Anna
Warm-Up: Anna should begin every practice session by playing the A major scale hands separate, connected and detached. When she plays them detached, she doesn’t need to bounce her fingers too much. She can achieve the same power by keeping her fingers close. I suggest she pays close attention to her left hand and make sure she keeps her wrist up. It’s also very important that she be aware of her posture.
Entry of the Gladiators: In the lesson, we worked on playing the first section of the piece with a consistent speed by using a metronome. I told Anna she could use a metronome app on her iPad, or even just use this website. She can emphasize the 8th notes that are played with the beat to help keep her with the metronome. I demonstrated at the lesson.
Anna can also start to work on the second section of the piece hands separately.
Workout in Db: In the lesson we just had time to introduce Anna to Db major. She can start to learn the first line or so hands together.
I’d like Anna to work on writing the key signatures I circled in her theory book this week as well. She should play for 20 minutes every day.
Megane
In the lesson we reviewed all the notes Megane’s learned so far on the piano. We made up a tune together and wrote out the notes on a sheet of plain paper. My challenge for Megane this week is to write out the letters onto staff paper, which you can print from here.
We also learned a new note this week: F! We spent a good time reviewing here F is on the staff and keyboard and worked on two songs: The Night and Corn on the Cob and focused on making sure Megane played the notes with the correct hand.
Remember! Top staff is played with right hand, bottom staff is played with left hand.
This week Megane can review The Night and Corn on the Cob, as well as writing out her melody on staff paper. She should play for 5 minutes every day.
Sacha
Warm-Up: Sacha should begin with the double 3rd exercise. The goal this week is to press both fingers down at the same time so that they sound like one note. He should also be trying to keep his fingers curved over the keys, playing with the tips of his fingers.
Intermezzo: Sacha should review the 1st two lines of the piece with a metronome to make sure he keeps a consistent speed. We spent some time in the lesson playing with the metronome. I suggest he sing part of the melody with the metronome before he tries to play it. It’s easier to hear where the beats fall with the rhythm while singing/speaking the rhythm.
He can also start to work on the next two lines hands separately.
Sacha should be playing for 15 minutes every day. I also asked him to consider playing in the recital, which is on April 29th.
Zoe
In the lesson we reviewed Cuckoo Clock and started to look at the next song in the book: Dinosaur Music Night. We reviewed several times how the play the song at home and Zoe was getting the hang of it.
We also did some ear training work with Puff the Magic Dragon by signing the melody and trying to find the next notes on the piano based on if what we were singing was higher or lower than the pitch being played. We did some clapping exercises as well.
At home Zoe can review Dinosaur Music Night. Having an adult present to help her read the finger numbers or review the instructions will be very helpful. She should play for 5 minutes every day.
Nelly
We began by reviewing Cat and Mouse Game in her book. Nelly did a really good job keeping her fingers close to the keys and her wrists up!
We began to look at Jazz Blast from my RCM book. I reviewed with Nelly what a flat and eighth note were. I also wrote them down on the back of the page, so Nelly can refer to them if she forgets. While in the lesson I suggested she begin by looking at the first couple measures, she’s welcome to look at more at home!
We briefly looked at the song Dinner with Wolfgang, but didn’t have a chance to really dive into it. It’s based on the piece Sinfonia in F (KV112), which you can listen to here. I suggest Nelly take a look at the song at home, but if she doesn’t have a chance we will look at it in the lesson as well. I would like her to listen to the original piece, though!
Here are the sentences to help remember the lines and spaces (read from bottom to top on the staff)
Treble Clef lines: Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
Treble Clef spaces: spell out the word FACE
Bass Clef lines: Grandma Boogies Down Fifth Avenue
Bass Clef spaces: All Cows Eat Grass
Nelly should be playing for 5 minutes every day.