(Flex Class) Piano Class #2 With Mrs. Karen for Ages 5-10

I am excited to offer this flex class version of my "Piano Class #2 With Mrs. Karen for ages 5-10".  In this flex version, students will continue to  use the same piano resource method book (Faber Piano Adventures Primer Level Lesson Book) as the previous class  and will learn the same skills taught in the live version of Piano Class #2.  

Each week, three videos (approximately 8-11 minutes each in length) will be uploaded for the student to watch.  In these videos, I will be teaching the skills that they will be learning for that week. All three videos will be uploaded each week on Monday. You may certainly watch all three videos at the same time, but I recommend watching them separately.  That way, students are able to focus on the particular skill in each video.  Each video (after the first video) will include a short review of the skills taught in the previous video.  Basic music skills, such as posture, finger numbers, correct hand form, white keys and black keys, and music alphabet will be continually taught through these videos. .  Students have already learned the notes "Middle C" (played with both hands), "Treble G" (played with the right hand), and "Bass F" (played with the left hand).  They will begin this course by reviewing these notes on the staff and moving forward learning additional notes needed to play melodies different hand positions.  In this course, learners will be exposed to the skills in the Faber Piano Adventures Primer Level Lesson book  beginning on page 42 and moving through the second half of the book. 

Additional activities, such as piano melodies to play, musical composing, and drawing activities will be sent home to encourage their learning and review skills they have been taught each week. Students will be expected  to record and upload videos of themselves playing songs they have learned.  They are encouraged to share these with me, as well as the other students.  They will also have opportunities to share their work in the classroom from time to time. Students will be asked to comment on other students' posts.  Students will be directed to only post positive comments, as we all understand that no one is perfect and mistakes in playing (and drawing) are expected.  

The videos that will be uploaded each week will be of me teaching the students each particular skill and how to perform that skill.  I will include plenty of repetition while performing that skill so that students can learn as they go.  The class videos include two camera views.  One of the views is from the end of the piano so that students can see from that angle.  The more important camera view will be from above the keyboard. Students will be able to see my hands on the keyboard so that it is clear which notes and which fingers they should be using.  Each week students will be given an assignment including pages in the book to practice.  It will also include a drawing activity (such as drawing notes or musical symbols) and/or a performing activity, such as uploading a video showing what they have learned on the pages that week.  Students are encouraged to watch and  respond to other students posts at least once throughout each week.  Additional songs may be sent home as supplementary songs that will reinforce the skills that they have learned in that particular lesson.


COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES: 

Activities will be used throughout this course that require communication between students and the teacher, as well as other students in the class.  Each week, the videos will be uploaded on Monday.  Along with these videos, an assignment will be listed as well.  Part of the assignment will be a question for the students to answer such as telling me what they think is the most challenging skill in their lesson this week. Students can answer the teacher question, as well as respond to other student responses.  It will be useful for students to know that sometimes, other students may also be having problems (or successes) with the same skills. One week, I  will be uploading a selection of music.  I will send a scavenger hunt list of items for each student to find on this piece of music.  They can use the classroom to ask other students about any items that they might not be able to find.      Students will be expected to upload a short video each week playing one of the songs from their lesson that week.  These assignments are due by Saturday morning of each week. Teacher feedback and discussion will follow up each assignment. 

The basic weekly schedule will look something like this:

Week 1-  The videos this week  will include an introduction and basic music skills, such as posture, correct hand form, finger numbers, black keys on the piano, and high/low sounds.  Students will review the songs on pages 40-41 in the Faber Piano Adventures Primer Level Lesson Book. They will also learn the skills on pages 42-45 in the method book. These include the notes "D", "E", and "F" to be played with the right hand. They will also learn about the "time signature", as well as "hopping hand positions".  Students will  be asked to upload a short video showing them playing one of the songs on these pages.

Week 2- The videos this week will include a short review of the previous week's skills in the lesson book.  Students will learn the skills on pages 46-49 this week.  These include learning the notes "B" and "A" (to be played with the left hand), as well as the new time signature 3/4. Students will be given an assignment to write a 4 measure melody using the notes ""C", "D", "E", "F", and "G" in the right hand.  They will also be asked to upload a short video showing them playing on of the new songs on pages 46-49. 

Week 3- The videos this week will include a short review of the previous week's skills in the book.  Students will learn the skills on pages  50-52 in the book. These skills include learning the new note "G" to be played with the left hand. They will also learn about "skips" in music (moving from line note to line note).  

Week 4-  The videos this week will include a short review of the previous week's skills in the book.  Students will be sent a written assignment "Dino-Song Note Printing" to complete. In this assignment, they will have an opportunity to write notes on the staff to complete a song.  They are then asked to upload a video of them playing this song. This week, students will learn the new skills on page 53-55. On these pages, students will learn the Italian word "allegro" and its meaning. they will also practice playing with both hands at the same time.  Students will continue reviewing "skips" in music as they locate them in the music. They will also learn about "skips" in music where the notes are moving from "space" to "space". 

Week 5- The videos this week will include a short review of the previous week's skills in the book.  Students will learn the songs on pages 56-58 in the book, including  the new notes "Bass D" and "Bass C" played with the left hand.  All musical symbols (such as time signatures, note values, stem placement on notes, bar lines, measures, and double bar lines will be reviewed.  Students will also be introduced to the "C 5-finger scale in the left hand". A coloring activity will be sent home so that students can review note placement on the staff.  Students are asked to upload a picture of their completed coloring activity as well as a video of them playing any song in the book that they would like to play. 

Week 6- The videos this week will include a short review of the previous week's skills in the book. Students will learn the skills on pages 59-62 in the book. On these pages, students are taught about the musical "octave" and will learn the correct hand placement and fingering for the "C Octave Scale" in the left hand. A scavenger hunt and composting activity will be sent home as an attached document.  This activity will be explained the video 4 this week. 

Week 7- The videos this week will include a short review of the previous week's skills in the book.  Students will learn the skills on pages 63-66.  On these pages, they will learn about musical "questions" and "answers".  They will also learn about "parallel" and "contrasting" answers.  Students will be given an assignment to complete "Mystery Note 1" and "Mystery Note 2" activities. 

Week 8- The videos this week (the last videos for this session of classes)  will include a short review of the previous week's skills in the book. Students will learn the skills on pages 67-71 (the completion of this book). On these pages they will continue to review the "musical tie" and also learn  about the "quarter rest".  Students will be asked to upload a video of them playing their favorite song that they have learned in this book.  They will be sent a certificate showing completion of this Piano Class #2 at the end of the week.  At the end of this class, students have the opportunity to sign up for the " "Multi-Day Piano Class #3 for Ages 5-9" (live class) or "Piano Class #3 for Ages 5-10" (FLEX class) to continue their musical education.