Today we'll learn about the black keys on the keyboard. We'll be getting into semitones, tones, sharps and flats. But first ... here are the answers from the last edition ... Tones And Semitones Semitones make up the smallest distance between two notes. It is sometimes called a half step. To make a semitone
The portamento sign uses a combination of two signs you have already seen. It uses the staccato dot and the legato line. Sometimes called the mezzo staccato (moderately short and detached) this sign tells us to play a long note that is then detached from the proceeding note. To play the portamento
Today we'll learn about the keyboard ... Notice the pattern of the letters and how they fit on the stave. Line notes alternate with space notes Notice how Middle C is written. It hangs below the stave in treble with a line running through it. Llikewise, it sits above the stave in the bass
If you have a look at your hands you will notice that each finger is a different length. When you play the piano it then stands to reason that each finger will hit the key with a different amount of strength. The fingers that are the longest (2nd and 3rds) will be
Learning to read music is an important part to playing the piano. Here's an easy way to help you get started ... Music is written on 5 horizontal lines called the stave or staff Always count the lines and spaces from the bottom going up We use a stave for the right hand and
The staccatissimo mark is usually a small filled in triangle that is placed below notes that have tails going up or it is inverted and placed above notes that have tails going down. The idea being that the top point of the triangle is facing towards the head of the note. As
Today we'll show you how to draw the treble cleff. After we've done that, we'll move onto the bass cleff. We’ve already met the Treble / G Clef in Article 2 Remember it means the music is to be played by the Right Hand This is what a treble cleff should look like ...
Staccato dots are placed either below the note heads when the tails are up or above note heads when tails are down. To play staccato notes, touch the keys in a short and detached manner with firm finger tips but with a loose wrist and arm. Imagine that the keys themselves are
Below you'll find a note value summary chart. Just remember ... music is made up of 2 components. Pitch (the high and low sounds of the melody) and .... Rhythm (the length of the sounds) set to a steady beat (the pulse or heartbeat of the music) Pitch is indicated on the stave by
A slight extension on the idea of a two note slur, the four note slur is designed to hit a natural climax in on the 3rd note / beat. This enables a clear and clean melodic line to be heard. Notice how the slur is underneath the notes. For the most part,
Today we'll show you how to read music. We'll be using the treble clef notes as well as the bass clef notes. Here we go ... The lines of the treble going up are E, G, B, D, F A useful phrase to remember is " Every Good Boy Deserves Food" The spaces of
To gain ultimate finger strength, speed and dexterity we're going to look at some of the techniques and exercises used by classical pianists. In each article we will look at a different touch or expressive technique designed to move you from note-basing to true artistic expression. Posture: Good posture is something that should be
The two note slur is the smallest of all the phrases. It joins notes of different pitches and values to create shape. This curved line is called a slur and it indicates that the two notes are to be played smoothly and well connected. The Italian term for this is legato. To play this
Let's get straight into it ... looking at the Keyboard ... We only use the letters C, D, E, F, G, A and B The piano has a pattern of 2 black keys and 3 black keys All the letters follow the same pattern C is to the left of the two black notes F
We've got ourselves a new Facebook page and to kick start it we're giving away a free video on 'How To Play The Most popular Piano Songs 'Fur Elise'. If you've always wanted to learn to play one of the most popular songs on the piano 'Fur Elise' ... we'll show you, with this easy