I am excited to offer this flex class version of my "Piano Class #3 With Mrs. Karen for ages 5-10".  In this flex version, students will use theFaber Piano Adventures Primer Level Performance  Book and will learn the same skills taught in the live version of Piano Class #3.  

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 reviewed in this class.   In this course, learners will be exposed to the skills in the Faber Piano Adventures Primer Level Performance Book. This is not a beginner class and has been created for students that have completed the Faber Piano Adventures Primer Level Lesson Book.

Additional activities, such as piano melodies to play, musical composing, and drawing activities will be sent home to facilitate their learning and review skills they have been taught each week. Students will be required   to record and upload videos of themselves playing songs they have learned. These videos are to be shared 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 expected  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. Students will be expected to complete assignments that will help them to master the skills in each of the videos.  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- Students will review the basic music skills such as musical signs and symbols, note values, and where the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B are found on the keyboard.   This week they will receive videos that go through page 11 in the Faber Piano Adventure Primer Level Performance Book. All of these songs are finger number songs and should be a review for the students.  They will also be sent a copy of the song "This Old Man". In this song, students learn the Middle C position with both hands. They will be sent a document showing the notes including the in the Middle C position for both hands. 

Week 2-  The videos will do a quick review of finger numbers and a couple of songs in the book using finger numbers.  This week, the students will work on reading music on the staff (a skill that they have learned previously in the lesson book). Students will review the notes in the C-5 Finger Scale in the right hand as well as the note Bass Clef F in the left hand. 

Week 3-During the videos this week, students will begin learning the song "Ode To Joy" by Beethoven. This song has the melody in the right hand and a harmony note in the left hand.  They will also practice a "moveable hand position" in the right hand. Students will create a rhythm using whole notes, half notes, and quarter notes. 
  
Week 4- This week, students will review the notes "A" and "B" in the left hand. Dynamic markings are reviewed, as well as learning about "repeated notes". We also discuss the word "octave".  

Week 5- This week, students will learn about "skips" in music, as well as the "dotted half note". They practice playing two notes at one time in the right hand. During the videos this week, students will begin learning the song "The Hokey Pokey".

Week 6- During week 6, students will continue learning the C 5-Finger Scale in both hands.  We talk about the word "imitation".  A scavenger hunt activity will be sent home this week for students to complete.   

Week 7- This week, students will learn about the "musical tie" and we practice counting the amounts that are tied together. They also learn the song "Rain Rain Go Away" using chords in the left hand. 

Week 8- During the last week of this class, students will learn about the "quarter rest" and why it is important in music.  They review the skills that have been learned in this class.