LESSON PAGE.  ​WILLIAMS

2/9 Material ready

New lesson strategy:  We move from lessons every other week, to lessons on demand.  Contact me whenever you feel ready for a lesson and we will schedule the time.
​Feel free to ask me questions if you get stuck during practice.

Lesson for October 13 has been rescheduled.  Pending to schedule the date.

TECHNIQUE
Scales

1/19
​Minor scales.
Scales starting on a black key.  General rule
Finger #1 on white key
Finger #4 on black key
When playing with the LH, large valleys use 4-3-2-1.  Small valleys use 3-2-1.
When playing with the RH, it reverses.  Large valley use 1-2-3-4, small valleys use 1-2-3.

Chords.  Building a chord chain in a given key.

1/19
Build a chord chain on any key that starts on a white key
Today we checked B Major for the chord chain.

Next step is to start Bb Major and Eb Major.

NEW: Somewhere Over the Rainbow.  Arranging a melody

2/9
​This is a process that starts by learning the melody, then adding a single-note bass, then adding the chords as block chords in root position.  Gradually we will be converting the song into a more complex arrangement.
RAINBOW. melody-chord symbols
File Size: 53 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Our next lesson will be a quiz-test playing every step below, but looking at this exercise as reference.
RAINBOW. melody-LH single note
File Size: 51 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
RAINBOW. melody-chords root position
File Size: 52 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
RAINBOW. melody-LH 1-5-8
File Size: 54 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
RAINBOW. RH melody + chords. LH single note bass
File Size: 55 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
RAINBOW. melody-LH 1-5-8 RH chords
File Size: 58 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
RAINBOW. melody-LH arpeggios RH chords
File Size: 60 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

READING SKILLS: General Music Theatre repertory building.
Broadway Songs for Kids.  Hal Leonard.

2/9
This book is not for faking.  Is for reading in detail.  ​This will replace the classical piece.

"Castle on a Cloud"
"I Whistle a Happy Tune"

FAKING SKILLS: General Music Theatre repertory building.
Broadway FAKE BOOK

2/9
"Part of Your World" (Little mermaid)
"Do-Re-Mi" the version below:

Current: Do-Re-Mi

1/5
​Yes to using any inversions that create nice melodic lines in the bass
New challenge for when you feel fluent:
Double the time in the LH so instead of quarter notes you are playing eighth notes as bass/chords.

12/15
Double time bass and chords alternating bass with 1st and 5th.  Keeping the LH in a very compact position to be able to reach the chords and the bass easily.  See video for explanation.
DO-RE-MI
File Size: 740 kb
File Type: jpeg
Download File

"Survival reading" -sightreading-

2/9
Uploaded Volume 2
System:
1- Read through the entire volume 1
2- When you reach the end, go backwards until you reach the beginning
3- Then you start from the beginning to the end again.
4- When you reach the end of vol. 1 for the second time, you move into volume 2.

1/5 up to 22. goal: 5 more exercises.
SHAFER sight-reading vol 1
File Size: 1080 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
schafer_sight_reading_book-2.pdf
File Size: 3039 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

IMPROVISATION
​Basic improvisation in different keys,   Chord progression Am - F - C - G

2/9
1 - 5 - 10 for LH
LH now plays using the notes from the entire major/minor chord 1-3-5 but the 3 is moved one octave higher (10th).

Take a chord progression from a song you already know and improvise on it.

Material passed

Future material
PEZOLD Minuet 1 in G Major
​Let Me Entertain You
MINUET IN G
File Size: 73 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Let Me Entertain You 1
File Size: 276 kb
File Type: jpg
Download File
Let Me Entertain You 2
File Size: 101 kb
File Type: jpg
Download File
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" transposed to C Major.
​Step by step arranging the song:
RAINBOW in C. melody and chord symbols
File Size: 53 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
RAINBOW in C. melody and simple LH
File Size: 51 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
RAINBOW in C. melody and triads
File Size: 52 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
RAINBOW in C. melody and LH in 1-5-8
File Size: 54 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
RAINBOW in C. melody and LH arpeggio
File Size: 60 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Dropped: "If My Friends Could See Me Now" (Cy Coleman)

1/5
Similar technique as Do-Re-Mi

​Also consider a technique in which you play only the bass on the LH and the melody + chords are on the RH.
IF MY FRIENDS
File Size: 1048 kb
File Type: jpeg
Download File

Classical piece: BOURLESQUE by W.A. Mozart

2/9
Not more classical pieces after this one.  Instead use broadway book.
Gradual incorporation of the elements.  LH single note, then LH octave, etc.

1/18
Learn the LH octaves as individual notes without the skipping or jumping.
Then add the octave
Then add the skipping from lower to upper notes
RH: Add articulations and hand motion low wrist on the emphasis note, lifting  the wrist when the note is staccato.
l_mozart_burleske_in_g.pdf
File Size: 1129 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Passed: Musical Theater piece #2.
"​Consider Yourself" (Oliver)
CONSIDER YOURSELF
File Size: 219 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File