Description

This holistic approach to developing functional musicianship at the keyboard encompasses a diverse range of elements, including repertoire, music theory, technical skills, sight-reading, harmonization from lead sheets, ear training, and ensemble participation. It is particularly beneficial for college students who are not majoring in music, as well as for continuing education programs, in-store music dealer initiatives, and group piano classes at the middle and high school levels. Book 1 features 15 units, each offering a mix of repertoire, exercises, review worksheets, and assignment pages. The comb binding allows the book to lay flat, making it ideal for both study and performance

Songs / Content

• UNIT 1: Playing on Black Keys
• Did You Know? The Power of Music
• How to Sit at the Keyboard
• Basic Note Values
• The Keyboard
• Dynamic Signs; Two by Three
• UNIT 2: Playing on White Keys
• Did You Know? History of the Piano
• Naming White Keys
• Octave
• New Signs
• Summer Night
• Rests; Simple Elegance
• Review Worksheet
• UNIT 3: Exploring Positions on the Keyboard
• Did You Know? Music Theory
• Playing in Right Hand Middle C Position
• Playing in Left Hand Middle C Position; First Waltz
• Playing in C Position
• Playing in G Position
• Positions Using All White Keys Moving Up
• Positions Using All White Keys Moving Down
• UNIT 4: The Staff
• Did You Know? Musical Style Periods
• The Staff; The Treble Clef Sign; The Bass Clef Sign
• The Grand Staff; Middle C on the Grand Staff; New Dynamic Signs
• New Time Signature
• F Below Middle C
• G Above Middle C
• 3 Important Notes
• Right Hand C Position and Right Hand Middle C Position
• Left Hand Middle C Position
• Slur & Legato Playing
• UNIT 5: Intervals
• Did You Know? The Baroque Period
• Left Hand C Position
• Intervals; Tempo Marks
• 2nds; Transposition
• 3rds; New Dynamic Sign
• 4ths
• 5ths; Tied Notes
• Incomplete Measure
• When the Saints Go Marching In
• UNIT 6: Other Keyboard Basics
• Did You Know? Johann Sebastian Bach
• The Sharp Sign; Money Can't Buy Ev'rything!
• The Flat Sign
• The Natural Sign
• Bright Lights Boogie
• Right Hand C Position an Octave Higher
• Staccato
• New Time Signature; New Tempo Mark
• Duet: Lyric Piece
• UNIT 7: G Position
• Did You Know? Church Music
• G Position on the Staff; Accent Sign; Midnight Shadows
• Left Hand G Position an Octave Higher
• Intervals in G Position
• New Dynamic Sign; Miniature Waltz
• UNIT 8: Major Five-Finger Patterns
• Did You Know? The Classical Period
• Half Steps; The Chromatic Scale
• Whole Steps
• Major Five-Finger Patterns
• Eighth Notes; Playing Major Five-Finger Patterns
• Major Triads (Chords); Playing Major Five-Finger Patterns and Chords
• Ensemble: Forty-Finger Ensemble
• Unit 9: Key of C Major
• Did You Know? Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• The C Major Scale; Tetrachords and the Major Scale
• Playing the C Major Scale
• C Major and G7 Chords in the Left Hand; Mary Ann
• The F Major Chord
• Playing C, F and G7 Chords in the Right Hand
• Binary Form (AB); Morning Classic
• UNIT 10: Key of G Major
• Did You Know? Movies and Music
• The G Major Scale; Playing the G Major Scale
• Dotted Quarter Notes
• Ternary Form (ABA); Dance
• G Major and D7 Chords in the Left Hand; Du, du liegst mir im Herzen
• A New Position of the C Major Chord in the Left Hand; Playing G, C and D7 Chords in the Right Hand
• The Damper Pedal
• Kum-Ba-Yah!
• UNIT 11: Minor Five-Finger Patterns
• Did You Know? The Romantic Period
• Major and Minor Five-Finger Patterns; Playing Major and Minor Five-Finger Patterns
• Minor Chords; Playing Minor Five-Finger Patterns and Chords
• Duet: Galop
• Master Mind
• UNIT 12: Triads and Arpeggios
• Did You Know? Frédéric François Chopin
• Five C's
• Playing Triads of the Key; Playing Major Chords (Hand-over-Hand)
• Parallel Moves
• Playing Hand-over-Hand Arpeggios
• A New Day
• Lead Sheet: Wooden Heart
• UNIT 13: 6ths, 7ths and 8ths (Octaves)
• Did You Know? The Piano Concerto
• 6ths
• Waltzing in Sixths
• 7ths and 8ths (Octaves)
• Summer Memories
• Lead Sheet: Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis
• Unit 14: Key of F Major
• Did You Know? The Contemporary Period
• Four F's
• The F Major Scale; Playing the F Major Scale
• Playing F, B-flat and C7 Chords in the Left Hand
• Playing F, B-flat and C7 Chords in the Right Hand
• A Classic Tale
• Lead Sheet: Dona Nobis Pacem
• Ensemble: Barcarolle
• UNIT 15: 12-Bar Blues
• Did You Know? George Gershwin
• 12-Bar Blues
• A Little Blues
• New Time Signature; Toccatina
• SUPPLEMENTARY SOLO REPERTOIRE
• Give My Regards to Broadway
• You're a Grand Old Flag
• Amazing Grace
• March No. 1; March No. 2
• Vivace
• Canon
• Für Elise
• Jingle Bells
• Celebration Boogie
• Jacob's Ladder