Lightly Row, HT, Suzuki Book 1

If your child began Lightly Row in lesson this week, here is a little refresher for how you should have her practice it before she goes on.

Start with the first two notes only (G-E in the RH, and C-G in the LH) and make sure that the LH remains on the keys while the RH lifts.  After doing that a couple of times, she may continue with both finger 3s on E as follows:

We are going slowly this way to teach her hand independence at a very basic level.  Once she has mastered this, the hands-together process will go a lot faster!  How exciting!  Have fun!

Theme, LH alternate legato-fingering, Suzuki Book 3

When the A section material returns in the second half of the Suzuki Book 3 version of Beethoven's Eroica Symphony Theme, you may want to play it with the same type of legato fingering you used in the A section.  It requires switching from fingers 4 to 5 on the bass notes.  Here is a quick look at what you can do to make it smooth and easy:

Happy Farmer, Left Hand, A1 Section, Suzuki Book 2

The Left Hand of Happy Farmer is usually very easy to learn.  A combination of arpeggios and by-ear trial-and-error gets the bulk of it done in minutes.  Measure fourteen though, is typically pretty daunting for students who become intimidated with that harmonic sixth that includes a Bflat.

From the C and the A in measure 13 though, the student's hand is already in the shape of a sixth.  Have them identify the two harmonic intervals in measure 14 followed by the single landmark note before showing them how it is done.

What a fun piece to play!

Short Story, Left Hand - Suzuki Book 2

Short Story is easy for the left hand, isn't it?  It is just chords we've mostly played before and scales, right?  Yup!  Until measure 15.  I know you can read these notes.... the first one is above or below middle C??

But, just to make things a little easier, here is a video that shows measures 14 - 16 played with the correct fingering.  (Fingering is getting more and more important as your pieces get more and more interesting!)

When you start to look at the right hand in this spot, it is important to notice what notes stay the same and what notes are different.
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Minuet 1, Left Hand - Suzuki Book 2

Confused by the strange notation in the second measure of the left hand in Minuet 1?  It's no biggie!  Your thumb will hold that dotted half note for the entire three beats while you play the rest of the measure!

Like this!

The rest is easy.  Don't forget the f sharps!

Wild Rider, Right Hand - Suzuki Book 3

Of course, by now you already know how to play the Left Hand B section of the Wild Rider (you should start there).  So, you're ready for the Right Hand.  I know you want to go fast, and the fingering is very important, so think of it in the following three positions, and you'll be able to move through it rather quickly!

Here are the three positions marked in the score:

Theme from Beethoven's Eroica Symphony, Suzuki Book 3

Enjoy below, a version of the 4th movement of Beethoven's 3rd Symphony; and if you're one of my students in Suzuki Book 3, pay careful attention to the theme as it arrives one minute and fifty seconds into the performance.  What instrument has the theme?  How can you make this as powerful on the piano?



Further questions for the Book 3 student:

1. What does Beethoven do to this theme starting at three minutes and 24 seconds into it?  
2. A counter theme enters at about four minutes.  How does it contrast the original theme that we're so familiar with?  
3. Would you call what happens around minute six a climax in the piece?  What happens when the theme returns just after that?  
4. What about the theme at minute 7 and 45 seconds?  What kind of Classical style treatment or form are you familiar with that you can detect Beethoven using in this movement?

Ecossaise RH A section, Suzuki Book 2

Here is the right hand of the first page of Ecossaise in Suzuki Book 2 played with correct fingering and articulation with a small hand.

Major/minor Lesson 1

The girls in this video were trying to express on their faces how the sounds for Major and Minor made them feel.  What kinds of feelings do you have when you hear Major?  What kinds of feelings do you have when you hear Minor?

Listen to what other students play, what your teacher plays, and what you hear in school, at work, or on the radio - can you tell the difference between major and minor?