Play the Piano With Lead Sheets! (Ages 13-15)

Students will learn how to read lead sheets in this piano course. We will cover treble clef notes, chords, the Circle of Fifths and different left-hand chord patterns. This class is highly interactive and students will have plenty of opportunity to play for each other. Emails with PDF attachments will be sent out a few days before each class and should be printed prior to class. The assigned songs will be simple melodies which will allow us to focus on chording in the left-hand. The techniques learned can be applied to any song the students wish to play. One year of piano lessons or a basic knowledge of treble clef note reading is helpful, but not required. 

Week 1: Introduction to lead sheets. What are they? How can we use them to learn songs more easily? We will review treble clef mnemonic worksheets. I will assign an easy song, "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and we'll learn the right-hand melody. If any students need a greater challenge, I will also assign "This Old Man." Students will be expected to practice between classes. Print Circle of Fifths for the next class.
Week 2: Chord study. What is a chord? Add chords to song(s) from week 1. Teacher will demonstrate in class. Introduce Circle of Fifths and primary chords. Label the chords we are using in class. Any students who excel more quickly will be assigned one or two more songs from the list below.
Week 3: Listen to song(s) from week 1. Complete all chords in the Circle of Fifths and play together. Assign one of our songs in a new key. Add chords using the Circle of Fifths chart.
Week 4: Listen to songs of choice from week 3. Assign "Happy Birthday" to the class if not already done, or add a new song from the list below. We will learn the right-hand melody. Add chords and practice together. Print song of choice in a new key. Add chords on your own using the Circle of Fifths chart.
Week 5: Students will choose a song to play with left-hand chords for the class. Every student will have the opportunity to play their songs in a new key from their homework assignment in week 4. We will discuss alternate left-hand chord patterns for improvisation.

List of songs we may use in class:
Mary Had a Little Lamb
This Old Man
Happy Birthday
If You're Happy and You Know It
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (ABC Song)
Bingo
Yankee Doodle
Old MacDonald
London Bridge