Piano 1a

Module 01 Let’s Play Piano!

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Define and recognize the basic elements of music: beat, rhythm, meter, pitch, dynamics, duration, and timbre.
• Understand the relationship between time and sound in music.
• Differentiate between the basic types of pianos and keyboards.
• Demonstrate proper posture when sitting at the piano or keyboard.
• Identify finger numbers.
• Differentiate between up and down on the keyboard.
• Perform a simple piece with audio accompaniment.
• Demonstrate how to play music using a variety of dynamics.
• Perform a piece of music using the black keys.
• Apply the Five Practice Principles.
• Implement proper practice techniques.
• Identify and play different types of notes and rhythms.
• Perform a piece of music using groups of two and three black keys.

 Module 02 Expanding Your Keyboard Skills

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe fundamental concepts of music notation.
• Read and play rhythm studies in 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 time.
• Read and play a melody in 4/4 time.•Identify basic rest values in music.
• Play a piece of music using note and rest values.
• Identify the location of all white keys on the keyboard.
• Name each white key as you play up and down the keyboard.
• Play music using white keys up and down the keyboard.
• Read and play a melody using the white the keys.
• Analyze your performance of a melody.

Module 03 Reading Piano Music

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe fundamental concepts of the grand staff.
• Read and play music on the grand staff.
• Play a technique exercise using all five fingers of each hand.
• Identify bass F, middle C, and treble G on the staff.
• Read and play two notes on the piano simultaneously.
• Read and play a piece of music using bass F, middle C, and treble G on the grand staff.
• Understand steps and skips.•Identify D, E, and F on the treble clef staff.
• Improvise music using notes on the treble clef staff.•Recognize changes in pitch by listening.
• Read and play a piece of music using new notes on the treble clef staff.
• Read and play new notes on the bass clef staff.
• Understand slurs in piano music.
• Understand and demonstrate to new dynamic markings.

Module 04 Expanding Your Keyboard Skills

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Identify E, D, and C on the bass clef staff.
• Read and play ties in music.•Understand tempo marks.
• Read and play a piece of music using the C major five-finger scale.
• Demonstrate how to practice music with hands separately.
• Read and play a piece of music in two parts (melody and accompaniment).
• Identify melodic and harmonic intervals in music.
• Play a piece of music using melodic and harmonic intervals.

You will need a functioning keyboard instrument (acoustic or electronic) and a way to record and submit a video performance to your instructor. Common types of acoustic keyboard instruments include upright pianos and grand pianos. The sound is produced by hammers striking the strings, which happens whenever you press a key. The keys on acoustic pianos are touch-sensitive so that when you press the keys lightly, you produce a soft sound, and when you press the keys heavily, you produce a louder sound. Standard-size pianos have 88 keys, but the number of keys may vary from piano to piano.

Acoustic pianos may require occasional tuning by a piano technician. Common types of electronic keyboard instruments include digital pianos and electric keyboards. A digital piano is designed to feel—and sound like—an acoustic piano, having the same number of touch-sensitive keys. An electric keyboard may or may not have touch-sensitive keys and usually has fewer keys and more sound effects than a digital piano.