Hello Everyone!

Great lessons all around this week!!

Georgia:

Today, without Georgia’s piano method book, we took the opportunity to have a dictation lesson! We started Sally’s Song from the Nightmare Before Christmas. Georgia was able to plunk out the notes for the first three phrases of the song by focusing on the contour of the melody line, and using the recording of the song for reference. We also talked about how to determine the rhythm of the song by listening to where the words line up with the beat of the song. For this week, Georgia can continue to practice the first phrase of Purple Cow in her method book as well as the first three phrases we have written from Sally’s Song so far. If she would like, Georgia can use the reverse side of “Sally’s Song” to continue dictating the song at home. If she gets stuck, please help her by asking her leading questions: does it sound like the notes get higher or lower? Which words are held for longer than others? We can correct this work next week when we finish dictating Sally’s Song. 

Noreet:

Today we reviewed the difference between Parallel and Contrary Motion. There are bars in Ode to Joy that flip between these two directions. Noreet should review these bars carefully to ensure her hands are moving in the correct direction and playing the correct notes together. We also reviewed what tension and resolution mean in music. Noreet knows where these moments of tension are in the music – they’re also marked in her book. When practicing, she should isolate these bars and play them on their own so that she can hear them out of context of the full song/phrase. Practicing this way will help her recognize and become familiar with these tense moments when playing the full song. Noreet also mentioned an interest in conducting! We reviewed different time signatures and discussed the role of the conductor in an ensemble. I then showed her how to conduct in 4/4 time. She can play with this at home by conducting as she listens to music at home. When reviewing Ode to Joy hands separately, challenge Noreet to conduct with the hand that is not playing! 

Eva:

Today we reviewed the Haunted Mouse! In class Eva read the first two phrases with minimal assistance. Please review these two lines at home, use the flashcards if necessary. I played the third line for Eva at the end of class to point out how the third line is just the beginning of the first and second line combined! Encourage her to play all three lines at home. Please also help her sight read the final line of the song. To do this, Eva can plunk out the notes on the piano, or you can use the flashcard game. I’ve also given Eva a replacement notebook to be filled in and coloured at home. If you are able, please also review Classic Dance as we will continue with both Haunted Mouse and Classic Dance next week! 

Benji:

Today Benji played Sailing in the Sun! For this week when practicing this song, encourage Benji to play along to the metronome to ensure he does not speed up or slow down between phrases. The metronome can be set between 80-120 beats per minute. Start at a slower pace (80BPM) and with each repetition increase the speed a little. The goal for next week is for Benji to play the whole song at 120BPM. We also started Ferris Wheel! We learned the first two phrases in class. We also talked about why these two phrases sound very similar to each other by discussing scale degrees and intervals. The first phrase of Ferris Wheel starts on an E, but the second phrase starts on a C. The second phrase starts a third lower than the first phrase. With pencil we labelled other thirds that appear in the first two phrases. Please help Benji review the notes for Ferris Wheel at home, and when playing the song ensure the notes are held for their full written value. If necessary, flip to the “Get Ready for Take Off” page of the book to review note values. Finally, Benji learned the C Major scale! He can use this scale to warm up his fingers before practicing Sailing in the Sun and Ferris Wheel. Make sure Benji starts this scale with his thumb and uses all of his fingers to walk up and down the keys. The fingering for this scale is as follows (1,2,3,1,2,3,4,5) with 1 being the thumb and 5 being the pinky finger. Reverse this order when descending the scale. 

Clara:

Today Clara played Owl in the Night! Please continue to practice this song at home and ensure Clara focuses on the dynamic markings in the piece! When reviewing Owl in the Night we also talked about minor keys! Clara now knows that the relative minor of a major key can be found by identifying the 6th scale degree of the Major scale! I’ve given her a sheet that shows this with C Major and A minor as well as E flat Major and c minor. Clara can practice all four of these scales for warm up. We started to talk about Major 7th chords as the cadence for Owl in the Night uses a V7 chord. This is labelled in her sheet music. We will review 7th chords next week. Finally, Clara sight read Skating Waltz! She can continue to review these notes at home, paying close attention to when she plays 3rds in the left hand and when she plays 4ths – the 4ths are marked in her sheet music.

Thank you everyone!

Looking forward to more great lessons next week!