Hello Everyone!

I hope you all enjoyed your summer breaks!

 

Vida:

Continue to practice “March of the English” guard this week. Focus on connecting each phrase so that Vida can play the whole song start to finish without pausing. Encourage Vida to play each phrase out of order as we did in class to help her become more familiar with each individual phrase. When Vida can play all of  “March of the English Guard” at a comfortable tempo, she can record herself and listen back. Ask her to identify one thing she likes about how she plays the song and if there is anything she wants to sound different. Challenge her to start reading “Coconut Shuffle” at home. Remember; this song introduces the Tie! The tie in this song will combine to value of two eighth notes resulting in the next sounded note to come in on an off beat. Focus on reading the notes first so that Vida feels more comfortable navigating each phrase before practicing the timing of the tied eighth notes. You would use a metronome to help count this rhythm. We will review this specific rhythm and “Coconut Shuffle” next class.

 

Berke:

This week we reviewed Beethoven’s Ecossaise in E Flat Major. Berke should continue to practicing this song hands separate in 2 chucks: the first 2 lines and then the second 2 lines (the A section and the B section). Remember, most of the song uses intervals that build the E flat Major chord (Major 3rds, and Perfect 5th), and the second phrase of the B section is the same as the first, only an octave higher. Either in your book, or by printing the Ecossaise, you can write in the intervals between notes to help you map the song. When practicing the left hand of the Ecossaise, focus on the fingering. Do your best to keep your wrists and forearms flat when rocking back and forth between the B Flat and the descending 3rds to ensure you do not injure your wrists. You can help keep your wrists flat by pressing down in the middle of the keys as opposed to the ends of the keys. When practicing “Clair de Lune” this week, please focus on the left hand from measures 5-8. When you feel confident with the notes in the left hand we can work towards playing the first 2 phrases hands together.

 

 

 

Thank you everyone!

I look forward to seeing how everyone progresses this fall!