Anastasiya
Let’s start the new year with “Traffic Jam 2nds” and “This is Not Jingle Bells”. I’m glad you know all of your intervals really well (2nds, 3rds, 4ths, 5ths etc.). For “Traffic Jam 2nds”, remember that you are always in C Position but if you get confused with what the notes are, remember to use the phrases you made up today to help you find the notes. For the right hand – FACE, or EGBDF (Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge) – and for the left hand – ACEG (All Cows Eat Grass) and GBDFA (Good Burritos Don’t Fall Apart). You made up a few of your own, and if that helps you to remember it more, keep making them up. In “This is Not Jingle Bells”, you are also in C Position, but practice the left hand shifts in measures 7 and measure 9.
Madison
For next week, let’s finish “French Lullaby”. A good way to practice is hands separate, and also sing the note name while you play. Do this for both the right and left hand. This really helped you today so I think this will be a good way to practice all of your pieces. Also watch for the shifts in the left hand. After you finish “French Lullaby”, you can move on to the next piece and we can talk about it next week.
Juliette
Excellent work with “The Windmill” and “Yankee Doodle”. “Indians” was also very good – I’d like to hear it again next week. The accents and dynamics were very good. Your ritardando was also great – practice that by counting 1-2-3-4 but gradually getting slower. This will help to make sure you don’t slow down TOO much – you should still be able to count. Also remember that forte means loud, not faster! Your two new pieces were “Pedal Play” and “Harp Song”. Both of these pieces require the pedal – practice changing your foot as you play the next note. For “Harp Song”, practice it as written and also try numbers 1, 2 and 3 on the bottom of the page. By the end of this week, you should be a pedaling expert and we can move on to the next pieces that use a lot of pedal.