the Left Hand notes one phrase at a time.
3. Identify phrases including notes larger than a 5 finger span.
4. Write in the fingering at the beginning of each phrase.
"Floating off" (a delicate hop) to a new position between phrases is okay.
5. Decide which fingering technique works the best.
Expansion- open hand wider than 5 finger position
Contraction- close hand smaller than 5 finger position
Finger Crossing - tuck thumb under or cross fingers over as in scale playing
Finger Substitution- replace one finger with another while playing repeated notes
Listen carefully as you play with your selected fingering to make sure it doesn't have create awkward accented notes. Write in the fingering you have chosen and follow it consistently as you practice.
Music Flashcards have a been a familiar tool in piano lessons for me since I was a child. I loved the satisfaction of beating my personal record time identifying note names chords and music terms. Quizlet allows you to create free flashcard sets to learn almost any topic from Spanish vocabulary to human anatomy. You can also tap into the existing sets others have created. There are several different ways to study that make this online flashcard tool even more effective than traditional paper flashcard sets. I love how the various options allow you to study in the way that works best for you including starring a small number of cards to review, playing in flashcard, game or quiz mode with varying formats (multiple choice, match, type answer, etc.).
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