This post includes activities for LPM Connections Lesson 2 Cadences and Inversion.   Music Samples and History Listen to the Classics for Kids The Story of Peer Gynt to hear the story behind the song “Morning” or listen to the  Selfish Giant audio book and listen for the Morning Theme. Theory Watch the first 5 minutes of  Pianote Piano Chord Inversions Tutorial to review inversions if needed. Supplementary Music Piano Safari Rote Technique Piece Half Step Song (Part 2)  Roll ups  Reminder Video Half Step Song  Roll Up High 2x, Roll Down Lo ..read more

This post includes piano activities that correlate with Let's Play Music Connections Lesson 1: Musical Elements and Primary Chords Music Samples and History Choose a primary chord song below and listen to hear when the chords change. Choose your favorite to learn with a lead sheet or sheet music.  C Major Kiss the Girl (Little Mermaid) I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ Down on the Corner Lava (Pixar short) Challenges:  Try Everything (Zootopia) - Play and sing in C, than transpose to Db to play with the video. Try Everything by Shakira I-IV-I-V: I-IV-I-V-I ..read more

Balance Watch the Chord Voicing and Melody - Graham Fitch Tutorial Articulation  Pictionary/Cranium Illustrate a music dictionary as you watch excerpts from the videos below.  Then take turns acting (silently), sculpting or drawing the words for your teammates to guess (large group) or play the VMT Articulation Ivy Game (small group). 14 Types of Articulation (slur, legato, phrases, tie, staccato, staccatissmo, portato, accent, sforzando, marcato, tenuto, tenuto/slur, fp, fermata) Staccato Tutorial Watch Graham Fitch's 4 Types of Staccato Tutorial Video&nbs ..read more

This lesson plan includes activities and tips for playing Caspian Sea in Piano Adventures 4 Technique Book.  Music Samples Add the chord names in your music as you listen to the samples below. Caspian Sea Sample 1 Caspian Sea Sample 2 Voicing the Melody - Ghost Practice Practice first by ghost playing the left hand to exaggerate the difference in balance between hands and help the melody to sing out. Watch this ghost practice tutorial  if needed to review this practice strategy and see it in action with a different piece. Supplementary Music - Voicing the Melody You are t ..read more

This lesson plan includes activities and tips for playing Excalibur in Piano Adventures 4 Technique Book.  Music Sample and History Listen to the 2 performance videos of Excalibur below. Do you notice any differences in expression, technique, tempo? Excalibur Sample 1 Excalibur Sample 2  Watch the video below to learn more about "Excalibur" the name of the magical sword of the legendary King Arthur. Supplementary Repertoire with Two Hand Phrases Turbocharged by Christopher Goldston ..read more

This lesson plan includes activities and tips for playing Silver Rain Etude in Piano Adventures 4 Technique Book. Music Sample and History Watch the  Chasing Butterflies  video tips and imitate the empty fingers sound as you play the piano sections. Chasing Butterflies Performance Supplementary Repertoire Listen to the similar rhythms of Little (Quick) March by Dmitri Kabalevsky (Easy Classics to Moderns & Bastian Piano Lit Vol 1) and notice  how the rests and staccatos of Chasing Butterflies adds a lighter flitting feeling like a grace note wh ..read more

This lesson plan includes activities and tips for playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata in Piano Adventures 4 Technique Book.  Music Samples Choose a version of Moonlight Sonata to listen to below. Beethoven's Wig Moonlight Beep Beep Beep Moonlight Sonata Rousseau - Full Version Moonlight Piano Guys Electric Cello Moonlight Sonata Faber Technique 4 Tutorial and Practice Steps Watch the Moonlight Sonata Tutorial practice step sections below and practice the tips before moving on to the next section. She demonstrates a different arrangement of the piece in a different key ..read more

This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with Ecossaise in G by Beethoven WoO23 in Bastian Lit Vol 1. Music Samples and History  An ecossaise is an energetic country dance in 2/2. Listen for the "Jump-Drops" in the Ecossaise in G by Beethoven WoO23. What do you imagine the dancers doing during this part of the music? Watch the Practice Tips Video Tutorial for Beethoven Ecossaise-(BAPDARP) and pause as you implement her practice tips on the keyboard. Right Hand Alone (8:25). Circle or Highlight G Major and a minor hand shift spots in y ..read more

 This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with March in D by CPE Bach (Schirmer JS Bach AMB, Bastian Piano Lit 1, Easy Classics to Moderns). Music Samples and History Because Baroque music had few expressive marks written in the original score, different performers may have varied dynamics, phrasing, articulation, tempo, and rubato as they choose how to add musicality to the piece. Listen to at least 2 of the performances below. What are some differences you notice in the expression, articulation and tempo of the performances?  March in D 122  ..read more

This post includes lesson plans and activities that correlate with Minuet in G by Bach 114  in Bastian Lit 1, Schirmer JS Bach, Succeeding with the Masters Bk 1, Easy Classics to Moderns Browse the Minuet in G tutorial video to learn specific tips for learning this piece and play along to guide your practice sessions.  Follow the bolded practice steps. 1. Tap the Rhythm As you listen to the minuet tap the rhythm with a strong downbeat  (1,2,3, 1,2,3, etc.) and lighter arm weight on the phrase endings to imitate the minuet dance style. (see 04:41 ..read more