Happy Mother’s Day!

Sahil

Recommended minutes to practice: 15 minutes a day

What to practice: C position skips warmup, major triads from all white keys, Hey, Mr. Half Note Dot, Alouette, and the Beyblade songs.

How to practice it most effectively: For the C position skips warmup, take one hand at a time and use fingers 1-3-5 to play skips C-E-G-E-C. These are the fingers we like to use when playing skips (like at the end of the Beyblade Turbo song). The other piano warmup to do is playing major triads from every white key (C-D-E-F-G-A-B). Some of these will use all white keys, while others have a sharp in the middle. B major is the trickiest of all, having D# and F#. To play this comfortably, move your hand way up into the keys so your wrist doesn’t have to twist. Please remember that all triads are made up of skips. For Hey, Mr. Half Note Dot and Alouette, try to count out loud with “1-2-3-4” while you play. After a barline, we always reset back to beat 1. Please continue to play the two Beyblade songs – we will start adding triads to them soon!

 

Nathalia

Recommended minutes to practice: 15 minutes a day

What to practice: Rockin’ Robin

How to practice it most effectively: Play bars 1-8 hands together: every time LH has the E and B staccato 5th, RH conveniently has a rest! Please double check you’re in the correct octave, and use the the written finger numbers. For bars 9-16, go hands separately, noticing LH’s triad patterns and RH’s repeated C-D-F shape. We labelled and circled the 1+2+ rhythm that the hands both play. Watch out for Bbs – these are part of our key signature, while Ebs and Abs are considered accidentals. Continue swinging your eighth notes, and watching for steps versus skips (as well as larger intervals like 5ths and even a 7th later on!).

 

Sina

Recommended minutes to practice: 10 minutes a day

What to practice: C position warmup hands together, Rain, Rain, and A Happy Song

How to practice it most effectively: For the warmup, make sure the same letter names are pressing down at the same time – the finger numbers won’t line up, but the notes will. Do your best to play connected. Today we learned how to read notes on the staff: LH plays in bass clef with important note F on the 4th line, and RH plays in treble clef, with important note G on the second line. Please say the letter names while you play Rain Rain and A Happy Song. For A Happy Song especially, be careful with the directions the melody is moving in, and watch out for the E-D back and forth in the second line! With all songs, please don’t rush – it’s easier to play correctly and evenly when you go a medium speed.