Gergely Szabo

Hello everyone, it was great to meet you all and get started this week! Here are the notes from this week’s introductory lessons, I am looking forward to jumping into work next week.

-Trevor F.

Sara:

Review technical exercises (scales/triads) in your favourite key from June’s exam so we can jump into something new next week.

Continue working through “The Entertainer”, only allowing yourself to fully play it through once or twice before next week’s lesson; instead practice by breaking it apart into smaller chunks and focus on identifying and trying to solve problems (remember, you can’t eat a whole pizza in one bite!). Supporting the fingers by thinking about the arm and checking in to see if you are relaxed (for example, opening the hand from the wrists instead of at the fingers for octaves and chords to stay relaxed in the arm).

Start new piece in RCM book, “Pierrot and Pierrette” – working independently to see how much you are able to learn/get together in one week. Remember to break things into manageable chunks before trying to run anything this week! (looking for patterns, hands separate practice, considering how each hand might help or trip up the opposite hand when together, noting “tricky spots” and focusing on them)

Clara:

Focusing on hands separate 5 finger patterns at and away from the keyboard. Begin by having a parent/guardian demonstrate the pattern while speaking aloud and tapping fingers, then having her copy. If comfortable with this, moving on to have her read and attempt the patterns without demonstration or assistance. Tapping noted patterns and saying finger numbers out loud – can be done on the lap, on a closed keyboard lid/table, and then eventually moving to 5 finger positions starting on C and G. When comfortable saying finger numbers and playing on keyboard, begin saying lettered note names aloud while playing the same patterns in C and G 5 finger positions. Feel free to make up other patterns beyond those listed in the separate document!

5 Finger Patterns – Clara

Hakim:

Review/continue working on “Creator” so we can get started on it together next week.
Begin work on “Distant Chimes”. Before playing anything, have a look through the entire piece and look for patterns, hand positions changing, watch for any sharps or flats, and overall try to imagine how things will sound. 

If you are struggling to figure things out and need to listen to the piece for guidance, a good recording is as follows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epEo07esc8I

Distant Chimes – Hakim

Liam:

Technique exercises – bring back scales in C, G, and D major 1 octave hands separately. Blocking out groups of fingerings and hand positions as solid chords like we tried together in lesson (for example: CDE-123, FGABC-12345).

Review an older piece from your exam pieces that you enjoy and be prepared to play through it next week. Think about any challenges you might have had while learning this piece, as well as something about it that you particularly enjoy! 

New Piece: Sonatina in A minor (movement 1) from RCM grade 3 book. Work through as much of this piece as you can this week (hands separate or hands together, however much you are able to get together is fine), observing patterns and things you recognize, watching for “tricky parts” and focusing in on them, thinking about how our hands work together or may confuse the opposite hand.