(Flex Class) Piano Class #7 (Level 1) With Mrs. Karen for Ages 5-10

I am excited to offer this flex class for students that have completed the first 29 pages of the Faber Piano Adventures Level 1 Lesson Book (either my Piano Class #6 or something comparable).  It is important for students to have learned notes on the staff as well as intervals prior to enrolling in this class. 

Each week, an assignment sheet will be uploaded into the classroom on Monday morning.  This assignment sheet will include several videos (approximately 8- 13 minutes each  in length)  as well as additional assignments.  In these videos, I will be teaching the skills that they will be learning for that week.   Continuing music skills, such as using both hands at the same time, rests, accidentals, chords and playing the the C and G positions will be taught.  

Additional activities, such as piano melodies to play, simple composition activities, coloring activities, and drawing activities may 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 drawings of rhythm compositions,  notes, rests, and musical symbols in the classroom. 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 at least one written activity (such as creating rhythms or melodies ) 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 (if applicable)  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.  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 easy rhythm and melody composing activities that  are to 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 basic weekly schedule will look something like this:

Week 1- Part of this week will be spent as a review.  Students will continue working on songs with the interval of a 4th. They will also 
              learning the interval of a 5th. 

Week 2- Students will learn about the "half" and "whole" rests as well as the 8va musical symbol.

Week 3- Students will learn about "sharps" and "flats" and how they are used in music.   

Week 4- Students will continue learning about "sharps" and "flats". They will practice playing with both hands in the treble clef.  The terms "tonic" and "dominant" will be introduced. 

Week 5- Students will learn about "blocked" and "broken" chords.
          
Week 6- Students will learn the V7 chord.

Week 7- Students will  practice recognizing the difference between the I and V7 chords in sound and on the staff. 

Week 8- Students will practice reading chord symbols and how they are used   in music. They will continue learning new musical terms and how they are used in music.

As students learn new symbols each week, they continue to review ones that they have already learned. They practice putting these symbols together each week to create music. Students will be sent a certificate to show completion of this class.