Piano Lessons for Beginners: Your First Lesson

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Alyson's Piano Studio

Күн бұрын

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@DeMaurayPearson 5 күн бұрын

Please continue this series as this was very helpful. Thank you for your knowledge ma'am.

@AlysonsPianoStudio 5 күн бұрын

You got it! I’m glad it was helpful, I’m going to do another video soon.

@aBachwardsfellow 3 күн бұрын

Very nicely done! ( ... you teach like I do ... 🙂 ) ... actually -- I just show them what to play at first without any theory -- I want them to focus on hand position and posture. What I've learned is that although I know how important the theory is, they don't need to understand all the theory in order to play them, and all the words just add confusion and make it seem complicated at first. I do not use as many words until after they've been playing them a few weeks -- see following: Everything up to 1:32 is great! 🙂 Then we do a few warm-ups: each hand alone -- play each finger 7x, play each finger 5x, 3x, 2x, 1x; Then we play "car horns" (3rds): C and E, D and F, E and G -- play each 3rd several times (warm-up for triads) *triads:* (starting with C major, five fingers resting on keys C, D, E, F, and G): - play one, skip one, play one, skip one, play one -- from lowest note to highest note: (C) (D) (E) (F) (G) RH: thumb (1), middle finger (3), pinky (5) -- play all three notes together 7x, 5x, 3x, LH: pinky (5)), middle finger (3), thumb (1) -- play all three notes together 7x, 5x, 3x, *HT (hands together (!)* play all three notes together 7x, 5x, 3x, (WOW! first lesson!) Now (*each hand alone*) play each note one at a time from lowest to highest and back again: C - E - G - E - I call them "bottom" (C), "middle" (E), "top" (G), "middle" (E) - repeat each hand alone 5x - then play hands together - "bottom" (C), "middle" (E), "top" (G), "middle" (E) I tell them that when you play all three notes together they're called "blocked" triads, and when you play each note one at a time they're called "broken" triads - important to know for future instructions (play blocked, play broken) THEN I have them move their hands one note to the right (i.e. starting on D) - and repeat the above sequence-- each hand alone, then together -- blocked, then broken (i.e. D minor -- but *I do not say anything about that at this point* - that comes later...) THEN I have them move their hands one more note to the right (i.e. starting on E) - and repeat the above -- focusing on hand and finger position -- continue the same patterns starting on F, G, A, B , and again on C They have now played blocked and broken triads on each scale degree in the key of C -- but *I SAY NO-THING* about *any* of that at this point -- no added words (that comes later to describe what they already know how to do ... :-) *scale*: one octave C major scale: RH ascending: starting with thumb on middle C, play 1, 2, 3, move hand -- place thumb on F, play 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 - ending on C RH descending: starting with 5th finger on the C it ended on, play 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, move hand - place 3rd finger on E, play 3, 2, 1 ending with thumb on middle C LH descending: starting with thumb on middle C, play 1, 2, 3, move hand - place thumb on G, play 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 - ending on lower C LH ascending: starting with 5th finger on the lower C it ended on, play 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, move hand - place 3rd finger to A, play 3, 2, 1 ending on middle C Repeat all of the above having them play each note 2x. Playing each note 2x will help seal the muscle memory and is a *big* help when putting hands together -- contrary motion and especially when moving to parallel motion (hands together-- play each note 2x (8th notes) in one hand and 1x (quarter notes) in the other -- then switch ...) No thumb crossings at first -- moving the hand helps them to see the two finger groupings (1-2-3, 1-2-3-4-5) more clearly. Thumb crossings are introduced the next week or once they're playing the two groupings well; followed by adding the second octave with thumb crossings when ready. I have a simple 1-page keyboard diagram for the C major scale (1 octave) and the C major root position triad showing the keyboard and finger numbers. So -- they leave their first lesson playing: - a 5-finger warm-up - root position triads - broken and blocked - a 1-octave scale .. and it's EASY! (NOT COMPLICATED ... :-) Theory-wise, the sequence I follow next is: - explain the scale degrees (C=1, D=2, E=3, F=4, G=5, A=6, B=7) - that the triads are being built on each scale degree - that the triads are called root position triads which have a root (bottom note), 3rd (middle note), and 5th (top note) - that in root position triads, the bottom note "names" the triad -- "C", "D", "E" - etc. -- I do not get into major-minor at this point I then play root position triads in various places and have them "name" the triad based on the root; I then ask them to play a note (RH thumb, LH 5th finger), build the triad, play it, and name it. For scales, once the C major is going pretty well for two octaves, we start G major -- 2 octaves -- just learning to play by the keyboard diagram -- but pointing out that it is the same two finger groupings (1-2-3, 1-2-3-4-5) -- just with the added sharp; Once they have got G major scale going, it is at this point I go into half steps, whole steps,and the major scale sequence. Since they are already playing it, they can easily see how it applies, and that lays the groundwork for building the subsequent major scales and minor scales. I also include in the half-steps/whole steps discussion the difference between the major triads (2 whole-step 3rds) and minor triads (one and a half step 3rds), and which triads in a major key are major (C, F, G), and the three minor triads (d, e, a), and the one diminished triad (b - a minor third and diminished 5th -- or two minor thirds) and why . What I've noticed about theory is that teachers seem to feel like that need to cover everything to make sense of anything. I've found that in the earliest lessons, teaching by rote imitation and keyboard diagrams jump-starts technic (focus on form, technic without fighting reading, counting, etc.), is more fun (triads!). and spares unnecessary complications of things to have to remember. For me, it's easier to understand and apply theory on something that is already being played than before it has even been played -- just sayin' Hope that is helpful!

@AlysonsPianoStudio 3 күн бұрын

Your comment is invaluable and I’m thankful you took the time to write it! I agree with a lot of what you said. However, I think for KZbin I wanted to start with theory first since I’m realizing that’s the main knowledge gap almost all of my commenters are having. So yes these are “piano lessons” but I titled it more for general KZbin search exposure. My goal for this series is general “music theory” knowledge, not so much “pianism” since it seems most people are not looking for that based on feedback I’ve gotten on other vids.

@aBachwardsfellow 3 күн бұрын

@@AlysonsPianoStudio OK -- that makes perfect sense. For example, suppose a student comes to you who has had a few years of piano lessons but has never had any theory -- then what you have here is perfect to fill in the missing pieces! I'm really enjoying your channel 🙂 I'm wondering if you might do one on ear training -- especially on the basic intervals and melodic dictation. These are great for re-enforcing theory. I start my students off with identifying melodic and harmonic 2nds and 3rds (that makes it fairly obvious for starters, and I do not differentiate between major and minor initially), then we add octaves, then add 4ths, then add 5ths, then go for major & minor thirds and triads, then 7ths, (any), then last of all 6ths (any), then start working on major and minor 6ths, 7ths, and 2nds . - and oh yes, not to forget the aug 4th's / dim 5th's

@AlysonsPianoStudio 3 күн бұрын

@@aBachwardsfellow Exactly! I also (selfishly) created this series because I find myself re-explaining the same things over and over, and I’d like an easy way to just share a quick vid. Im so glad to connect with you here and share feedback for mutual benefit. This is super fun!

@aBachwardsfellow 3 күн бұрын

@ I'm always interested in finding better ways of explaining things, and I like your succinct style -you will help a lot of students with these ... 🙂

@aBachwardsfellow 3 күн бұрын

@ i did likewise (although I'm highly "challenged" with regard to video production -- limited camera, zero editing skills and software., etc.) for the same reasons as you, I did post a few videos on close touch (CT-) exercises, and the triad (TR) exercises -