Music Lessons - Introduction to Piano/Keyboard
Lesson 9
Welcome to lesson nine This lesson features the two four time signature, tie, phrase, metronome, dynamics, expression and articulation, theory, aural.
Two Four Time Signature
Two Four Time Signature
Above is the Two Four Time Signature. This means two beats in each measure, and a crotchet receives one beat. The accentuation is strong for the first beat, and weak for the second beat. Music moves in twos or threes. This is an instance of music moving (you have guessed it) in twos.
Clap and say aloud 'ONE TWO ONE TWO ONE TWO'.
Clap and say aloud 'STRONG WEAK STRONG WEAK strong WEAK'.
Emphasize the strong accents with your voice and your clapping.
Tie
A tie is a curved line joining two or more notes with the same pitch. Play the first note only, and hold for the value of the first note and the note or notes tied to it.
For instance in the above case, the note is held for 4 + 4 = 8 counts.
Phrase
A phrase is a curved line (called a slur), over or under notes of different pitches. It can be short i.e. the two note slur (or couplet), or long. The notes are to be played smoothly and well connected.
Metronome
The metronome was invented by Loulie in 1696. Many different forms of such apparatus have been in use since then. The commonest form now in use is the clockwork one of Maelzel (1772-1838). It is to help you keep good time. It is a small pyramidal instrument, with a beating rod in front, and sometimes a bell that can be made to strike at every second, third, or fourth beat. From the use of this metronome came the practice of using the letter 'M.M.' as in M.M. CROTCHET = 97, I.E. Maelzel's metronome set at 97 beats to a minute and each representing a crotchet or quarter-note. A metronome is essential for the music student. However people with electronic keyboards usually have an equivalent device in the keyboard.
When learning a new piece which has a recommended metronome speed, M.M. crotchet = 97 it is best to first set the metronome at about 50 to 60, and gradually work towards the recommended speed. A metronome only clicks at a regular beat, and the music student must first clap the beat and count aloud. If the piece of music is in four four time a student must, after setting the metronome and placing it on a flat surface (i.e. on top of the piano or keyboard) start the metronome, listen very carefully for the clicking sound, clap precisely with the click, then count in four beats before commencing to play, and at first, count the time aloud. It is very important to play each note precisely with the clicking sound of the metronome. If you have quaver notes to play, naturally one of these notes would be played between the click of the metronome. At first it is a good idea just to play any notes up and down on the keyboard, to become familiar with the metronome, because this is another skill to be learned.
Dynamics
Dynamics are that part of musical expression concerned with the varying degrees of intensity (loudness) of the sound produced. If the dynamic signs in a piece of music are observed and played, the music becomes much more interesting to play and also to be listened to. The first two dynamics to be learned are piano (soft) and forte (loud). You may ask, 'what is soft' and 'what is loud?' Think of soft as still a singing sound and not too weak or thin. Think of loud as about a little more than twice as loud as soft. Don't play so loud that you can't play and louder, as there are more dynamic signs for playing very loud. Abbreviations are used for these two dynamics, and these are 'p' for piano and 'f' for forte. Other dynamics often used are crescendo (gradually becoming louder) and diminuendo (gradually becoming softer). The abbreviations used for these two dynamics are cresc. for crescendo, and dim. for diminuendo.
They also often have signs for crescendo and for diminuendo as above.
Remember, when playing crescendo, start soft to get loud. When playing diminuendo, start loud to get soft.
When playing soft, still have energy at the end of your finger tips all the way down to the key-bed, and try to keep the correct tempo i.e. do not slow down.
When playing two or more staccato notes in a row, make sure the last staccato note comes up. SAY 'UP' for each staccato note. Listen to your playing.
Expression and Articulation
Expression includes dynamics and understanding the character of a piece of music. Try to communicate this to the listener. You decide how you are going to express the music. Clues for determining the character include the title, the tempo indication if given, and the word above the piece, i.e. grave, allegro, moderato, the key major or minor. Sometimes in early tutor books, a piece may have a word such as 'happily' above the piece at the beginning.
Articulation is the correct observance of playing legato and staccato. Music has two types of touch, legato and staccato, with varying degrees of each, but this we do not delve into at this stage. Think about this (i.e. the statement 'music' has two types of touch, legato and staccato'), it can't be anything else. This is not to be confused with dynamics.
After you have heard the pieces below, follow the learning instructions in the next paragraph. While you play them listen to your own playing, making sure you have the correct articulation. Listen to the way you play the last note of a staccato group. Make sure it is played staccato and not held too long.
Below are three pieces for you to learn. Read the key signature first to see which notes are to be played as sharps or flats. In this case, two of the pieces have sharps in the key signature. Next lesson I will include a bass line for you to learn for these pieces. I would expect that you would need longer than this class before you would be able to play these pieces at an artistic level. At first, it is wise to read the music (this means processing it) and start off at a tempo approximately half the speed of the recommended tempo. I do hope you enjoy learning these pieces.
Clap and say aloud 'ONE TWO ONE TWO ONE TWO'.
Clap and say aloud 'STRONG WEAK STRONG WEAK strong WEAK'.
Emphasize the strong accents with your voice and your clapping.
Tie
A tie is a curved line joining two or more notes with the same pitch. Play the first note only, and hold for the value of the first note and the note or notes tied to it.
For instance in the above case, the note is held for 4 + 4 = 8 counts.
Phrase
A phrase is a curved line (called a slur), over or under notes of different pitches. It can be short i.e. the two note slur (or couplet), or long. The notes are to be played smoothly and well connected.
Metronome
The metronome was invented by Loulie in 1696. Many different forms of such apparatus have been in use since then. The commonest form now in use is the clockwork one of Maelzel (1772-1838). It is to help you keep good time. It is a small pyramidal instrument, with a beating rod in front, and sometimes a bell that can be made to strike at every second, third, or fourth beat. From the use of this metronome came the practice of using the letter 'M.M.' as in M.M. CROTCHET = 97, I.E. Maelzel's metronome set at 97 beats to a minute and each representing a crotchet or quarter-note. A metronome is essential for the music student. However people with electronic keyboards usually have an equivalent device in the keyboard.
When learning a new piece which has a recommended metronome speed, M.M. crotchet = 97 it is best to first set the metronome at about 50 to 60, and gradually work towards the recommended speed. A metronome only clicks at a regular beat, and the music student must first clap the beat and count aloud. If the piece of music is in four four time a student must, after setting the metronome and placing it on a flat surface (i.e. on top of the piano or keyboard) start the metronome, listen very carefully for the clicking sound, clap precisely with the click, then count in four beats before commencing to play, and at first, count the time aloud. It is very important to play each note precisely with the clicking sound of the metronome. If you have quaver notes to play, naturally one of these notes would be played between the click of the metronome. At first it is a good idea just to play any notes up and down on the keyboard, to become familiar with the metronome, because this is another skill to be learned.
Dynamics
Dynamics are that part of musical expression concerned with the varying degrees of intensity (loudness) of the sound produced. If the dynamic signs in a piece of music are observed and played, the music becomes much more interesting to play and also to be listened to. The first two dynamics to be learned are piano (soft) and forte (loud). You may ask, 'what is soft' and 'what is loud?' Think of soft as still a singing sound and not too weak or thin. Think of loud as about a little more than twice as loud as soft. Don't play so loud that you can't play and louder, as there are more dynamic signs for playing very loud. Abbreviations are used for these two dynamics, and these are 'p' for piano and 'f' for forte. Other dynamics often used are crescendo (gradually becoming louder) and diminuendo (gradually becoming softer). The abbreviations used for these two dynamics are cresc. for crescendo, and dim. for diminuendo.
They also often have signs for crescendo and for diminuendo as above.
Remember, when playing crescendo, start soft to get loud. When playing diminuendo, start loud to get soft.
When playing soft, still have energy at the end of your finger tips all the way down to the key-bed, and try to keep the correct tempo i.e. do not slow down.
When playing two or more staccato notes in a row, make sure the last staccato note comes up. SAY 'UP' for each staccato note. Listen to your playing.
Expression and Articulation
Expression includes dynamics and understanding the character of a piece of music. Try to communicate this to the listener. You decide how you are going to express the music. Clues for determining the character include the title, the tempo indication if given, and the word above the piece, i.e. grave, allegro, moderato, the key major or minor. Sometimes in early tutor books, a piece may have a word such as 'happily' above the piece at the beginning.
Articulation is the correct observance of playing legato and staccato. Music has two types of touch, legato and staccato, with varying degrees of each, but this we do not delve into at this stage. Think about this (i.e. the statement 'music' has two types of touch, legato and staccato'), it can't be anything else. This is not to be confused with dynamics.
After you have heard the pieces below, follow the learning instructions in the next paragraph. While you play them listen to your own playing, making sure you have the correct articulation. Listen to the way you play the last note of a staccato group. Make sure it is played staccato and not held too long.
Below are three pieces for you to learn. Read the key signature first to see which notes are to be played as sharps or flats. In this case, two of the pieces have sharps in the key signature. Next lesson I will include a bass line for you to learn for these pieces. I would expect that you would need longer than this class before you would be able to play these pieces at an artistic level. At first, it is wise to read the music (this means processing it) and start off at a tempo approximately half the speed of the recommended tempo. I do hope you enjoy learning these pieces.
Hopping and Running
Meditation
March Along
Below are five pieces you learned for the right hand last lesson, and now they are presented with notes for the left hand as well as the right hand. Practise the right hand, then practise the left hand, counting the time carefully. After the two parts are learned, try playing hands together slowly at first.
Slurring
Slurring
Three Note Slurs
Dotted
Waltz in A
Waltz in E
Theory
Draw a grand staff, and write out the key signature for C major, G major, D major, A major, E major, B major and F major, in the treble and bass.
Aural
Play the scale of C major, singing each note as you play with the right hand, then the left hand.
Play the arpeggio of C major with the right hand, then the left hand singing these notes as you play.
Draw a grand staff, and write out the key signature for C major, G major, D major, A major, E major, B major and F major, in the treble and bass.
Aural
Play the scale of C major, singing each note as you play with the right hand, then the left hand.
Play the arpeggio of C major with the right hand, then the left hand singing these notes as you play.
Please complete the quiz, have fun while learning, and I will see you next lesson.