Let’s Get Started
Let’s Chant
At-Home Activity
Remember to review previously learned pieces often and have students make changes to them. After they review a piece, simply say “change it” and see what creative thing they will do with the piece. You may add a sticker or smiley face to each page you practice!
Let’s Sing
“The Waterfall”
From Keyboard Games Book A, pg. 15
Description:
- Dynamics: Soft
- Tempo: A little slow
- Meter: triple (Du-da-di Du-da-di)
- Piano Keys Used: Sets of two black keys
- Keyboard Register: High
- Hands: Two hands play separately, with each hand moving
- Technique: Arm movement using the middle finger
Note: You have learned about half the pieces in the book! When you go back to review previously learned pieces, if students are solid with their rhythm and confident in knowing what to play, they can try playing along with duet parts for those pieces that have duet parts. Be sure to listen to the audio file to hear when the student part comes in to join the duet part.
Bonus!
Try playing a Triple meter (Du-da-di) soft fist medley by playing “The Jack O’Lantern,” and “Jumping Beans” one right after the other, without stopping.
From the Author
Following are some of the major concepts of this approach:
- Rhythm is based on body movement. Feel the pulse and meter then chant rhythm patterns. Move in both a continuous fluid way and a rounded, pulsating way.
- Tonal audiation is developed by singing. Singing songs and tonal patterns develops pitch sensitivity, singing in tune, and a “listening” ear.
- Music pattern vocabularies are acquired and applied to listening and performing.
- Various elements of music, such as rhythm, meter, pulse, tonality, harmony, style, and form, are studied.