Gabriel Piano Studio
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LESSON PAGE.  CHARLES

2025. April 27

Today's lesson was dedicated to improvisation using the chords as reference of the scales we would be matching.
Tunes:
- Solar
- On Green Dolphin Street

When you have a chance, send me a recording Debussy's Clair de Lune, and indicate if you feel ready to move on from this piece and start a new one.

======================

Comments from the last lesson in which we worked on Debussy:
Clair de Lune (Debussy)
​Page 1

  • Focus on creating a dreamy, atmospheric sound.
  • Support this mood with hand motion that reflects the natural flow of the piece.
  • Let the movement of your hands guide the shape of each phrase—think fluid, graceful gestures.
Page 2
  • Maintain the dreamy quality when playing chords.
  • Use a flowing gesture from chord to chord, helping the sound connect smoothly.
  • In the section with the Db arpeggio in the LH (line 3 to the end):
    • Emphasize the melody and harmony.
    • The middle notes are harmonic support—apply less pressure.
    • At the end of each measure, release tension with floating hands—a soft lift to let the sound linger.
Calmato Section
  • Continue the concept of energy shaping:
    • Build up to the highest point of the phrase, then release.
    • Use floating hands to gently end the phrase 
  • In the final line, follow the same concept--crescendo into the peak, then float away.​
Page 6
  • Line 1: Let each phrase end with lifted, floating hands, allowing the music to breathe.
  • Last two lines:
    • Work on consistent counting—keep the rhythm anchored.
    • In the final LH arpeggios, ensure the flow continues, but stay rhythmically grounded 
  • Final chord:
    • Be mindful of how you end the sound—don’t rush.
    • Consider how your hands leave the keys—the motion should reflect the ending atmosphere of the piece.

Scales.  Levine Curriculum Level FIVE.
C, G, D, A, E, B, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db Major
A, E, B, D, G, C, F, Bb minor.


SCALES LEVEL 5 Major and minor models
File Size: 1670 kb
File Type: pdf
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Picture

SIGHT-READING.

SCHAFER sight-reading vol.1
File Size: 1080 kb
File Type: pdf
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SCHAFER sight-reading vol.2
File Size: 3039 kb
File Type: pdf
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CZERNY-GERMER Etudes

czerny-germer_vol_1.pdf
File Size: 10869 kb
File Type: pdf
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In Progress. DEBUSSY. Claire de Lune

DEBUSSY Claire de Lune with fingering
File Size: 6450 kb
File Type: pdf
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CLAIRE DE LUNE -GRB fingering-
File Size: 28154 kb
File Type: pdf
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Future repertory may be from composers:
Mompou. Halffter. Gershwin. Satie. Turina. Mendelssohn. Mozart A Sonata. Debussy, Ravel.

APPLIED JAZZ

Jazz tunes to learn

Autumn Leaves
In a Sentimental Mood
autumn_leaves.pdf
File Size: 143 kb
File Type: pdf
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in_a_sentimental_mood.pdf
File Size: 100 kb
File Type: pdf
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Peanuts

SKATING
PEANUTS
File Size: 1546 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Walking bass

September 10
  • Using the notes of the chord
  • Using the structure of the blues to get started

2 - 5 - 1

2-5-1 chord progression EXERCISE
File Size: 66 kb
File Type: pdf
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JUNE 18
  • Left hand chord to 3 - 7
  • 2-5-1 in C Major, then go through other keys.
  • Use iRealPro for accompaniment

Lush Life by Billy Strayhorn

lush_life_billy_strayhorn.pdf
File Size: 211 kb
File Type: pdf
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Green Dolphin Street

green_dolphin_street_clean.pdf
File Size: 761 kb
File Type: pdf
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Solar

SOLAR
File Size: 470 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

FREE STYLE IMPROVISATION

April 9
Today we experimented with C minor.
​
LH:  A - E
RH: C - A
Change one note at a time.  Relax and listen to the results that happen as you keep changing the sounds.

NEW: "Lady Madonna" by J. Lennon & P. McCartney

lady-madonna-sheet-music-pdf-the-beatles-thepianonotes.com_.pdf
File Size: 2550 kb
File Type: pdf
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Improvising in Blues style

For practice, use the app "iRealPro" that Henry purchased.  One purchase should allow you to download it to other devices in the same account.
Picture
April 20
We will transfer all the concepts to Blues in G

Picture
Picture
The left hand is going to use only the 3rd and the 7th:

C chord will be E and Bb
F chord will be the same, but 1/2 step lower:  Eb and A
​G chord will be the same as C but 1/2 step higher: F and B
12-bar BLUES exercise for LH chords
File Size: 52 kb
File Type: pdf
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Tonal Harmonization and Improvisation 

February 8

Think of a new theme that is very familiar and we can harmonize at the lesson when we have extra time
ALREADY DONE:
​

STAR WARS MAIN THEME
STAR WARS THE BAD FOLKS THEME
​HAPPY BIRTHDAY
BEETHOVEN'S ODE TO JOY
​​MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB

SUZUKI BOOK

Classical pieces already passed:

BEETHOVEN. "Adagio Cantabile".
2nd movement of the Pathetique Sonata

BEETHOVEN Pathetique slow mov
File Size: 1230 kb
File Type: pdf
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"Granada" by Issac Albéniz

ALBENIZ. GRANADA. from Suite Española
File Size: 2441 kb
File Type: pdf
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BEETHOVEN. Moonlight Sonata (1st movement)

BEETHOVEN Moonlight 1st mov
File Size: 926 kb
File Type: pdf
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DEBUSSY.  Reverie

DEBUSSY Rêverie
File Size: 267 kb
File Type: pdf
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CHOPIN.  Nocturne Op9 Nr2 in E-flat Major

chopin_nocturnes_op9_nr_2_eb_m.pdf
File Size: 1020 kb
File Type: pdf
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MENDELSSOHN: "The Sighing Wind" S wt W Op. 102, Nr. 4

MENDELSSOHN op-102_nr.4
File Size: 1966 kb
File Type: pdf
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Chopin Prelude in E minor

CHOPIN: ​Prelude Op. 28 Nr. 4 in E minor
File Size: 80 kb
File Type: pdf
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Prelude in C Major by J.S. Bach
BACH: Minuet I and II from Partita in Bb Major

BACH score with analysis
File Size: 892 kb
File Type: pdf
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MOZART.  Rondo a la Turca

mozart_rondo_alla_turca.pdf
File Size: 1925 kb
File Type: pdf
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GERSHWIN.  from "Rhapsody in Blue", the slow section.

gerwshwin_rhapsody_in_blue_pages_20-23.pdf
File Size: 1770 kb
File Type: pdf
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​BACH French Suite 5 G -BWV 816. Allemande

bach_french_suite_5_g_-bwv_816_allemande.pdf
File Size: 458 kb
File Type: pdf
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Jazz pieces (written music) already passed:

"Hey Jude" by J. Lennon & P. McCartney

hey_jude__piano_solo__with_melody.pdf
File Size: 564 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Imagine (Lennon)

lennon_imagine._acc_only.pdf
File Size: 67 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Omnipresent (Noah Baerman)

jazz_piece_omnipresent.pdf
File Size: 1349 kb
File Type: pdf
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LONDONDERRY AIR -simplified version-

LONDONDERRY AIR simplified version
File Size: 235 kb
File Type: pdf
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ANYTHING GOES by George Gershwin

anything_goes.pdf
File Size: 519 kb
File Type: pdf
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JINGLE BELLS (arranged by Lee Evans)

jingle_bells_for_charles_pdf.pdf
File Size: 6784 kb
File Type: pdf
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​SHOAH by Andy LaVerne

shoah_andy_laverne.pdf
File Size: 435 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

FOR KENNEDY (Paul Bratcher)

for_kennedy__-_score_1.pdf
File Size: 97 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

TAKE FIVE (Paul Desmond)

take_five_blank.pdf
File Size: 5551 kb
File Type: pdf
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Previous Repertory

JOPLIN.  Original Rags
TCHEREPNIN Bagatelle
PAUL BRATCHER For Kennedy
​BURGMULLER The Limpid Stream
​BURGMULLER Arabesque
​Paul Desmond:  Take Five
Mozart Minuet
SCOTT JOPLIN ​The Entertainer
​W.A. Mozart:  Rondo
Bela Bartok:  Teasing Song 
​​CLEMENTI SONATINA OP 36 NR 3 IN C MAJOR. 1st mov.
Robert Schumann    “The Wild Horseman”
KUHLAU Sonatina Op 55 Nr 1  Vivace
Gurlitt        “Little Waltz”
ECCOSSAISE BEETHOVEN spiral page 83
COLE PORTER BOOK.  Anything Goes​
minuet_i.pdf
File Size: 912 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

On Reserve:

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