One Man's Struggle to Practice

Alfred Level 1B, No. 1: Step Right Up

Focus Points:

• Make sure both hands are in C position: the right thumb on C and the left thumb on C.
• The goal is to play each hand smoothly, so that there are no fumbles or slips. So play each hand a few times.
• Then play both hands together at the same time.
• Try both hands in different positions so that you get comfortable playing in different parts of the piano.
• Play the piece slow, medium and fast tempo.
• Play through making some changes to how long certain notes will, that is, improvise!

Bastien Piano Basics Level 1, No. 3: Sleepy John

Focus Points:

• Make sure you are in C position with both hands: right hand thumb on C and left hand pinky on C.
• This is the first time in the book that the left hand starts
• At the end of the piece, in the last two measures, the right and left hand alternate. Make sure that you do not skip the double C in the right hand.
• Try playing every note in the song with "pepperoni pizza" like in the finger concerto.
• Play the p (piano) really soft and the f (forte) really strong to make a dramatic difference.

Bastien Piano Basics, Level 1, No. 2: Roaring Lions

Focus Points:

• This song starts in C position and the left hand plays first. 
• Remember to make the notes connect as smooth as possible, they should flow through one another. How can we tell that the notes should flow?  We look for the curved line above or below notes in the music. The musical word for playing the notes smoothy and connected is legato.
• One way to practice this piece to use a rhythm like pepperoni pizza for every note so that the hands get comfortable with the notes of the piece.
• Play the piece the way that it is written: first soft (p) and then strong (f).

Bastien Piano Basics Level 1, No. 1: March On

Focus Points:

• Put hands in C position. Right hand thumb on C and Left hand pinky on a lower C.
• The right hand starts, because the notes are written on the top staff
• Remember that the white notes, called half notes, need to be held down for two beats twice as long as the black notes, called quarter notes.
• After playing each hand, play both hands
• Play the song faster

Bastien Piano Basics Level 1: It's Winter

Focus Points:

• Put hands in C position
• Make sure that you put both 3rd fingers on Eb, the black key, before you start
• Practice each hand separately slow, medium and fast
• Play both hands slow, medium, fast