Hello! Here are the lesson notes for this week:

 

Chris

What we learned/reviewed in lesson:

  • Sitting at the piano
    • sitting closer to the edge of the seat so we can be on top of our sit bone/tail bone, spine is aligned but not hunched forward or straining back.
    • Knuckles should reach the back board of the piano, when hands are brought down to the keys, there should be a gentle slope from shoulder to elbow to wrist
    • Hands in a soft c shape, keeping our palm in alignment with our wrists. Palm should also be supported (not flat but also not like claws)
  • Note and rest values (whole note, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth); 
  • Finger numbers (thumbs are always 1); relating it to clefs (treble clef = right hand, bass clef = left hand)
  • Time signatures: top number indicating how many beats per measure and bottom number indicating what quality the beat is (quarter note, eighth note)
  • Note names on the keyboard, D is in the dog house (the pair of black keys)

Recommended time to practice:

  • 20-30 minutes 4 or 5 days of the week. Can spend more time practicing but be mindful not to put strain on yourself as you get used to fine-motor controls in the hands and fingers. As you get used to playing in the next few weeks, you can increase practice time

What to practice:

  • Left and right hand finger patterns; get used to moving the fingers while keeping the palm of the hand supported. Can be practiced on a flat surface and then played on the keyboard 
  • Faber Method Book 
    • Focus on Rhythm and Blues, Exploring Seconds, and Exploring Thirds. Work towards playing them start to finish with a steady beat
    • Feel free to read onwards and try out the additional exercises 

How to practice efficiently: 

  • Be mindful of how you’re sitting at the piano, remember your alignment and how there should be no tension in the shoulders/arms/hands
  • When approaching new pieces/exercises, remember that there is several different approaches you can take to practicing
    • Noticing patterns and whether they repeat
    • Seeing the contour of a line of notes (is the line going up? Down? By small steps? Or by big leaps?
    • Clapping out the rhythm or singing it out loud
    • Saying the note names or finger numbers as you play

Happy practicing!