Quarter rests form part of the action! One-handed & two-handed arrangements. The thumbs of each hand are "fighting" for the Middle C - but the music makes it plain which hand really owns it.įuzzy Wuzzy - this song is about a bear that WASN'T fuzzy. More songs especially for new beginners:ĪBC & CDE - Two little 3-note songs focused on the Middle C area, one for left hand and one for rightīlack Keys songs - songs set to lyrics and poems, all on black keys!Ĭ&B & C&D - Left hand, then right hand, each play little songs with lyrics that make them fool-proof.ĭueling C's - a short song with 3 notes: B, Middle C, & D. Then they can pay more attention to counting.
I think they like that these songs have a VERY SHORT learning curve! In fact, once they understand hand placement, some of the songs can be played instantly. They pick up the songs so quickly that they enjoy having a new one every lesson. Almost every week they say, "I want a new song!" and we leaf through the book again.Īnd children OLDER than my target group like the songs as well, when they are beginners. I AM SEEING EXCITEMENT and expectation from my students. Initially, I suspected that the lyrics of these short pieces would only seem interesting to children 4 - 7 years old, but I was so wrong. I haven't put any dynamic markings in this song (or any of the songs) but expressive playing, ritards, and pedalling will make a difference in how musical the pieces sound. Where to end? I point to the "Fine", and tell students that means "finish" or "ending." Then there is a repeat at the end, and to end the song, students should GO UP AN OCTAVE again. This song poses a bit of a challenge, because it moves up an octave (and stays there for the rest of the song) after just 8 beats. How to read this song? Point to the stems going up and the stems going down, and help your student interpret the notes. The chords formed by using 2 notes at a time have a happy sound, just like the simple lyrics. This next piece, Morning Sun Upon the Mountains, has a bit of an old-timey hymn-like flavor. Usually just once through is enough tapping - if it's a bit rough, then we do it again, FASTER. This will stand them in good stead even as they begin reading notes on the staff around Middle C. The note stems point "up" for the "up" hand, and "down" for the "downward" hand.
I'm having good luck rehearsing these songs with PIANO LID DOWN, using pencils for drumsticks, and just playing right and left, to focus students' attention on the note stem directions.
I think this Halloween song will be a favorite - we'll see! Update: "Halloween Monsters" has been HUGELY popular!Ĭhildren quickly learn the lyrics and sing along as they play. This piece has some sophisticated techniques: the repeat dots at the end of line one, and the two hands playing together in the second line.
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