This class is for any piano, keyboard, or music student who wants a systematic, complete, and hands-on approach to learning more about music theory through keyboard technique. Whether your learner is new to piano or has studied for awhile, this approach will help them understand music and play better. This approach roughly follows the method of instruction in the Music Moves for Piano series, but is applicable to all music students, and no book is required.

This is a beginner's introduction to practicing and understanding scales and arpeggios in C and G major, and D minor. These keys serve as the basis for understanding other piano tonalities and exercises. In addition to learning to play the scales for one octave and the arpeggios at two octaves, each key will contain a creative element where we will improvise our own short song to reinforce understanding and engagement with the tonality and key being studied. We will strengthen our ear and understanding of music by employing DO/LA-based solfège. This means that for some videos, I will demonstrate by singing, and students will be most successful if they practice singing and solfège as well (but they won't be asked to sing for the group!). Through solfège, students will connect what they hear to what they play on the keyboard and what they understand in written music. 


Learners may expect multiple instructional videos slowly demonstrating the keys, scales, arpeggios, and theoretical concepts we are learning. This course complements regular private or group musical studies, which often prioritize repertoire learning. In general, students should be able to play with all five fingers on the keyboard, and pay attention to how they play (i.e., make adjustments to hand, finger, wrist, or arm position in response to my instruction). If you have any questions about what your learner is prepared for, please contact me-I'm happy to help!