Practice Five-Finger Patterns

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C

 I'm a firm believer in stretching before I do any work out exercises. The same is true with practicing the piano each day. Reach for Hanon 1 Finger Exercises or do these Five-Finger Patterns. I will be starting lessons right after Labor Day and will be handing out the following exercises for practice.

C Major

Starting with the above keys, play this five-finger scale with all five fingers. Start at C and play to G, then return to C. Do this one hand at a time. Then play the finger scale, slow and steady,  with both hands at the same time.

C Maj Broken Chords (Arpeggios)

Play notes C_E_G Play hands over hand, four octaves up and back, beginning with the left hand.

C Maj Block Chords

Play the notes C, E, and G together at the same time. Play firmly up and back 3 octaves.

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C

G Major

Start at G and play to D, then return to G. Play with both hands at the same time.

G Maj Arpeggios

Play G_B_D notes with hand over hand, 3 octaves up and back.

G Maj Block Chords

Play the notes G, B, D together in both hands, 3 octaves up and back.

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C

F Maj

Play from F up to C and then back again. (F_G_A_Bb_C) Same procedure as above.

F Maj Arpeggios

Play notes, F_A_C one at a time

F Maj Block Chords

Play these notes at the same time in both hands, F_A_C

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C

D Major

Start at D and play to A, then return to D. Play with curved fingers and try using both hands.

D Maj Arpeggios

Play the keys, D_F#_A one at a time, using both hands. Play 3 octaves up and back.

D Maj Block Chords

Play the notes D-F#-A at the same time in both hands, up and back solidly.

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C

 A Major

Play all five notes, A_B_C#_D_E with all five fingers in both hands.

A Maj Arpeggios

Play A, C#, E with hand over hand, 3 octaves up and back

A Maj Block Chords

Press down A_C#_E in both hands, moving up and down the keyboard.

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C

 E Major

Start at E and play to B, then go back to E, using all five fingers.

E Maj Arpeggios

Play the notes E_G#_B one at a time. Roll those broken chords so they sound like a harp.

E Maj Block Chords

Play E, G#, B together in both hands. Practice chords for church music, along with rock and roll.

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C

 B Major

Start at B and play to F#, using all five fingers, then descend to B where you started from.

B Maj Arpeggio Chords

Play these piano notes, B_D#_F#, hand over hand.

B Maj Block Chords

Play B, D#, F# simultaneously.

Have fun strengthening your fingers and building muscles. Keep your hands limbered.

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"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

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Back To School: Piano Lessons

Cover via Amazon

I'm getting ready to head up a new school year of teaching piano to home school students, as well as those who attend public and private schools. Oh, and I love to teach adults because I enjoy spending more time with them at a slower pace. Usually an hour lesson provides lots of learning time and the younger ones enjoy a fast-paced half hour time slot.

Beginner's Corner

As you've probably gathered online as well as from your own personal experience, all piano teachers use different methods, piano books and teaching approaches with their lessons. I am always being asked, "What books do you use?" and my answer usually is... 'it depends.'

For beginners, I like these four little pink books!
Bastien Piano Basics Primer Level - Learn to Play Four Book Set - Includes Primer Level Piano, Theory, Technic, and Performance Books

Music Theory Primer Level:

1. Rhythm in Music
2. Music Alphabet
3. Time Signatures
4. The Staff
5. The Grand staff
6. Clef Signs
7. Dynamics
8. Measuring Intervals
9. Slurs and Ties
10. Chords
11. Sharps and Flats
12. Middle C Position, C Position and G Position

When my students finish these books, which usually takes them the entire school year, they then move on to Level 1B. Keep in mind that I supplement their notebooks with free music sheets, music games, work sheets and ear training. Lots to do in such a short amount of time.
Alfred's Basic Piano Library: Lesson Book Level 1B

Music Theory - Level 1B

1. C Position Review, G Position Review and Middle C Position

2. Review Melodic and Harmonic Intervals

3. Incomplete Measure

4. Review Dynamic Signs

5. Accent Sign

6. Tempo Marks

7. Eighth Notes

8. New Time Signatures and New Concepts

9. Damper Pedal

10. Eighth Rest

11. Measuring Half Steps and Whole Steps, Tetrachords

12. Major Scale

Young students and adults who are ready to move on will enjoy a new learning experience with

Alfred's Basic Piano Library Lesson Book: Level 2

Music Theory: Level 2

1. Time Signature Changes and Tempo Changes

2. New Rhythm Patterns

3. Shape of Intervals

4. Playing 6the in G Position

5. Fluency in a piece that changes registers frequently

6. Moving hands to 8va position and more frequent left hand positions

7. Harmonic 6ths moving stepwise

8. Blues Scales, Major Scales ascending, descending and contrary motion

9. Measuring 7ths, Playing Harmonic 7ths

10. Reviewing tetrachords and major scale patterns

11. Triad Vocabulary, Blocked and Broken Chords, V7 chord

12. Chord Progressions

Another resource I recommend, 300pg Piano By Ear Home Study Course
Adults, College kids and High School students like this reference book. It's a great theory reference guide to have on hand. You'll be filling in the blanks with pencil a lot!

Hope you have a great school year with many blessings and opportunities for you to share your talents and musical gifts!

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Keep in touch with me on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube and Pinterest, too!


"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

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Learn Meant To Live

Switchfoot: Live – EP (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 Awhile back I posted On Fire by Switchfoot (love the slow worshipful song) but recently I was reminded of another popular song, Meant To Live. It has tons of power chords, you know where you omit the third of the chord and just play the root and fifth. This song was written in 2003 by Jonathan Foreman and Tim Foreman. My guy students really like this one, especially for the Junior High and High School Kids.

Play this piece like a rock song in the Key of D with 4/4 time signature.

~INTRO~

B5      A5   E5      G5       A5
B5      A5   E5      D5 E5    A5
B5      A5   E5      F#5      G5

~VERSE~

G5(let ring)
Dreaming about providence and whether mice or men have second
F#5 D5  E5 D5  F#5 D5 F#5 G5 F#5   F#5 D5  E5 D5  F#5 D5  F#5 G5 A5(1)
Tries
G5(let ring)
Maybe we've been living with our eyes half open maybe where bent and
      F#5 D5  E5 D5  F#5 D5 F#5 G5 F#5   F#5 D5  E5 D5  F#5 D5  F#5 G5 A5(1)
Broken                       broken                              oh

~REPEAT CHORUS~

~INTERLUDE~

B5  A5(2)  E5  E5 D5  E5 A5(1)  B5  A5(2)  E5  G5

~BRIDGE~

        D                            G
We want more than this worlds got to offer
        D                            G
We want more than this worlds got to offer
        D                         G
We want more than the wars of our fathers
                 C                       G
And everything inside screams for second life   yeah

~OUTRO CHORUS~

D5                                Dsus2
We were meant to live for so much more have we lost ourselves
D5                                Dsus2

We were meant to live for so much more have we lost ourselves
D5                                Dsus2
We were meant to live for so much more have we lost ourselves
D5                    Dsus2
We were meant to live we were meant to live

B5   A5(2)    E5

 Chord Breakdown

Intro

While the r.h. is playing a quick grace note and eighth notes, like F#, G, F#... L.H. chords will be

E5 = BE
G5 = GD
A5 = AE
B5 = BF#
D5 = DA
F#5 = F#C#

There's a left hand run that goes like this:

F#C#, DA, DA, DA, EB, DA, DA, DA, F#C#, DA, DA, DA, F#, G, F#

Have fun with the song. Perhaps you play the guitar, too. Here's another resource you may be interested in, Advanced Guitar 301

If you enjoyed this blog post, please consider following on Bloglovin'
Keep in touch with me on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube and Pinterest, too!


"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

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