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. 

12 Bar Blues Activities

Choose a 12 Bar Blues Activity to complete below.

Chord Progression Improvisation Videos with Inversions

Chords often provide the framework or building blocks of music pieces. 

If you change the order of the chord notes by moving the bottom root to the top it is called an inversion. When playing piano chord progressions this often makes it easier to play because you don't have to leap your hand as far to change chords.

 

Explore the sample piano improvisation videos by Forrest Kinney below that show how to create music based on repetitive chord progression patterns. Then choose your favorite style and improvise or compose your own short piece based on the same pattern.

Chord Progression Improvisation Videos in Root Position

Chord Progressions often provide the framework or building blocks of music pieces. 

You can start with the notes of a simple repetitive chord progression, and by combining the notes in different ways create an endless variety of sounds.

Explore the sample piano improvisation videos below that show how to create music based on repetitive chord progression patterns. Then choose your favorite style and improvise or compose your own short piece based on the same pattern.

Root Position Chords

Create First Heart and Soul Blues:  I-vi-IV-V

In this example, the left-hand stays in the root position. Choose any combination of notes from the C scale + E-flat to create a bluesy jazz piece. Imitate the syncopated jazzy rhythms.

Pianonote Improvise Beautiful Melodies: vi-IV-V-iii

This reflective, calm example uses repeating root chords in the left hand with roots, broken chords, arpeggios, or scale passages in the right hand.

Create First Ocean Without a Shore: vi-V-IV-iii then IV-iii-ii-I

Listen to how the broken chords played across the entire range of the piano in this example create the feeling of soothing flowing water in contrast to the energy of the blocked chord patterns.

Create First A Song Someday: vi-IV-V-vi then I-V-ii-I

This example uses almost every root chord of the scale. It's easier if you move your hand in a "cookie cutter" way keeping the same shape and fingering  (left hand 531,  right hand 135).

Create First Roots in the Sky  : I-iii-IV-ii-iii-IV-vi-V

Can you hear how the V-I (authentic cadence) ending helps the piece to sound finished? Most songs end on the tonic or I chord that feels like returning back home.

Wynn Ann Rossi Composing Tips Videos

I love to inspire creativity during piano lessons on a regular basis. These videos by Wynn-Ann show quick tips to help get creative juices flowing in a variety of musical styles.

Wynn-Ann Rossi Composing Tips

Creature Sounds

Watch the video to learn how to improvise with "creature sounds."
Then choose an animal and create your own music to represent their sounds.

Blues/Jazz

Watch the video to learn more about the blues.  Then improvise your own bluesy song. Tips: Use Swing Rhythms, "Cherry Pie" & Triplets "Blueberry" Barrelhouse Bass- Alternate 5ths and 6ths Blues Scale Notes: C, E♭,E, F♯, G, B♭, 

Making Melodies from Scales

Watch the video to learn how to make melodies using the whole tone scale (all whole steps).

Musical Limitations

Watch the video to learn about musical patterns in composing (falling leaf or snowflake).

Portraying Emotions

Watch the video to learn more about creating music that shows emotions like happiness, sadness or curiosity.  Then try improvising or composing different emotional sounds on the keyboard. 

Rhythmic Signatures

Watch the video to learn how to create your own music with fun repeating Latin rhythms (3+3+2).