December 11 , 2023 Monday - Zoe, Santiago

• We worked on full scales with correct fingering - C, G, D, A

• Zoe played through the Mozart Nightmusik. It had been a while since she looked at it.

• we talked a lot about why that 10 minutes per day would be so helpful to her.

November 27 , 2023 Monday - Zoe, Santiago

• We worked all 12 notes 4 octaves

• We worked C - D - E - F - G - G - G and back and then did it in the keys of G, D, A, E and B

• We played through the first piano duet once

• We worked on the Back and Forth Waltz for the first time and talked about how to learn a piece of music fast.

• Santi worked on Fur Elise. Work on the minced (hands separate). We also worked on counting while playing.

• Zoe worked on Deck the Halls in the Christmas book on Piano Marvel.

• Santi worked on O Come Emmanuel 

• Consider these motivational videos about the benefits of practice. Write 5 sentences about what you thought about them for next week. 

October 30 , 2023 Monday - Zoe, Santiago

• We worked C - D - E - F - G - G - G and back and then did it in the keys of G, D, A, E and B

• Both Zoe and Santi took the SASR. Starting at Beginner. Zoe noticed that her score is higher when she starts at intermediate, which is a sign that she should work on a boot camp or take the SASR several times a week for awhile. 

• Zoe worked on the Little Mermaid. We focused on being able to count and play at the same time.

• Santi worked on Fur Elise. Work on the minced (hands separate). We also worked on counting while playing.

• We worked together on the Twilight Tune Duet - and played it while both Zoe and Santi counted out loud. 

• We watched the video about the benefits of learning an instrument.

October 2023

October 16 , 2023 Monday - Zoe

• We worked on Hanon #2 to the beat as a warm up. 

• We played through the Mozart

• We talked about 

October 02 , 2023 Monday - Zoe, Santiago

• We did Hanon #1 to the beat as a warm up. 

• We worked on audiation (hearing the count in your head)

• We worked on the Twilight Tune Duet - Zoe playing Secondo

• Zoe worked on Golden Hour. Work the fingering to make each passage easy for your hand. Try not to cross over unless you have to

• Santi worked on Fur Elise. Work on the minced (hands separate). Earn 100 on each part. Remember to keep your hands on the keyboard when you have sections of rest so you won't have to break the habit later of putting your hands down.

• We looked at a couple other pieces of music like Chopin Prelude in E minor and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies. 

September 2023

September 25 , 2023 Monday - Zoe

• We worked on the Twilight Tune Duet - Zoe playing Secondo

• Zoe: worked on Mozart - Night Music.

• We looked at a couple other pieces of music like Chopin Prelude in E minor and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies. 

• Return to Golden Hour. 

• Return to Aladdin

September 18 , 2023 Monday - Zoe

• We worked on the Twilight Tune Duet - Zoe playing Secondo, Santi playing Primo

• Zoe: worked on Mozart - Night Music.

• 
  

September 11 , 2023 Monday - Zoe, Santiago

• We worked 1 - 5 and back in keys of C, G, D, A, and E. 

• We worked on the Twilight Tune Duet - Zoe playing Secondo, Santi playing Primo

• Zoe: worked on Mozart - Night Music.

• Santiago worked on Fur Elise

• We worked on Graves to Gardens (see notes in July 24th below)

August 2023

August 28 , 2023 Monday - Zoe, Santiago

• We worked 1 - 5 and back in keys of C, G, D, A, and E. 

• We reviewed Classical Showdown - focusing on 

1. playing it completely cold from memory

2. after 2 minutes of review - periodically go back and play old songs all the way through.

• We worked on the Duet - Zoe playing Secondo, Santi playing Primo

• Zoe: worked on Mozart - Night Music.

• Santiago worked on Fur Elise

• We worked on Graves to Gardens (see notes in July 24th below)

August 21 , 2023 Monday - Zoe

• We worked on Hanon #1 to tempo

• Zoe: worked on Mozart - Night Music.

• Reviewed Golden Hour 

• We worked on the duet

August 14 , 2023 Monday - Santiago, Zoe

• We worked on Hanon #2 briefly

• Santiago completed the short part of Fur Elise. We switched now to the full A section - linked here: Fur Elise.

• Zoe: worked on Mozart - Night Music.

• Both: We started on a duet here:  Grand Piano Duets. Zoe will play the secondo, Santiago will play the primo.

• 
  

July 2023

July 24 , 2023 Monday - Santiago

• We worked on Hanon #2

• Santiago completed the short part of Fur Elise. We switched now to the full A section - linked here: Fur Elise.

• We worked on Pirates of the Carribbean. Work the right hand by itself all the way through the song. 

• Post - Graves Into Gardens in C. Practice playing the chords in different inversions.

  Chords: ||:  1 *  *  *  *  * | *  *  *  4  4  4  | 1  *  *  *  *  * | *  *  *  *  *  *  | 6 *  *  *  *  *  | 5  *  *  *  *  * | 4  *  *  *  *  *  | *  *  *  *  *  *  :||

      1  *  *  *  *  *  |  *  *  *  *  *  * | 6  *  *  *  *  *  |  *  *  *  *  *  *  | 4  *  *  *  *  * | *  *  *  *  *  *  |  1  *  *  *  *  *  |  *  *  *  4  4  4 | 1 * * * * * | * * * 4 4 4 ||

July 17 , 2023 Monday - Santiago

• We worked on a 2 octave C scale

• We worked on Hanon #2

• Fur Elise is coming along. We talked about pedaling where the broken chords start, and why pedaling sounds good in some places and not good in other places. 

• Post - Graves Into Gardens (move to C)

July 13 , 2023 Thursday - Santiago

• Santiago took the SASR. Remember to take it at least once per week. Focus on:

  • identify what notes are in the song and get your fingers in position to play those notes.

  • identify patterns in the rhythm - example maybe two quarter notes followed by a half note keeps repeating. Get that rhythm in your head in advance so you only have to figure out the pitches - you'll already know when to play the notes because the rhythm is already in your head.

  • identify the direction of the next step - did it go up or did it go down? Did it skip up or just step up? or did it jump? 

• We started to work on Fur Elise. 

• We talked about what Santiago might like to learn to play.: Graves Into Gardens (move to the key of C. This song is in 6/8 time)

      Chords: ||:  1 *  *  *  *  * | *  *  *  4  4  4  | 1  *  *  *  *  * | *  *  *  *  *  *  | 6 *  *  *  *  *  | 5  *  *  *  *  * | 4  *  *  *  *  *  | *  *  *  *  *  *  :||

      1  *  *  *  *  *  |  *  *  *  *  *  * | 6  *  *  *  *  *  |  *  *  *  *  *  *  | 4  *  *  *  *  * | *  *  *  *  *  *  |  1  *  *  *  *  *  |  *  *  *  4  4  4 | 1 * * * * * | * * * 4 4 4 ||

July 10 , 2023 Monday - Zoe

• We started the lesson working on all notes to the beat. Then a C scale 1 octave and then 2 octaves to the beat.  

• We worked on Hanon #1 briefly.

• Zoe took the SASR. Remember to take it at least once per week. Focus on:

  • identify what notes are in the song and get your fingers in position to play those notes.

  • identify patterns in the rhythm - example maybe two quarter notes followed by a half note keeps repeating. Get that rhythm in your head in advance so you only have to figure out the pitches - you'll already know when to play the notes because the rhythm is already in your head.

  • identify the direction of the next step - did it go up or did it go down? Did it skip up or just step up? or did it jump? 

• We started to work on Mozart - Night Music. 

• We discussed focus - THINK about what you're doing. BE FULLY PRESENT with the music you're playing. Try to gently pull your brain back to the task at hand when it starts to drift off to something else.

• Zoe will be out Monday, July 17th

June 2023

June 30, 2023 Friday - Zoe, Santiago

• We started the lesson working on a C scale to the beat. Remember that the 3rd finger strikes together for the C scale. 

• We did a prep recording. Ms. Patty was videographer.

• River Flows In You. Zoe is playing the right hand. Santi is playing the chords - block style during the first part of the melody, then as broken chords when the 16 notes start.

  • Santi - remember that no matter what position you play the chords in the right hand, you are always playing A - F - C - G in the left hand.

  • Zoe - even while you are paying attention to the melody that you're playing, you also have to pay attention to what Santiago is doing. Stay with it.

• Pirates of the Carribbean is coming along. Put the song in learn mode. Be sure to get 100 on each learn mode section up through measure 38. For next week practice each day a few times during the day for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.

• Million Dreams, is still getting better.  Make it smooth. Great job!

• No class on Monday, July 3rd

• We will meet Thursday, July 6th at 6 to record. 

June 26, 2023 Monday - Zoe, Santiago

• We started the lesson working on River Flows In You. Zoe is playing the right hand. Santi is playing the chords - block style during the first part of the melody, then as broken chords when the 16 notes start.

• Pirates of the Carribbean is coming along. Practice both hands together a lot this week.

• Golden Hour - Remember the chord progression for most of this is 4 - 3 - 2 - 1. Don't get caught up trying to figure our the notes since you know what notes should be in the chords

• Million Dreams, is still getting better.  found a place to shorten this one.

• We will meet Thursday at 6. Then we'll meet next Wednesday at 5.

June 19, 2023 Monday - Zoe

• Golden Hour - The smoothness is going to depend on slowing it down and making sure your fingering allows for your hand not to have to jump a lot. Before you practice a passage a lot, think through whether or not you have figured out the best fingering for the passage. Plan on playing it up to measure 68 in the recital. 

• Million Dreams, is still getting better. I don't see a place to shorten this one. I can play it with you rather than PM and we can have mom or Ms. Shirley scroll for you.

• Play Hanon at the beginning of your practice - #1 and #2 (do the exercises legato and staccato. Pay attention to your hand positioning when you get the best sound. Legato depends much more on finger action. staccato on wrist and elbow action.

June 12, 2023 Monday - Zoe, Santiago

• Golden Hour - great progress! Keep making it smooth. Plan on playing it up to measure 68 in the recital. 

• Million Dreams, is still getting better. I don't see a place to shorten this one. I can play it with you rather than PM and we can have mom or Ms. Shirley scroll for you.

• Pirates of the Caribbean sounds pretty good. Worked on taking it up an octave at measure 19. We will end it at measure 38.

• Play Hanon at the beginning of your practice - #1 and #2

• Keep working on JVKE, Million Dreams, Pirates, River Flows in You

June 5, 2023 Monday - Zoe, Santiago

• We worked on River Flows in You, making sure both Zoe and Santiago can play the chords. Next week we'll work on this one more. Santiago will play chords and Zoe will play the right hand like it is in the music.

• Golden Hour - great progress! Keep making it smooth. Plan on playing it up to a certain point in the recital instead of playing the whole piece. We'll decide where to stop next week!

• Million Dreams, is still getting better.

• Pirates of the Carribean sound pretty good. Let's add the left hand next week.

• Play Hanon at the beginning of your practice - #1 and #2

• Keep working on JVKE, Million Dreams, Pirates, River Flows in You

May 2023

May 30, 2023 Memorial day - 1pm Zoe

• Hanon #1 sounds good. Hanon #2 -worked right hand.

• Zoe worked on River Flows in You. Do hands separately. Remember that the left hand is the same all the way through, so working the right hand melodic line a few measures at a time until it becomes muscle memory, then just add the left hand pattern to it.

• Golden Hour - great progress! Keep making it smooth. Great job learning this difficult piece!

• Million Dreams, is getting better - Zoe scored 76% on the whole thing.

• Play Hanon at the beginning of your practice - #1 and #2

• Keep working on JVKE, Million Dreams, Pirates, River Flows in You

May 22, 2023  Zoe, Santiago

• worked all 12 notes 4 octaves

• worked on Golden Hour - great progress! Continue tapping the rhythm with your right hand until you can hear the smoothness and even timing on those eighth notes. Use forearms and wrists to add body, confidence and volume to the notes. Practice to a click until you can get the rhythm smooth without having to worry about playing the right notes. Then play the notes after you have gotten the rhythm consistent.

• worked on recital songs: Million Dreams,  Great progress.  Pay close attention to phrasing.

• Santiago - introduced left hand to Pirates of the Carribbean. Great progress in one evening. Play the version with the left hand. Practice the left hand by itself in learn mode. 

• We played a scale over the chords to River Flows in You.

Next week:  

• Play Hanon at the beginning of your practice - #1 and #2

• Keep working on JVKE, Million Dreams, Pirates, River Flows in You, and Level 2A Technique.

May 15, 2023  Zoe

• chords - crossing over hands (preparing for arpeggios) C, G, D, A

• worked on Golden Hour - work on right hand by itself, using forearm and wrist to add body, confidence and volume to the notes. Practice to a click until you can get the rhythm smooth without having to worry about playing the right notes. Then play the notes after you have gotten the rhythm consistent.

• worked on recital songs: Million Dreams,  Great progress.  Again, this was good to do.

• We will play together improvising over the chords to River Flows in You.

Next week:  

• Play Hanon at the beginning of your practice - #1 and #2

• Keep working on JVKE, Million Dreams, Pirates, River Flows in You, and Level 2A Technique.

May 8, 2023  Zoe, Santiago

• Hanon exercise #1 with both hands.

• Hanon exercise #2 with both hands. 

• worked on recital songs: Million Dreams, Pirates of the Caribbean, in Play mode. Again, this was good to do.

• We worked on improvising over the chords to River Flows in You.

Next week:  

• Play Hanon at the beginning of your practice - #1 and #2

• Keep working on JVKE, Million Dreams, Pirates, River Flows in You, and Level 2A Technique.

April 2023

April 26, 2023  Zoe, Santiago

• Hanon exercise #1 with both hands. 

• We worked on Piano Marvel Level 2A - Santiago completed 2A. Zoe is close. 

• worked on recital songs: Million Dreams, Golden Hour, Pirates of the Caribbean, in Play mode. Again, this was good to do.

• We worked on improvising over the chords to River Flows in You.

Next week:  

• Play Hanon at the beginning of your practice - #1 and #2

• Keep working on JVKE, Million Dreams, Pirates, River Flows in You, and Level 2A Technique.

April 10, 2023 

• Hanon exercise #1 and #2 - good start. Practice slow one hand at a time.

• We listened to a composition by H Leslie Adams. 

• Zoe made good progress on Golden Hour.

• Zoe played through Million Dreams in Play mode. Again, this was good to do.

• We worked on improvising over the chords to River Flows in You.

Next week:  

• Play Hanon at the beginning of your practice - #1 and #2

• Keep working on JVKE and Million Dreams and River Flows in You if you have time.

April 3, 2023 

• We worked on the 5 notes up and back drill in C major, G major, D major, A major, E major and B major scale

• Hanon exercise #1 - good start. Practice slow one hand at a time.

• We took to SASR. Focusing on using the 20 seconds to establish a good hand position, identify repetitive sections, and practice rhythms

• We worked on the chords to River Flows in You before working on melody in Piano Marvel.

• Zoe played through Million Dreams in Play mode and scored. This was good to do. I will email them to see if they will put one hand at a time in whole song.

• Santiago worked on Pirates of the Caribbean.

Next week:  

• Play Hanon at the beginning of your practice - #1 and #2

• Keep working on JVKE and Million Dreams Pirates of the Caribbean and River Flows in You.

March 2023

March 27, Zoe 

• We worked on the 5 notes up and back drill in C major, G major, D major, A major, E major and B major scale

• We worked a lot on Piano Marvel, getting phrasing and rhythms smooth on both Golden Hour and Million Dreams.

• Hanon exercise #1 - good start. Practice slow one hand at a time.

• We played through the chords of Glorioso Dia. 

• We listened to Bach Invention #4 in d minor

Next week:  

• Play Hanon at the beginning of your practice.

• Keep working on JVKE and Million Dreams.

• play this more challenging version of River Flows in You. Zoe, you should try it too.

March 20, Zoe, Santiago 

• We worked on the C major scale and the G major scale

• We worked a lot on Piano Marvel, getting phrasing and rhythms smooth on both Golden Hour and Million Dreams.

• Hanon exercise #1 - good start. Practice slow one hand at a time.

• Santiago has completed River Flows in you.

• We played through the chords of Glorioso Dia. 

Next week:  

• Play Hanon at the beginning of your practice.

• Work on the Chopin's Funeral March a little (get the pattern in your left hand. Get the rhythms in your right.) 

• Keep working on JVKE and Million Dreams.

• Santiago - play this more challenging version of River Flows in You. Zoe, you should try it too.

March 13, Zoe 

• We worked on the C major scale and the G major scale

• We talked about expression and musicality on the piano. We talked about phrasing, legato lines and staccato lines and how to use your wrists, fingers, elbows, shoulders and forearms to control the tone.

• Hanon exercise #1 put this on learn mode and remember to do each hand slow, then each hand mid tempo, then each hand full speed.

• We read through Chopin's Funeral March - a very somber, depressing piece, and then compared it to Million Dreams.

• We worked on Million Dreams. 

• Zoe made great progress on JVKE, making it smoother and playing both hands for the first 12 measures. 

• I'll be looking for some printed sheet music - bring your folders next week!

Next week:  

• Play Hanon at the beginning of your practice.

• Work on the Funeral March a little (get the pattern in your left hand. Get the rhythms in your right.) 

• Keep working on JVKE and Million Dreams. 

Read through old songs Arabesque and River Flows in You (Don't spend a lot of time on them trying to master them again. Just play them through and see how they feel after letting them rest in the back of your mind for awhile.) 

March 13, Santiago

• We worked on the D major scale

• Hanon exercise #1 put this on learn mode and remember to do each hand slow, then each hand mid tempo, then each hand full speed.

• Santiago made good progress on River Flows in You. We talked about expression, phrasing and musicality.

• We played through River Flows in You without the clock. I accompanied Santiago so he could feel the music and play it responsively (like a person responding to other members of a band.

• We worked on Glorioso Dia by Kristian Stanfill. We learned the chords, which are mostly 1 - 6 - 4 - 1. Santiago played it by the chords.

• I'll be looking for some printed sheet music - bring your folders next week!

Next week:  

• Play Hanon at the beginning of your practice.

• Work on Glorioso Dia. Listen to it. See if you can pick out which chords come next. Write them down. 

• Take a look at Chopin's Funeral March. 

Read through old song Satin Gloves (Don't spend a lot of time on them trying to master it again. Just play through it and see how it feels after letting it rest in the back of your mind for awhile.) 

March 6, - Zoe 

• Zoe sang the Domains of Music song and read rhythms at that fast speed, then at a bpm 86 beat

• We worked all 12 notes 

• We worked on the C major scale and the G major scale

• Zoe worked on JVKE - we camped out on the first 4 measure, making the left hand and right work together. Practice over and over making the left thumb strike with the right ring finger on beat 2. 

• We worked on Million Dreams. Zoe went all the way through. 

• We played through Arabesque and talked about the importance of returning to old songs every now and then after you have acquired new skills from playing other things.

• I'll be looking for some printed sheet music - bring your folders next week!

Next week:  Keep working on JVKE and Million Dreams. 

Read through old songs Arabesque and River Flows in You (Don't spend a lot of time on them trying to master them again. Just play them through and see how they feel after letting them 

February 2023

Monday, Feb 27 - Zoe, Santiago 

• We worked on the C major scale and the G major scale

• Zoe is progressing on JVKE - remember to COUNT. The meter can get you confused, especially in the left hand. Count it out loud.

• We talked about worship songs and began learning the chords to Holy Holy Holy and Glorioso Dia

• Zoe is progressing well through the learn mode on Million Dreams. Keep at it. Play each mastered segment first when you sit down to practice. Then move on to the ones you haven't done yet. Slow then medium tempos, then full speed. Smooth it out.

• We worked in Piano Marvel level 2A

• Santiago has completed River Flows in You

• I'll be looking for some printed sheet music - bring your folders next week!

Monday, Feb 20 - Zoe, Santiago 

• We worked on the C major scale and the G major scale

• Zoe is progressing on JVKE - remember to COUNT. The meter can get you confused, especially in the left hand. Count it out loud.

• We worked in Piano Marvel level 2A

• Santiago - is progressing on River Flows in You

• We reviewed C major chord inversions - C chord, F chord, G chord, C chord

• We reviewed the chords for C blues. 

Monday, Feb 13 - Zoe, Santiago 

• We worked on the C major scale and the G major scale

• We celebrated Completing level 1 with a POPCORN PARTY!

• Zoe started working on JVKE (this link will take you to it)

• We worked in Piano Marvel level 2A

• Santiago - complete (redo) Technique section 1E, complete Method 2A, work on River Flows in You

• Zoe - work through 2A and work on Million Dreams

• We reviewed C major chord inversions - C chord, F chord, G chord, C chord 

Monday, Feb 6 - Zoe, Santiago 

• We worked on the C major scale and the G major scale

• It's time to celebrate level 1A with a POPCORN PARTY!

• We worked in Piano Marvel level 2A

• Santiago - complete (redo) Technique section 1E, complete Method 2A, work on River Flows in You

• Zoe - work through 2A and work on Million Dreams

January 2023

Monday, Jan 23 - Zoe, Santiago 

• We worked on our recital pieces.

• Classical Showdown: Timing is improved from last week. Pay attention to where it changes back to the descending note pattern. Don't rush. Keep working on the timing.

• Zoe: Frosty the Snowman - working on adding the left hand to the middle section and making it all smooth. 

• Arabesque is smooth except for the 4 measures that close out the B section. Play those each hand separately and pay attention to the fingering, especially on your right hand.

• Satin Gloves sounds really good. 

• We launched into Method Section 2A. Hope to complete it by June.

• For next week: Notes - NEXT WEEK WE RECORD!

Thurs, Jan 19 - Zoe, Santiago (make up)

• We did a counting exercise using drumsticks. The exercise showed that counting is important and NOT natural or automatic.

• We worked on approaching the recital stage, bowing, announcing your song, performing and taking a bow.

• Classical Showdown: Play it several times on play mode to make the transitions between sections smooth. Get the timing right.

• Zoe: Good progress on Frosty the Snowman - working on adding the left hand to the middle section and making it all smooth.

• Satin Gloves sounds really good. COUNT OUT LOUD with it a few times to make sure that you're giving enough space at the pauses.

• For next week: Continue with recital recording prep.

Tuesday, Jan 10 - Santiago (make up)

Good progress on Classical Showdown. Smooth it out a little more and keep listening to stay with the click.

Christmas Don't Be Late - keep working the hands 2 measures at a time independently. PRACTICE EACH DAY just a little. You will improve an amazing amount. You have 2 weeks until you'll need to record. 

Satin Gloves sounds really good. COUNT OUT LOUD with it a few times to make sure that you're giving enough space at the pauses.

For next week: Continue with recital recording prep.

Monday, January 9th - Zoe

• Frosty the Snowman - great progress! Keep working on the middle section. Just like you memorize the notes that you're supposed to play, I want you to memorize the fingering in the music. Once you get that middle section, you'll be almost ready to record.

• Arabesque - good progress in smoothing out the rhythms in both the left hand chords and the right hand sixteenth note clusters. Keep working on the middle section, paying close attention to the fingering.

• Classical Showdown - practice. We'll all three play this together.

Wed, Jan 4 - Zoe

• We played through notes and then the C scale and G scale. We worked on fingering for the scales

• We started adding an arpeggio. Fingering is important. Angle your arm a little to make passing under the thumb smoother.

Arabesque: 

• Work on the fingering at measure 24-25

• Play it in PM in play mode and shoot for that 95 or above a section at a time, which will smooth out your timing.  

Frosty the Snowman

Great progress! Work on the next section - remember that the left hand is playing 4 - 1 - 5 - 1 broken up into a pattern. There are a few more chords and then you're back to almost the same music as the beginning. 

December 2022

Zoe: Arabesque, Frosty the Snowman pg1, Classical Showdown

Santiago: Satin Gloves, the Chipmunk Song , Classical Showdown