Category: Lessons, Music Theory
Piano music is divided by bar lines into small sections called measures. These concepts are demonstrated in the image above.
Piano music also has numbers near the beginning of the music. These numbers are is called the time signature. The time signature is related to the rhythm of the music. Each time signature contains 2 numbers: the top number tells you the number of beats or counts in each measure. The number at the bottom tells you which type of note gets the beat. A 4 at the bottom means that the QUARTER NOTE gets one beat. The 4/4 time signature is a very common time signature.
The QUARTER NOTE is a black note with a stem. It receives one count, or one beat. The HALF NOTE is a white note with a stem. It receives 2 counts (1-2). The WHOLE NOTE is a white note with no stem. It receives 4 counts, or 4 beats (1-2-3-4). In the image above, there are 4 counts in each measure.
This lesson introduces you to the basic rhythmic components of music. Look in the worksheet section for downloadable practice worksheets.
Category: Events and News
Good news! I’ve added a new section to the website. The download section will contain free downloads of theory worksheets that correspond with the lessons. This section will also contain any sheet music that will be introduced during the lessons. Click here to go to the download section.
Category: Lessons, Technique
Each finger is associated with a number. Some sheet music displays numbers to inform the player which finger to use on the key. The thumb on each hand is assigned number 1. The diagram to the right illustrates the finger numbers on the right and left hand. Before you start to play the piano, you should be comfortable with responding to finger numbers. Practice moving your fingers as you say the finger number out loud.
Place your right hand on the keyboard with your thumb on middle C. (To find middle C see the previous lesson: Staff, Treble Clef, Bass Clef, Grand Staff, and Middle C.)
The remaining four fingers should fall onto the next four keys. Make sure you keep your fingers in a curved shape in the center of the keys. This is “Middle C Position” for your right hand.
Exercises:
1. Find Middle C position and place the fingers of your right hand on the corresponding notes.
2. Play the notes C-D-E-F-G, while saying the finger numbers out loud
3. Play the notes C-D-E-F-G, while saying the note names out loud
4. Play the notes G-F-E-D-C, while saying the finger numbers out loud
5. Play the notes G-F-E-D-C, while saying the note names out loud
6. Make up your own tune in middle C position, and write down the note names and finger numbers of the tune
Category: Miscellaneous
What is music appreciation? Music appreciation involves listening to music and understanding its form and context. Even if the type of music does not necessarily appeal to you – music appreciation will allow you to pick out and understand certain elements of the content and style. The following is a short guide to help you begin your journey of music appreciation. If you feel the need for more help, check out your local college to see if they offer introductory music appreciation courses.
Step 1: Find
Find different types of music – music that you wouldn’t normally listen to. Find music from different genres and different eras. Each type of music has a character and structure that makes it unique. For example, music from the Romantic era (1815-1910) tends to be more expressive and passionate than previous eras.
Step 2: Listen Perceptively
Listen to the music – really listen. Notice the melody and the harmony. Notice the rhythm and the structure of the piece. Notice the different instruments – try to identify the instruments that are used and listen to each one separately. Notice the tempo and dynamics and any changes that occur during the piece.
Step 3:Understand
As you become more comfortable with the fundamentals of music, it will become easier to understand and fully appreciate the nuances of music. Another aspect of understanding the music is to understand the context of the music. Understand the history of the music, where it came from, and how it evolved.
Step 4: Listen Again (and again and again….)
Listen to more music, listen to it often, and listen to it repeatedly. Each time you listen to a piece of music pick out something different to focus on.
By following these 4 simple steps you can begin your journey of music appreciation. You may discover a new type of music that you weren’t aware of, or you may begin to like something that didn’t appeal to you before. Either way, music appreciation is an essential step to becoming a well-rounded musician.
Category: Lessons
The two clefs that are used when playing the piano are the treble clef and the bass clef. In music, a clef is used to define the location of notes on the staff. These symbols form the basic infrastructure of piano sheet music.
Staff
The staff is the most basic element of Western music notation. It consists of 5 horizontal lines with 4 spaces between them. These are the lines (and spaces) upon which notes are written to indicate their pitch.
The Treble Clef
The treble clef, also called the G clef, is the clef commonly used for the right-hand in piano sheet music. The word ‘treble’ means soprano, or having a high range or tone. Therefore the treble clef is usually used to express the notes about or above middle C.
When the treble clef is used, the G above middle C is located on the second line of the staff. An easy way to remember this is to notice that the treble clef symbol encircles the second line, indicating it is the G line. Any note that falls on that line will be a G.
The Bass Clef
The bass clef can be used to express notes about or below middle C. It is used for instruments that have a lower pitch, such as trombone, tuba, and bass guitar. In piano sheet music, it is used for the left hand. The bass clef is also called the F-clef. Can you guess where the F note would fall on the staff? If you guessed that the F falls on the 4th line, you would be right.
The Grand Staff
Finally, we will discuss the grand staff. When you put the two clefs and two staffs together, you have what is called the grand staff. Most piano music will use the grand staff. Notice in the illustration below that middle C is located between the two staves. On your keyboard, middle C is the C that is closest to the middle of the keyboard.
Exercise
1. Find middle C on your keyboard
2. Find the G above middle C on your keyboard
3. Find the F below middle C on your keyboard
4. Locate G on the treble clef on the illustration above
5. Locate F on the bass clef on the illustration above
Category: Music Theory
Pitch
The pitch of a sound refers to its “high” or “low” quality (or frequency). In written piano music, the pitch of a note is expressed by the position of the note on the staff, and the clef that is used.
Tone (or timbre)
In music, the word tone has several different meanings. The tone of a sound refers to its quality. Think of the expression “tone of voice”. The same concept applies to this musical term. The tone of an instrument can be full and rich, or thin and whiny. Each different instrument has an inherent tone or quality that is defined by its architecture. Using different building material, material quality, and design will result in different tones.
The word ‘tone’ can also refer to a musical interval or step. This is beyond the scope of this article, and will be discussed further in a future post.
Melody
The melody of a piece of music can also be called the tune. It is a linear succession of notes that form the distinctive part of the piece of music. It has also been described as the main sound movement in a piece of music.
Harmony
In music, the term harmony refers to the use of different pitches simultaneously. It is the supporting infrastructure for the melody, often chordal – the vertical structure of a piece of music.
Tempo
Tempo refers to how fast or how slow a piece of music should be played. You may know some Italian terms such as largo, adagio, andante, or presto. These tempo markings define whether the music is to be played fast (presto) or slow (largo). There are also terms to define gradual changes in tempo. For example, the word rallentando means “gradually getting slower”.
Dynamics
The dynamics in a piece of music define how loud or how soft the notes should be played. Some example dynamics are: pianissimo (pp), piano(p), mezzo forte(mf), forte(f) and fortissimo(ff). To indicate gradual changes in volume a crescendo or decrescendo symbol is used.
This gives you a basic understanding of common musical terms. In future lessons, we will follow up on many of these terms in order to expand your understanding of them.
Category: Lessons, Technique
I can hear you now – what a ridiculous lesson this is – I know how to sit, I don’t need someone to teach me! That may be true, but proper posture and position allows you to reach the entire keyboard and stay comfortable while practicing. Once you have learned to sit properly at the piano it will become second nature.
Body Position
1. Sit in the center of the piano bench, ensuring your feet are flat on the floor and your back is straight.
2. Position yourself towards the front of the bench to allow a full range of motion with your body. Your body needs to be able to move from the hip joint.
3. The bench should be moved forward so that your hands are positioned over the keys with your elbows bent naturally, so they fall just forward of your body.
4. The height of the bench should be adjusted so that your forearms are parallel with the floor.
Hand position
When you are sitting at the piano position your right hand over the keys with your thumb on C. The correct hand position will allow your fingers to be relaxed and curved. They should be positioned near the center of the keys. Your hand should be positioned as if you were holding a ball. Do not reach for the keys with your fingers – your fingers should be like little hammers, striking DOWN on the keys, not forward.
Sitting properly and positioning your hands correctly will give you a basis for good technique. Make a conscious effort to obtain good posture every time you sit at the piano or keyboard. Eventually, it will come naturally to you.
Category: Miscellaneous
It can be difficult to find the right piano, especially when you are just starting to play. Different people have different goals, different constraints, and different requirements – it is important to take all of these things into consideration before making your purchase. Some questions to ask yourself are:
1. What am I willing to spend?
This is perhaps the most important question, as money is usually the limiting factor for most people. Sure, I would love to own a Steinway grand piano, but the $100,000+ price tag is a little bit out of my price range for now. 
Think about how much money you are willing to spend on this hobby. You can spend from $150 for a digital keyboard, to over $100,000 for a top of the line instrument. (I wouldn’t recommend jumping in with a $100,000 investment unless you will be hosting piano concertos in your living room.)
If $150 is still a bit steep, look in your local classified listings. You may be able to find a decent used keyboard for less.
2. How much space do I have?
This is another important consideration, as not every living space is designed for a baby grand. Do you have a space that you can dedicate to a piano? Or would you like to be able to store your instrument when it is not in use? Sizes will range from several feet across for a digital keyboard to 8×5 feet and close to 1000 pounds for a full-sized grand piano.
3. What is my level of expertise?
Intermediate to advanced players probably will not be able to get away with a beginner keyboard. Intermediate and advanced techniques require different keyboard ‘action’. (Action refers to how the key feels as it is being played). Most intermediate and advanced players will prefer the action of an acoustic piano to that of a digital.
Make sure you try before you buy! By the time you reach intermediate and advanced stages of your instruction, you may develop a preference for the weight of the keys or the brightness of the sound.
Make sure you do your homework. Try out the cheapest keyboard and the most expensive acoustic piano. Spend a weekend at the music store trying out all of the instruments. Try out every different brand you can. Check out reviews online. A piano is an investment. Buy the right one and it will give you years of enjoyment.
Category: Methods, Reviews
The Bastien Piano Basics is a well-known series of instructional books for piano. It is graded to assure steady progress, starting with the Piano Primer, and progressing to Level 4. This series includes instructional books for practical piano, theory, performance, technique, and sight-reading exercises. Additional material such as CDs and flash cards are also available to accompany this series.
For the young beginner, this series offers a two-part primer that is geared towards children aged 5-6. A separate primer is designed for older children (age 7-10). After the completion of either set, the student can then continue with Level 1.
In my opinion, this method is among the best that is available for children. It focuses on mastering the basics, rather than relying on some type of gimmick. The page layout is clean, the descriptions concise, and every page features a fun full-color illustration. The compositions encourage good technique and independence of hands. The songs are generally attractive and fun to play, and many include duet accompaniment. After completing this series, the student will have a very good understanding of the piano keyboard, musical terms and notation, as well as chords, major and minor scales, and a variety of musical techniques and terms.
Read the rest of this entry »
Category: Lessons, Music Theory, Practice and Performance
The first thing you will need to know when learning the piano is what the keys on the keyboard are called and how to find them.
Each white key on the keyboard is named after a letter of the alphabet. The notes A, B, C, D, E, F and G repeat up and down the keyboard. Easy, right? The only thing left to know is which key is which!
Take a close look at your keyboard and try to notice the pattern that the black keys form. It is easy to see that the black keys on the keyboard are clustered into groups of two and three. Find a group of two black keys on the keyboard – the white note directly to the left of that group is C. Now find a group of three black keys on the keyboard – the white note directly to the left of the three black keys is F. Now fill in the blanks! It’s that easy. The key to the right of G is A. Practice finding and naming the notes on the keyboard – become comfortable with the piano keyboard.
Feel free to comment if you have questions!
Category: Practice and Performance
Learning the piano is a journey that takes dedication and motivation. It pays to be prepared. Taking a little bit of time to prepare before you jump in will pay off in the long run. Take a few minutes and make sure you have everything you need before you start.
1. A Goal
The first step of any journey should involve defining a destination. What do you want from this experience? Some example goals might be: I will play the piano in church this Christmas season. I will finish the first level of the Alfred’s piano method in 6 months. Set one or more goals that you would like to achieve in the next 6 months to a year.
2. A Plan
Devising a plan is a step that is often overlooked. This step is especially important for busy adults who don’t have a lot of time to spare. Take a look at how serious you are about learning the piano. What steps will you take in order to achieve your goal? How much time and money do you want to invest? What time of day will you practice? How long will you practice? What kind of resources are available for you to use?
All of these things are important to think about. Write your plan down. Promise yourself that you will stick to the plan. Tell other people about it. Set yourself up for success! Periodically review and revise your plan to keep yourself motivated.
3. The Right Instrument
You will need to have a piano or keyboard available to you. You don’t need anything fancy, you just need something that works! Things to consider when purchasing an instrument is functionality, price, space requirements, and maintenance requirements.
Your cheapest option is to go with a digital keyboard. You will want a keyboard with at least 5 octaves (about 66 keys). A full-sized keyboard will have 88 keys. Eventually you may also want a sustain pedal. Well-established brands include Yamaha and Casio. Buy one new, buy one used, or borrow one from a friend…just get one!
Only you know what is right for you. In most cases a keyboard in the price range of $100-200 will fit the job requirements perfectly.
4. Resources
Whether you are taking formal lessons or teaching yourself, you will need information. Luckily we live in the information age. Virtually everything you will need is available on the internet including sheet music, lessons, and software.
Other types of resources include forums, books, CDs, and friends… the possibilities are endless!
5. Commitment
It’s easy to start something – finishing is what makes the effort worthwhile. Make a commitment to yourself that you will achieve your goal – put it in writing, tell your friends, tell your family, tell your coworkers. Commit to it 100%. Motivation will fade, commitment is the only thing that will keep you going.
Well, thats it, you are ready to go! Good luck and happy playing!
Posted on October 31st, 2008 by sharlene
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