Jaaziel Sandoval
Wednesday, Nov 25 IMPORTANT - FOLLOW THE LINKS! READ!
Today we worked on the blues. We talked about why it is an important musical form to know.
We briefly reviewed the blues structure.
We played through the structure in the key of C.
We talked about how important it is to be able to play the blues in every key. Start with F, G and Bb.
We talked about staying with Wednesday lessons at 5:30.
Israel Houghton is one of my favorite artists. Take a listen to this song. Aaron Moses is a phenomenal writer and keyboard player that you should get to know. He is in a lot of Maverick City music.
Monday, June 17, 2024
We worked on the Ugly Little man
work the hands independently. Use the dissonant notes to remind yourself where your fingers shift from B to C and C to B
get the sections smooth up to 2:05. When it transitions to the other broken chord pattern, speed up slightly.
The Ugly Little Man Sheet Music.pdfRobel & Jaaziel - Apr 22, 2024
We continued discussing jazz chords. We reviewed intervals:
m2, M2, m3, M3, P4, 4+ (augmented 4th or diminished 5th), m6, M6, m7, M7, P8
We worked on learning the blues.
Jaaziel - Apr 8, 2024
We worked on the song that Dad will sing Sunday.
We worked on Mr. Magic.
Jaaziel -Feb 19, 2024
Jaaziel recorded the Back for Piano Marvel
We talked about Jazz chords. They are named by the root letter name of the chord and the intervals that are in the chord.
We learned Mr. Magic.
Jazz songs have a head (melody) the you play once or twice,
then an improv section,
Then you return to the head to end the song
When you work on improvisation - use the C blues scale. The notes are given in the video.
Robel and I talked about using Ableton live for worship, and possibly using Audacity to record.
Jaaziel -Feb 12, 2024
Jaaziel - Bach Invention is totally learned. We're working on the trills. Keep working on turning them into 32nd notes (2 of the trill notes for every one of the 16th note melodic pitches that you are playing with the other hand)
We will see if you're ready to record Friday. If so, let's record around 6 on Friday.
Worked on Let it Rain - Michael W Smith
corrected the melody - the descending "Let It Rain" starts on C not E.
Jaaziel/Robel -Feb 5, 2024
Jaaziel - worked on Bach. It is smoothing out and you are getting prepared to record. For next week. Slow it down and play with a click many times. Get it smooth. Make your brain pay attention to each line without being able to rush through.
Work on playing staccato notes short and disconnected
Worked on Let it Rain - Michael W Smith
6 - - - 4 - - - 1 - - - 5 - - - pattern over and over
use 6th in the right hand to decorate the chords
bass line pattern dotted quarter, eight tied to half note
when it drops in intensity, use a pattern in the left hand that goes:
A - E - B - C under 6 chord
F - C - G - A under 4 chord
C - G - D - E under 1 chord
B - G - B - D under 6 chord
Robel brought his keyboard - the 5-pin midi cord has to be inserted with the in side going to the out port and the out side going to the in port.
We worked on improv over a chord change with 7th chords.
C major 7 chord
D minor 7 chord
E minor 7 chord
F major 7 chord
We talked about learning jazz chord names
Jaaziel -Jan 29, 2024
Jaaziel - played C scale, G scale, D scale, A scale, Eb scale, C minor
Played through Bach Invention 4 in d minor
Worked on Let it Rain - Michael W Smith
6 - - - 4 - - - 1 - - - 5 - - - pattern over and over
use 6th in the right hand to decorate the chords
bass line pattern dotted quarter, eight tied to half note
when it drops in intensity, use a pattern in the left hand that goes:
A - E - A - C under 6 chord
F - C - F - A under 4 chord
C - G - C - E under 1 chord
B - G - B - D under 6 chord
Robel/Jaaziel -Jan 22, 2024
Robel - played C scale
Robel - Technique section level 2A - work on ear training and intervals. Look for steps and skips. Read the steps and skips more often than the notes.
Jaaziel played almost all the way through Bach Two Part Invention #4 in D minor -
Keep working this one section at a time - one hand at a time. This will be the piece to record for the Piano Marvel Video Competition in Feb.
We worked on ear training - recognizing chords. Bruno Mars - Count on Me
1 - 1 - 3 - 3 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 4 -
1 - 1 - 3 - 3 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 4 -
2 - 2 - 3 - 3- 4 - 4 - 5 - - -
1 - 1 - 3 - 3 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 5 -
1 - 1 - 3 - 3 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 5 -
1 - 1 - 3 - 3 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 5 -
Robel/Jaaziel - Dec 11, 2023
Robel - reviewed notes in online flash card game.
Robel and Jaaziel played the 2nd Duet in the Piano Duet book 1.
Worked on Jolly Old St Nicholas in Christmas Challenge.
Jaaziel - keep working on the Bach Two Part Invention #4 in D minor -
Keep working this one section at a time - one hand at a time. This will be the piece to record for the Piano Marvel Video Competition in Feb.
We worked on Mary Did You Know in E minor.
Jaaziel - December 04, 2023
We worked on scales - C, G, D and A. Learning the scales and being able to play them smoothly will help you to play in every key.
Bach -
Worked on O Come O Come Emmanuel
Jaaziel - good progress on the Bach Two Part Invention #4 in D minor -
excellent progress. Remember to watch for fingering issues. You are still jumping with your pinky and making that line sound choppy.
We worked on Mary Did You Know in E minor.
progression is 1 (e minor) chord, 7 chord (D major), 6 (C major), 5 chord (would be B minor but whenever we play a 5 chord in this song we're going to make it a major chord - that means playing B-D#-F#) look below for the progression of chords under the verse:
1 chord - - - 7 - - - 6 - - - 5 (major) - - -
1 chord - - - 7 - - - 6 - - - 5 - - -
4 chord - - - 7 - - - 3 - - - 1 - - -
4 chord - - - 4 - - - 5 sus (B-E-F#) - - - 5 (major B-D#-F#)
I put the chords in a Youtube video to the right. Here's the assignment for next week:
On a sheet of paper finish what I started above - marking what number the chord is that is being played in the song. Go 4 measures per line like I did above. The song is very balanced and organized so your paper should look like a neat grid.
Jaaziel-Robel - November 27, 2023
Took the SASR - consistently scoring in the mid 300s. Keep taking it. Take it 2x per week.
Worked on O Come O Come Emmanuel
Jaaziel - good progress on the Bach Two Part Invention #4 in D minor -
excellent progress. Remember to watch for fingering issues. You are still jumping with your pinky and making that line sound choppy.
We worked on Mary Did You Know in E minor.
progression is 1 (e minor) chord, 7 chord (D major), 6 (C major), 5 chord (would be B minor but whenever we play a 5 chord in this song we're going to make it a major chord - that means playing B-D#-F#) look below for the progression of chords under the verse:
1 chord - - - 7 - - - 6 - - - 5 (major) - - -
1 chord - - - 7 - - - 6 - - - 5 - - -
4 chord - - - 7 - - - 3 - - - 1 - - -
4 chord - - - 4 - - - 5 sus (B-E-F#) - - - 5 (major B-D#-F#)
I put the chords in a Youtube video to the right. Here's the assignment for next week:
On a sheet of paper finish what I started above - marking what number the chord is that is being played in the song. Go 4 measures per line like I did above. The song is very balanced and organized so your paper should look like a neat grid.
Jaaziel - November 13, 2023
Christmas Challenge
Try Christmas time is here (from Charlie Brown)
Jaaziel - keep working on the Bach Two Part Invention #4 in D minor -
excellent progress. Remember to watch for fingering issues. Usually at important points the arrangers of the music will put the appropriate finger numbers under the notes to make sure you are able to play the line smoothly at the speed it was intended to be played.
We worked on Mary Did You Know in E minor.
progression is 1 (e minor) chord, 7 chord (D major), 6 (C major), 5 chord (would be B minor but whenever we play a 5 chord in this song we're going to make it a major chord - that means playing B-D#-F#) look below for the progression of chords under the verse:
1 chord - - - 7 - - - 6 - - - 5 (major) - - -
1 chord - - - 7 - - - 6 - - - 5 - - -
4 chord - - - 7 - - - 3 - - - 1 - - -
4 chord - - - 4 - - - 5 sus (B-E-F#) - - - 5 (major B-D#-F#)
I put the chords in a Youtube video to the right. Here's the assignment for next week:
On a sheet of paper finish what I started above - marking what number the chord is that is being played in the song. Go 4 measures per line like I did above. The song is very balanced and organized so your paper should look like a neat grid.
Jaaziel & Robel - November 6, 2023
We worked the pattern 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 5 and back to an 86 bpm drum beat in C, G, A, and E.
We worked it with Jaaziel playing 1 and 5 chords in each key while Robel played the notes.
Took the SASR.
Jaaziel - keep working on the Bach Two Part Invention #4 in D minor -
great progress. Your scalar lines (lines that go up and down a step at a time) are very smooth. keep practicing them slowly first and then speeding up. Smooth slow will equal smooth fast, but if you try to play fast right away you will have tiny rhythmic inconsistencies that will make your overall playing sloppy.
working the learn section. Remember to look at the fingering.
look for patterns. Often Bach will create a line and then repeat the line once or several more times moving the whole line up or down by one note.
Jaaziel & Robel - October 23
We worked the pattern 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 5 and back to an 86 bpm drum beat in C, G, A, and E.
We worked it with Jaaziel playing 1 and 5 chords in each key while Robel played the notes.
Took the SASR. Got a high score.
Jaaziel - keep working on the Bach Two Part Invention #4 in D minor - keep working the learn section. Remember to look at the fingering.
look for patterns. Often Bach will create a line and then repeat the line once or several more times moving the whole line up or down by one note.
We ended class by playing Despacito in C (the original is in D, but if you load the "transpose" extension on microsoft Edge, you can change the key down to C.
Jaaziel & Dylan - October 12 (Thursday)
Jaaziel played Sevillana for the class
We Worked Hanon #1 up and back to an 86 bpm drum beat
Jaaziel worked on Bach Two Part Invention #4 in D minor - keep working the learn section. Remember to look at the fingering
look for patterns. Often Bach will create a line and then repeat the line once or several more times moving the whole line up or down by one note.
We Worked on Ice Castles as a duet. We will play it together in the next recital, adding some material and make a video of the 3 of us playing it.
Dylan played Chopin Prelude in E minor very expressively. Things to work on:
make that right hand melody sing. Play the whole song through a few times just with the right hand as if it were a song being sung acapella. It has to breathe in all the right places. It has to be confident by itself.
practice the left hand allowing it to ebb and flow like ocean waves on a fairly calm day. The variation in what the left hand does should be both in velocity (how hard you play the keys) and timing (with micro shifts in speed).
Work on pedalling for both the Beethoven and the Chopin.
Dylan worked on Moonlight Sonata - I need to play through it to understand the teacher notes. Keep working on the pedaling. Good progress!
We ended class by playing through 3 point play duet. Good reading.
Jaaziel - October 02
Took the SASR - scored 324
We worked on Sevillana
Worked 5 up and back in every key to an 85 bpm drum beat
Started on Bach Two Part Invention #4 in D minor
Ice Castles sounds great. You can play that in the next recital along with some other songs.
We went through Just the Two Of Us chords with melody in the right hand, adding just one or two other notes that imply the chord.
We listened to some stride style piano and talked about virtuosic playing.
Jaaziel - Sep 25
Edelweiss - played the arrangement from your teacher. It was smooth and pretty polished.
Worked 5 up and back in every key to an 85 bpm drum beat
Good progress on Ice Castles. Continue to work the learn mode sections and you will have this song in no time.
We worked on Sevillana
We went through Just the Two Of Us chords with melody in the right hand, adding just one or two other notes that imply the chord.
Jaaziel - Sep 18
Edelweiss - played the arrangement from your teacher. It was smooth and pretty polished.
Worked on Hanon #1 in the key of G
We spent a good portion of our class on Ice Castles. Continue to work the learn mode sections and you will have this song in no time.
We worked on an improvised chord progression at the beginning of the class - Key of C - 2 chord to a 1 chord with an E in the bass (so it seemed like a 3 chord) to a passing chord that I will explain soon, to a 4 chord, to another passing chord that I will explain, to a 5 chord to a 6 chord and then back to the beginning. This was a loop.
Practice this progression and you will be able to improv over it
We went through Just the Two Of Us chords with melody in the right hand, adding just one or two other notes that imply the chord.
Jaaziel - Aug 28
We spent a good portion of our class on Ice Castles. Continue to work the learn mode sections and you will have this song in no time.
We talked about the relationship between a scale built on the 1 (which is called a major scale), and a scale built on 6, which is called a natural minor scale. When you need to find the relative major of a minor scale, or vice versa (in other words, the minor scale with the same pitches as you
We worked on an improvised chord progression at the beginning of the class - Key of C - 2 chord to a 1 chord with an E in the bass (so it seemed like a 3 chord) to a passing chord that I will explain soon, to a 4 chord, to another passing chord that I will explain, to a 5 chord to a 6 chord and then back to the beginning. This was a loop.
Practice this progression and you will be able to improv over it
We went through Just the Two Of Us
Jaaziel - Aug 21
We worked on an improvised chord progression at the beginning of the class - Key of C - 2 chord to a 1 chord with an E in the bass (so it seemed like a 3 chord) to a passing chord that I will explain soon, to a 4 chord, to another passing chord that I will explain, to a 5 chord to a 6 chord and then back to the beginning. This was a loop.
Practice this progression and you will be able to improv over it
We worked on the bridge of Just the Two Of Us
Jaaziel - Aug 14
We worked on an improvised chord progression at the beginning of the class - Key of C - 2 chord to a 1 chord with an E in the bass (so it seemed like a 3 chord) to a passing chord that I will explain soon, to a 4 chord, to another passing chord that I will explain, to a 5 chord to a 6 chord and then back to the beginning. This was a loop.
Practice this progression and you will be able to improv over it
We worked on the bridge of Just the Two Of Us
Jaaziel - July 27
We talked about DAWs and watched a video on best DAWs for beginners
We downloaded the driver for the Novation Launchkey 88 and looked at a couple virtual instruments
Jaaziel played through Classical Showdown primo. Jaaziel has mastered that.
We worked on mm 1-16 of Classical Showdown secondo.
next week: We will keep working on the setup. Consider $99 version of Presonus Studio One.
Dylan - July 24
We worked on the C scale, 1 octave, ending with a 1 chord, 4 chord, 1 chord, 5 chord, 1 chord.
Dylan took the SASR - scored in the mid 200s - high score.
We worked on Classical Showdown, good progress.
We worked on Girl On Fire - work on playing along with the track if you can change the key of the track. I will send some free software options that allow this if I can find them. Here are some good paid ones:
next week: Keep working on Method Section 1C & Technique Section 1C, Classical Showdown, Girl on Fire.
Jaaziel, Dylan - July 17
We walked through all notes 4 octaves
We raced through the note recognition game (richmanschool.com) calling notes to get a score (at basic level) for treble clef and bass clef. Then we played the notes for a score.
We worked on scales (Dylan learned the fingering for a C scale (see video). Jaaziel is working on G and D scales, 2 hands, 2 octaves.
We worked on Classical Showdown, measures 17 - 33
Dylan started on Beethoven: Ode to Joy and Jaaziel on Just the Two of Us independently
I introduced Midiculous. Jaaziel should download a free copy during the week and try it out.
We discussed the Nashville number system for chords in a major key. Dylan learned to play Girl On Fire by the chord changes.
1 chord
2 chord
3 chord
4 chord
5 chord
6 chord
7 chord
1 chord
In the song chart below, each dot is a beat. There are 4 beats in each measure, represented by the chord number (which usually falls on beat 1) and the rest of the beats that follow until the chord changes.
Jaaziel, Dylan - July 10
We walked through all notes 6 octaves
We raced through the note recognition game (richmanschool.com) at basic level and intermediate level for treble clef and bass clef
We took the SASR
We worked on Classical Showdown
Dylan started on Beethoven: Ode to Joy
Continued working on Just the Two of Us
We worked on Improv in Gb.
July 2023
Jaaziel, July 3 -
We started with a C scale 2 octaves ending in I - IV - I - V - I. We practiced it also in G.
We worked on Hanon #1 and #2.
We reviewed chords 1 - 7 noticing that 1 is major, 2 and 3 are minor, 4 and 5 are major, 6 is minor, 7 is diminished.
We worked on Classical Boot Camp.
Continued working on Just the Two of Us
June 2023
Jaaziel, June 30 -
Recorded Lavender Blue. as a jazz piece. We'll play the whole song, then improvise over the form of the song, then play the song again.
When improvising: guidelines:
stay with the beat
mostly steps, some skips, fewer jumps
repeat anything that sounds cool
pay attention to the notes that are in the chord - they will be the strongest notes to land on in your melody
Continued working on Just the Two of Us
Jaaziel, June 12 -
Worked on 5 up and down in C, G, D, A, E and B
Worked on C and G major scales. https://pianomarvel.com/en/nextgen/library
Worked on Lavender Blue as a jazz piece. We'll play the whole song, then improvise over the form of the song, then play the song again.
When improvising: guidelines:
stay with the beat
mostly steps, some skips, fewer jumps
repeat anything that sounds cool
pay attention to the notes that are in the chord - they will be the strongest notes to land on in your melody
Find Just the Two of Us - We will play this in it's original key of F minor instead of changing the key.
For the recital, I would like you to attempt two challenging songs - 1 written and 1 that we'll learn without the music.
May 2023
Jaaziel, May 29 -
Worked on 5 up and down in C, G, D, A, E and B
Worked on C and G major scales. https://pianomarvel.com/en/nextgen/library
Worked on Lavender Blue as a jazz piece. We'll play the whole song, then improvise over the form of the song, then play the song again.
When improvising: guidelines:
stay with the beat
mostly steps, some skips, fewer jumps
repeat anything that sounds cool
pay attention to the notes that are in the chord - they will be the strongest notes to land on in your melody
Find Just the Two of Us - We will play this in it's original key of F minor instead of changing the key.
For the recital, I would like you to attempt two challenging songs - 1 written and 1 that we'll learn without the music.
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desire - Bach: We'll work on this in class, but I believe you can learn this in a month and that it will quickly familiarize you with some musical skills you might not realize that you already have.
Work on Just the Two of Us chord changes. Work on Lavender Blue.
Jaaziel, May 22 -
Jaaziel took the SASR. Remember to work on note recognition games at richmond school. When reading, look at the contour of melodic lines. look for steps, skips and patterns (to minimize how many notes you actually have to figure out. It's easier to say, "the next note is a step up, or a skip down than it is to say, the next note is the A about middle C.)
We worked on Lavender Blue. play it next week but also play around with the left hand chords. We did two eighth notes and a half note per measure in the left hand. we also did 6 eighth notes (which was harder.)
Find Just the Two of Us - We will play this in it's original key of F minor instead of changing the key.
For the recital, I would like you to attempt two challenging songs - 1 written and 1 that we'll learn without the music.
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desire - Bach: We'll work on this in class, but I believe you can learn this in a month and that it will quickly familiarize you with some musical skills you might not realize that you already have.
Work on the Bach. Work on Just the Two of Us chord changes. Work on Lavender Blue.
Jaaziel, May 15 -
Jaaziel took the SASR. Remember to work on note recognition games at richmond school. When reading, look at the contour of melodic lines. look for steps, skips and patterns (to minimize how many notes you actually have to figure out. It's easier to say, "the next note is a step up, or a skip down than it is to say, the next note is the A about middle C.)
We worked on Lavender Blue. play it next week but also play around with the left hand chords. Break them up and see what different patterns sound like.
Find Just the Two of Us - We will play this in A minor (C major). I will get this up on this site tonight or tomorrow.
For the recital, I would like you to attempt two challenging songs - 1 written and 1 that we'll learn without the music.
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desire - Bach: We'll work on this in class, but I believe you can learn this in a month and that it will quickly familiarize you with some musical skills you might not realize that you already have.
Work on the Back while I work on a simplified version of Just the Two Of Us.
Jaaziel, May 8 -
We worked on Lavender Blue. play it next week but also play around with the left hand chords. Break them up and see what different patterns sound like.
Find Just the Two of Us - We will play this in A minor (C major).
Next week we'll pick something for the recital.
Jaaziel, May 1 -
We worked on a C scale. Work on G scale also - 2 octaves for next week. Refer to the video under Feb 6 for review.
We listened to River Flows in You. Work on this song in Piano Marvel. https://pianomarvel.com/en/nextgen/library
We worked in Piano Marvel - We are making our way through Section 1.
Find Just the Two of Us
Play through Twinkle Twinkle Little Star https://pianomarvel.com/en/nextgen/home/342820/60.
Carol of the Bells https://pianomarvel.com/en/nextgen/home/18122/128 continue to work on it in learn mode. Remember to not look at your fingers as much as possible. slow and steady until you make a conscious pattern a subconscious one.
We worked on Girl On Fire by Alicia Keys - We will work on this a little at the end of class each week.
On the piano keyboard a half step is from one key to the very closest key. A whole step is the key after the closest key. If it were walking, think of it as a half step is left foot to right foot. A whole step would be left to right and back to left
A scale is a specific pattern of half and whole steps from one note to that same note an octave up or down. When you number the notes, each note in the scale is called a SCALE DEGREE.
C=1 D=2 E=3 F=4 G=5 A=6 B=7
Chord numbers are created when you play a 3-note chord in root position (the number is on the bottom of the chord and the other two are a skip away.
1 chord
2 chord
3 chord
4 chord
5 chord
6 chord
7 chord
1 chord
C scale. Fingering is in the video.
Recognizing pitches - practice: online note flashcards at richmanmusicschool.com.
Present: Susej
We started by working on form sitting at the piano.
Weight in the center of the piano bench
hands all the way over the keys with each finger over a different key
fingers arched - playing with fingertips
wrists slightly above the level of the surface of the white keys
middle C should be pointing at your belly button
We worked on Joy to the World (practice in one or two measure chunks, rhythm by itself, then find the pitches and practice the pitches).
We practiced matching the correct note to each key by visiting the website with the note flashcards.
https://www.richmanmusicschool.com/products/name-that-note
got on piano marvel and played through some exercises
How you sit and position your hands at the piano is very important. Check out this video to review how to position yourself at the piano. Guide to proper piano hand position.
We we played octaves on all pitches - first the white keys (letter named keys) then the black keys (sharps)
We talked about accidentals - (the black keys)
Review this video to learn about them: Sharps (♯) and Flats (♭)
We got on piano marvel and played through some exercises
Both Sariah and Susej have good natural form. How you sit and position your hands at the piano is very important. Check out this video to review how to position yourself at the piano. Guide to proper piano hand position.
Last week we talked about practicing - importance of making it a habit, so your brain will work on your practice experiences while you sleep.
We played through several Piano Marvel exercises
We went into the Library, and put the Christmas Challenge in our favorites.