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!