Piano basics - teach the whole class to play two songs in 8 weeks.

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1 Piano basics - teach the whole class to play two songs in 8 weeks. During the course, a whole class learns the basics in piano playing and how to play two songs. No prior knowledge of piano or music theory is required! Children learn by ear, by imitating. You will learn in 6 steps with the help of the BlockPiano application. The course ends with a concert where all students play together in a piano/keyboard/ipad band. The goal is to learn note values, beat, rhythm, ensemble playing and the basics in piano playing. Evaluation: Through the performances of the 6 steps during the lessons. Devices: One ipad per 3 students and a couple of extras if possible. The BlockPiano app installed on all ipads. A digital piano and piano chairs for 3 students. Earphones for 4 persons. Monitoring the digital piano and one ipad to the earphones. You can use an acoustic piano but it raises the sound level in the classroom. More pianos and keyboards (if possible) at the concert. The course length is 8 weeks with one lesson per week. In this lesson description, the two chosen songs are Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Jingle Bells. You can use other songs but don t choose too difficult ones! The Ipads do not make piano playing easier. They only help the learning process. You learn in 6 steps. Step 1. BlockPiano mode With BlockPiano mode, you will learn how to play in rhythm. The class is divided into groups of 3 persons, each playing on one ipad. Step 2. Fingering and hand position You learn how to use fingering in piano playing and how to play with a correct hand position. Step 3. Piano lessons, Conductor Mode In Conductor Mode, BlockPiano shows the right keys to play in a free tempo. All pianos play the same part starting with piano 1, the melody.

2 Step 4. Piano lessons Game Mode In step 4 you play in rhythm, using the metronome or background band and you get feedback from BlockPiano. You practice, as earlier, one lesson at a time and finally you play in a faster tempo until you reach the concert tempo. Step 5. Real keys and Music Stand Mode When you know how to play your part on the ipad, you can practice on a real piano. All groups with 3 persons will practice one at the time with the piano. Meanwhile, the other groups work on the ipads. Step 6. The final performance with the whole class The course ends with the class performing the two songs. All students play either on pianos, keyboards or ipads. Lesson Plan The Lesson Plan should be adapted to the class. Here is a framework to begin with. Lessons 1-3 Work through steps 1-5 with Twinkle, Twinkle. Lessons 4-5 Start with Jingle Bells (steps 1-5). Practice Twinkle, Twinkle as well (step 5). Lessons 6-8 Practice the final performance with the whole class (step 6). See a more detailed description of the 6 steps for learning, starting on the next page.

3 Piano basics - teach the whole class to play two songs in 8 weeks. You learn in 6 steps. Step 1. BlockPiano Mode page 3-4 Step 2. Fingering and hand position page 5 Step 3. Piano lessons Conductor Mode page 6-7 Step 4. Piano lessons Game Mode page 7-8 Step 5. Real keys and Music Stand Mode page 10 Step 6. The final performance with the whole group page 11 Step 1. BlockPiano mode With BlockPiano Mode, you learn how to play in rhythm. The class is divided into groups of 3 persons, each playing on one ipad. Teach the meaning of a 1/4 note, ½-note and a 1/8 note. Show the first block in Twinkle, Twinkles. Let the children clap the rhythm. Start with a count in to 4. Twinkle, Twinkle Block 1 Group the students so that 3 students work on each ipad. Open Twinkle, Twinkle in BlockPiano mode Twinkle, Twinkle in BlockPiano Mode Tap start

4 Let the students play level 1. Tell the students to raise their hand when they have scored 4 or 5 stars. The students can listen to their playing. After that, they can go to level 2 and then to concert. The students can listen to their playing by tapping the white Play button in connection with the feedback screen. Optional: Great performances can be shared with Airdrop to the teacher s ipad. Name the recording file with the group s name. Tap the yellow share button in order to share the recording. Name the recording file with the group s name. Share the recording to the teacher s ipad.

5 Step 2. Fingering and hand position In step 2, you learn how to use fingering in piano playing and how to play with a correct hand position. Teach the finger numbering for each finger. Explain the idea that each key has its own finger. Describe the hand position and the idea of rounded fingers and compare it to holding an apple in your hand. Show the picture above with the fingering for Twinkle, Twinkle lesson 1. A blue circle means the left hand, an orange circle the right hand. Twinkle Lesson Left hand Right hand Practice lesson 1 and 2 with your hands in the air and/or on the desk. Twinkle Lesson Right hand Left

6 Step 3. Piano lessons Conductor Mode Se Tutorial Video 3: In Conductor Mode, BlockPiano shows the right keys to play in a free tempo. All pianos play the same part starting with piano 1, the melody. Choose piano lessons Conductor Mode from the menu page. Choose the conductor by tapping one of the icons. Tap start Change all pianos to piano 1 with the arrows on the piano label.. Choose piano 1 with the arrows. The orange circle mutes the demo piano sound. At first keep it on.

7 Tap the green Play icon. Now the first note is blue for all players. When the conductor hits the blue key, the next note to play turns blue for all players. Tell the conductor to count in before playing. Begin with lesson 1. Notice the fingering. Let all players try to be the conductor. If needed, the teacher can be the conductor as the fourth player from the note block between the pianos. The teacher can be the conductor as the fourth player from the note block between the pianos. Choose the conductor icon from the menu page. The note block can be rotated closer to the ipads top. This makes the playing more convenient for the teacher. Everything is recorded. Tell the students to listen to their own playing. The students can listen to their playing by tapping the white Play button in connection with the feedback screen. Go to the next lesson and do the same. After level 3, the first half of Twinkle, the students can go to Step 4.

8 Step 4. Piano lessons Game Mode See Tutorial Video 4: In step 4, you play in rhythm using the metronome or background band, and you get feedback from BlockPiano. You practice, as earlier, one lesson at a time and finally you play in a faster tempo until you reach the concert tempo. Choose the game icon from the menu page Tap start Everybody should play on piano 1 (as in step 3). At first see how the ipad plays. Tap play.

9 By hitting the notes in the note block, you see the corresponding keys. By hitting the notes in the note block, you see which keys to play. Tell the students to memorize the passages. Tell the students to tap on the Play button and play along with BlockPiano and get feedback. Begin with lesson 1. Everything is recorded. Tell the students to listen to their own playing. Tell the students to listen to their own playing by tapping the white Play button on the feedback page. You should score 4 or 5 stars before moving to the next lesson Try also to play the lessons in a faster tempo. Choose a faster tempo with the tempo icon. Concert tempo is the fastest tempo in all songs. Now the students are ready to play on a real instrument. See step 5.

10 Step 5. Real keys and Music Stand Mode When you know how to play your part on the ipad, you can practice on a real piano. All groups with 3 persons will practice one at the time with the piano. Meanwhile, the other groups work on the ipads. See Tutorial Video 5 Choose Music Stand Mode from menu page Put the ipad on the piano s music stand Disable all the piano parts that are not played.. You disable a piano part with the orange circle. If the teacher stands behind the piano, she/he can reach the note block better by moving it up with the up/down button. By tapping the Play button, you see how BlockPiano plays each lesson. Let the 3 players play the melody two octaves a part on the piano. By hitting the notes in the note block, you see the corresponding keys. Play all lessons at first slowly (default) and then faster. If needed, the teacher can play as the third player. Discuss the hand position and fingering. After a while, let the next group play with the piano. Note! The students who at first learned the whole piano 1 part should start to practice the piano 2 part. Begin with step 3, Conductor Mode. Practice the piano 2 part by choosing piano 2 with the arrows on the piano label. After piano 2, the fastest students can rehearse piano 3 with the same method. The teacher can print the sheet music from the sheet music section on the menu page. If needed, you can send the sheet music by mail to a computer that is connected to a printer.

11 Step 6. The final performance with the whole class The course ends with the class performing the two songs. All students play either on pianos, keyboards or ipads. Synchronise the orchestra by amplifying the background band from one of the ipads in BlockPiano Game Mode. Be sure that everybody can hear the background band well. The ipads play in BlockPiano Conductor Mode. Se Tutorial Video 2 Try also to play with the ipads in BlockPiano Game Mode with the background volume adjusted to zero for all but the amplified ipad. You need a very precise tap on the play button on all ipads in order to get them synchronized. But try it; it is good practice for concentration and accuracy! Adjust the background volume to zero with the volume button. Now only the piano sound is heard.