Vivienne
Warm Up – Vivienne should review the exercises “Stretching” and “Tiptoe Running” and learn “Jumping off the front porch steps.” I strongly suggest purchasing the book these exercises come from, as I plan on using it for the rest of the term and there are still many exercises to go. It will be easier than having a lot of photocopies. The book can be purchased here. https://www.amazon.ca/Dozen-Day-Preparatory-Book/dp/0877180245
Skating Waltz – Vivienne should practice this piece hands separately, counting out loud. She should always double check the notes. Sometimes the fingerings for the same notes are different, depending on the bar! For example E could be played using finger 1 in one bar, but then be played by finger 3 in another. In the last bar of the piece in the right hand, the thirds must be played connected! Vivienne may need to isolate this one bar and repeat the transition from the EG interval (using fingers 1-3) to the FA interval (using fingers 2-4).
Theory – I have provided Vivienne with two photocopied worksheets to complete for next week.
Chantal
Warm Up: “Touching Toes” and “Kicking Right Leg Up” from “A Dozen a Day.”
I suggest purchasing the book, since we will be using it for the rest of the term and there are still many exercises to go. It will be easier than having a lot of photocopies. The book can be purchased here.
https://www.amazon.ca/Dozen-Day-Mini-Book/dp/0877180237
Songs: Chantal should practice “A Joke for You” and “Football Game.” She should always read the notes carefully! There may be a few surprises in the music.
Practice Hints
- Make sure Chantal prepares both hands on the keyboard before playing the song. If she has both hands ready, even if one doesn’t come in for several bars, the transition will be a lot smoother and there will be less hesitation between sections. She often keeps both hands on the keyboard, but once in a while she will forget. Gently remind her to keep them
- Make sure Chantal’s wrists remain elevated as she plays. She should be playing with the tips of her fingers, and her wrists should not be pointing down towards the keys, but rather up and away from the keys. Remind her of the “tunnel.” If her wrist is high enough, her other hand should be able to pass under it like a train!
- Ask Chantal what note her right hand plays first, and then ask her to show you on the keyboard. Do the same with the left
- Chantal should keep counting out loud as she plays. Make sure she does not rush through half notes and whole notes. The beat should be as steady as possible.
Tanishq
Warm Up
- Double thirds, ascending and descending, legato and staccato.
- Work on F melodic minor formula pattern. Practice the scale by itself first every practice session before diving into the formula pattern to familiarize yourself with the notes.
March in D – Great dynamic contrast! Let’s review this piece for one more week to ensure everything is totally comfortable and without hesitations.
Hakuna Matata – Great job on pages 1-3! Continue to review these pages hands together. Review page 4 hands separately, counting out loud. When practicing the rolled chords, isolate and play them in a relaxed fashion. The more relaxed you are, the smoother it’ll be. Sometimes challenging techniques can
Sunset in Rio – Practice page one hands separately, counting out loud. Write in rhythms when you need to (for example, write in how many beats there are per note and what beats they belong to). Here is an example of what I mean. https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1CqaK9iJ5Y7OUNHT1ktdWZvcVk
Zoe
Warm Up: “Skipping” and “Deep Breathing” from “A Dozen a Day.”
Songs: Zoe should work on “Finger Tricks one and two” and “Ice Cream Dog.” This week, make sure she is mindful of the dynamics and adds them into the pieces!
Practice Hints
- Zoe should always follow the suggested fingering. It will help her play her pieces efficiently and smoothly.
- Zoe should continue to count out loud! Make sure she holds half notes, dotted half notes, and whole notes for the entire length. Also, make sure she keeps her beat mostly consistent and doesn’t significantly slow down or speed up.
- Remind Zoe to have both of her hands ready to play at the start of her piece. For example, if her left hand comes in several bars into the song, her hand should still be near the starting note of that line. This helps because she won’t hesitate in between sections to place her hand in the right spot: it will already be there!
- Make sure Zoe’s hands remain elevated as she plays. She should be playing with the tips of her fingers, and her wrists should not be pointing down towards the keys, but rather up and away from the keys. Remind her of the “tunnel.” If her wrist is high enough, her other hand should be able to pass under it like a train!