I am excited to offer this primer level flex  class specifically teaching Disney music and composing skills. I have always been a Disney lover! My high school band traveled to Disney World twice in the early 70's, marching the the parade each time. We actually had the honor of participating in the TV show opening of Space Mountain. Because of this, I have always enjoyed anything dealing with Disney. In videos for this  class, the students will learn the songs included in  the Faber Disney Pretime Piano book. This book has been written by the same creators of the Faber Piano Adventures series that I use in my private piano lessons and group piano classes. 

Students that are enrolled in this class need to have some prior musical knowledge of the piano, such as music note names and values, basic terminology, music alphabet, and reading notes on the staff. I suggest that they have had enough training to complete skills included in (at least)  the first half of the Primer Level Piano Adventures piano book. Music included in this class will be using C position for both hands, Middle C position, and a couple of other basic hand positions. 

Piano Classes #3, #4, and #5 (both FLEX and LIVE versions)  are interchangeable and do not necessarily need to be completed in order.  They are all primer level classes.  Basic classes #1 and #2  need to be completed in order, but the others can be completed in any order you choose. Piano Class #3 uses the Faber Primer Level Performance book.  Piano Class #4 uses the  Pretime Disney book.  Piano Class #5 uses the Pretime Kids Songs book.  Both Piano Class #4 and #5 have a composition activity included in the curriculum. 

COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES: 
Activities will be used throughout this course that require communication between students and the teacher.  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 create and 8 measure melody composing activity that  should be uploaded and shared with other students in their class. 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 information and activities for each week of the (Flex)  Piano Class #4  will  be sent on Monday mornings each week.  The listing will include two or three short videos each week. I have divided the skills up, so that students are not overwhelmed by a lot of new skills at one time.  I encourage students to watch each video at a separate time during the week  so that they can master the skills taught, but they can also be watched at the same time.  It is up to each individual family to decide the pacing that is best for your learner.  Each will (included in one of the videos, an "accompaniment" (or "teacher duet") version of the new song for that week will be included. This is a challenging activity, but students might enjoy playing the melody along with the accompaniment.  This is certainly not a required activity, but one that some students might enjoy. 

Week 1- Students will review note names and values. They will practice clapping rhythms using these notes. Basic music terminology will be reviewed (staff, treble clef, bass clef, time signature, bar lines, measures, double bar line, repeat). Students will learn the song ""Winnie The Pooh", played in Middle C position. Students will review the hand placement for Middle C position as well as the note names in each hand. They will learn the black note "A#" played in the left hand. They will also practice crossing the left hand over the right hand to play the note Treble C. They will learn the dynamic marking "mf". Students will be introduced to staff paper and what they will need to do to create a melody. They will practice drawing the treble clef sign and the bass clef sign.

Week 2- Students will review Middle C position and the song "Winnie The Pooh". In this class, they will learn the two songs "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and “Step In Time” from Mary Poppins. Both of these songs are played in Middle C hand position, using the black note "Bb" (played in the same place as "A#") with the left hand. They will learn the skill of moving the thumb under other fingers to move up the keyboard. They will also learn the dynamic marking "f". For the composition project, I will demonstrate how students should prepare the staff paper that they have received with basic signs and symbols to move forward on their composition. 

Week 3- Students will continue to review the Middle C hand position and the song "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from the previous class. In this 3rd class, they learn a new hand position (right thumb on Middle C, left thumb on B). They will learn the song "I Just Can't Wait To Be King". In this song, they will practice changing hand positions in the left hand by moving to C position (pinkie of the left hand on C). They will also practice playing two notes together in the left hand (C and G). For the composition activity, students will be given a list of notes that can be used in their original composition. They will practice writing these notes. 

Week 4- Students will review the song "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" from their previous class. In this class, they will review the new hand position called "C position" that they used in the last class. They will learn the song "It's A Small World". For their composition project, students will begin writing their composition. Demonstrations of how to begin this activity will be given in a class video. 

Week 5- Student will review the song "It's A Small World" from the previous class. In this 5th class, they will learn "The Siamese Cat Song", played in C position with both hands. They will review the C 5 finger scale in both hands (C position notes) and the left hand notes C and G played simultaneously. Students will learn the musical term "staccato". They will also learn the dynamic marking "p". Students will be encouraged to continue working on their original melody. In the video this week, I demonstrate how to create measures 3 and 4 of the 8 measure composition.  I also begin creating "lyrics" for these measures.

Week 6- Students will review “The Siamese Cat” song learned in the previous class. In this class, , they will learn the song “Scales And Arpeggios” This song uses a different hand position. Both hands play in the treble clef area for this song. The words “scale” and “arpeggio” are learned. This week students will continue the composing activity by working on measures 5 and 6.  They will also complete a scavenger hunt activity this week. 

Week 7- Students will review the song “Scales And Arpeggios” learned in the previous class.  In this class, they will learn the song “I See The Light”. In this song, students will review the Middle C hand position.  They will practice moving their right hand from this position to a new position with their thumb on F.  For the composition activity, I will demonstrate on a class video how to continue with the composition by choosing lyrics that fit the melody.  This gives them practice to finish up their own composition and add lyrics before the final week of class. Students are encouraged to take a picture of their musical composition and upload it into the classroom or send it privately to me. I can give personal feedback to each student about their composition. Students also have the opportunity to receive feedback from other students in the class about their composition. 

Week 8(final week):  In this final week of class, students will learn the song  "Do You Want To Build A Snowman?" This song also uses the C position they they have been learning in some of the previous classes. They will learn the music "tie" and how it is used in music. They will be encouraged to record their original melodies and upload it into the classroom.  

My classroom includes two views of the piano. One of these views is from the end of the piano so that the students can see me and the keyboard. The other view is from above the piano, which gives the students a clear view of where to place their hands. Throughout each of these weeks of videos, students will be given opportunities to upload videos of themselves playing Disney songs or their own original creations.  I believe that music should be fun and educational. I explain to students that it is okay to make mistakes because that is the best way for us to learn new skills. I try to incorporate activities that are interesting and fun, as well as educational. I feel that self-confidence is a very important skill to build so that students will have the courage to share their skills (either at home or in class through uploaded videos or documents). I am excited to teach this class and look forward to sharing my love of music with your learner.