I am excited to offer this primer level flex  class specifically teaching familiar children's songs  and composing skills. In videos for this flex class, the students will learn the songs included in  the Faber Kids’ Songs 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, a list of additional assignments will be included as well.  Part of the assignment will be a question for the students to answer such as telling me (such as 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 (if other students are enrolled in the class).  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 an 8 measure melody composing activity that  can 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 #5  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 week in one of the videos, I will also include the accompaniment for the song they have learned that week. Once students have learned the song for that week, they can try playing the melody along with the accompaniment (or teacher duet) that I include on the video. This is a challenging activity, so all students might not be ready for this activity; however, some students might enjoy this.  

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 "A-Tisket, A-Tasket", played in Middle C position. Students will review the hand placement for Middle C position as well as the note names in each hand. Students will be introduced to staff paper and what they will need to do to create a melody. This week, they will be learning to draw the treble clef and the bass clef.

Week 2- Students will review Middle C position and the song "A-Tisket, A-Tasket". In this class, they will learn the  song "The Dwarfs’ Yodel Song (The Silly Song)”. This song is played in Middle C hand position. They will review the skill of playing two notes at one time in the right hand. They will also learn the dynamic markings "mf" and “f”. For the composition project, students will 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 "The Dwarfs’ Yodel Song" from the previous class. In this 3rd class, they review the Middle C hand position.  They will learn the song "Mail Myself To You". In this song, they will learn how to play eighth notes.  For the composition activity, students will be given a list of notes that can be used in their original composition. They will practice playing these notes and drawing these notes. Measures 1 and 8 of the composition will be completed. 

Week 4- Students will review the song "Mail Myself To You" from their previous class. In this class, they will learn the new hand position that has the thumb of the right hand on Middle C and the thumb of the left hand on B. They will learn the song "Happy Birthday To You". For their composition project, students will add measure 2 to the composition activity. 

Week 5- Student will review the new hand position and the song "Happy Birthday To You" from the previous class. In this 5th class, students  will learn two songs “Mickey Mouse March” and “Winnie The Pooh”. Both of these songs use the same hand position as the song “Happy Birthday”. They will learn the dotted half note,  musical “tie”, quarter rest, and musical “accent”.  Students will be encouraged to continue working on their original melody. This week, measures 3 and 4 of the composition activity will be completed in the videos. 

Week 6- Students will review the songs “Mickey Mouse March” and Winnie The Pooh” learned in the previous class.  This week,  they will learn the song “Bingo” This song uses the same hand position as the previous three songs. They will practice playing with a “staccato” feel and learn about the "pick up" or "upbeat".   For the composition project, we will continue by adding measures 5 and 6 to the prepared staff paper.  Also, students will complete a scavenger hunt this week.  

Week 7- Students will review the song “Bingo” learned in the previous class.  In this class, they will learn the song “On Top Of Spaghetti”. In this song, students will learn the “repeat”, as well as review the dynamic markings “p” and “f”. They will also review the musical “tie”. The composition activity will continue by completing all of the 8 measures.  I also demonstrated writing "lyrics" for their melody.  Students can either copy the melody and lyrics that I have created or write their own.  I encourage students to work at a level of musicianship that is comfortable for them.  

Week 8(final week):  In this final week of class, students will learn the song  "The Train Song". This song  uses the C position in both hands. For this hand position, the thumb of the right hand will be on Middle C. The pinkie of the left hand will be on Bass C. They will also practice the C 5-Finger Scale in both hands.  Students will learn the note F# and will practice playing 3 notes at a time. For the composition project, they  will be given an opportunity to review the melody that I have demonstrated in class.  

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.