Learn Piano Now (Level 2) With Dr. Nathan

Level 2 of Learn Piano Now expands the technical foundation that was started in Level 1. It is possible, however, for a student to skip Level 1 if they understand basic rhythms (quarter note, half note, and whole note), know the musical alphabet, can identify the musical alphabet on the white keys, and can play simple songs on both the white and black keys. The classes listed below are sequenced to maximize musical development and continue enjoyment at the piano. Students will be engaged with rhythm games, slides, ear training, music history, and even composition. By the end of level 2, learners will play several new songs, deepen their knowledge of the musical alphabet through intervals, and expand their rhythmic vocabulary. As we learn new material, we will continue developing proper posture and hand position while becoming more familiar with standard musical notation. 

Week 1: Review Level 1 
As an ice breaker activity, we will discuss how our names have certain rhythms. Students will get to experiment with altering this rhythm to create their own composition. Reading on lines and spaces will be reviewed as we learn Beethoven's "Ode to Joy."

Week 2: 2nds
The focus of week two is the interval of a second. Following student performances of "Ode to Joy," we will discuss how the melody moves on the keys, how that feels to your hand, and what that looks like on the lines and spaces. Students will use this information to practice a five-finger pattern and also create their own composition.

Week 3: Dotted Half Note
Students will have practiced the dotted half note rhythm in previous week, but in week three they will learn the musical notation for it.  We will sight read examples reviewing CDE, which will prepare us for learning "The Bear Went Over the Mountain." At the end of the class, students will be reminded to pick out their favorite piece to perform at the beginning of week four.

Week 4: 3rds
Although students have the chance to perform during every class, week four will begin with an extended performance time. As students play we will listen for seconds and begin learning about thirds. This new information will be used as an introduction to learning a theme from Dvorak's "New World Symphony."

Week 5: Quarter Rests & Hand Crossing
Rests are another musical symbol that students have experienced previously in class, but will not learn to identify visually until week five. In addition, students will learn the technique of hand crossing as we learn the song "Pop! Goes the Weasel."

Week 6: 4ths
Students will sight read examples to reinforce FGAB. Dr. Nathan will lead a discussion concerning the difference between seconds and thirds. This will lead to the discovery of fourths. Students will also work to play "Pop! Goes the Weasel" quickly while keeping a steady beat.

Week 7: 5ths
Following up on the discussion from week six, the class will work on playing fifths in each hand. The five-finger pattern introduced in week two will be expanded to reinforce the intervals learned throughout level two. Students will use the five-finger pattern to compose their own song using all of the intervals. We will also learn a portion of "Ruffs and Rhees" by Ignatius Sancho.

Week 8: Time Signature
Like week four, week eight will allow additional time for performance. As pieces are performed, Dr. Nathan will guide the students to understand how the rhythms we have learned are grouped into different time signatures. We will conclude by learning "The Graduation Song."