Basic Piano
Course Description
Basic Piano provides an introductory applied approach to playing the piano using a systematic approach. Musical concepts introduced in elementary and middle school general music classes are touched on and built upon, however, there is no assumption of prior keyboarding skill as a prerequisite for this class. Upon successful completion of this course, students will have a working knowledge of music notation and be able to play basic melodies and accompaniments on the piano.
Course Big Ideas
- Notational literacy
- Practice technique
- Music theory basics
- Performance practice
Course Essential Questions
- How does one realize written musical ideas and apply them to playing an instrument?
- How does one practice effectively to most efficiently facilitate technical advancement?
- How does one prepare to share music with others through performance?
Course Competencies
- Reading music notation simultaneously in two clefs and for two hands.
- Basic keyboarding proficiency.
- Implementation of successful practice strategies.
- Performance of beginning piano repertoire.
Course Assessments
- Formal - Playing Assessments
- Worksheets/Written Assessments
Course Units
Unit 1: Technique and Practice
- Standards
- Know
- Understanding/Key Learning
- Do
- Unit Essential Questions
- Lesson Essential Questions
- Materials/Resources
- Vocabulary
- Assessments
Standards
PA Arts and Humanities Standards:
- 9.1.12.A Know and use the elements and principles of each art form to create works in the arts and humanities
- Elements
- Music: duration, intensity, pitch, timbre
- Principles
- Music: composition, form, genre, harmony, rhythm, texture
- Elements
- 9.1.12.B Recognize, know, use, and demonstrate a variety of appropriate arts elements and principles to produce, review and revise original works in the arts.
- Music: sing, play an instrument, read and notate music, compose and arrange, improvise.
- 9.1.12.D Demonstrate specific styles in combination through the production or performance of a unique work of art.
- 9.1.12.G Analyze the effect of rehearsal and practice sessions.
- 9.1.12.H Incorporate the effective and safe use of materials, equipment and tools into the production of works in the arts at work and performance spaces.
- Evaluate the use and applications of materials.
- Evaluate the use and applications of mechanical/electrical equipment.
Know
- Basic fixed hand positions commonly used by beginning pianists.
- Extension notes related to fixed hand positions.
- Concepts of melody vs. harmony/accompaniment.
- How to identify wrong notes and playing errors.
- How to use a metronome to keep a steady beat in practice.
- Practice techniques for cleaning up performance errors.
Understanding/Key Learning
Do
- Identify fixed hand positions on the keyboard (i.e. C position, G position, etc.)
- Identify notes/keys outside of a fixed position in relation to a fixed position (i.e. 5th finger extensions, thumb extensions).
- Play using RH alone.
- Play using LH alone.
- Play using 2 hands combined.
- Play a melody using correct notes.
- Play accompaniments using chords, triads, and other relevant accompaniment textures.
- Apply appropriate fingering to practice examples.
- Utilize the sustain pedal appropriately.
- Demonstrate and apply practice techniques to playing assignments.
Unit Essential Questions
Lesson Essential Questions
- How do you identify appropriate playing position on the piano?
- How do you identify incorrect notes when practicing a piece of music?
- Why is hands alone practice essential to mastery of two handed playing?
- Why is rhythmic isolation of separate musical elements important to assembling a whole performance?
Materials/Resources
Vocabulary
Assessments
Unit 2: Reading Music
- Standards
- Know
- Understanding/Key Learning
- Do
- Unit Essential Questions
- Lesson Essential Questions
- Materials/Resources
- Vocabulary
- Assessments
Standards
PA Arts and Humanities Standards:
- 9.1.12.A Know and use the elements and principles of each art form to create works in the arts and humanities
- Elements
- Music: duration, intensity, pitch, timbre
- Principles
- Music: composition, form, genre, harmony, rhythm, texture
- 9.1.12.B Recognize, know, use, and demonstrate a variety of appropriate arts elements and principles to produce, review and revise original works in the arts.
- Music: sing, play an instrument, read and notate music, compose and arrange, improvise.
- 9.1.12.D Demonstrate specific styles in combination through the production or performance of a unique work of art.
- 9.1.12.G Analyze the effect of rehearsal and practice sessions.
- 9.1.12.H Incorporate the effective and safe use of materials, equipment and tools into the production of works in the arts at work and performance spaces.
- Evaluate the use and applications of materials.
- Evaluate the use and applications of mechanical/electrical equipment.
Know
- Basic concepts of beat and its relation to various notation values.
- Organizational concepts of beat such as measure and barline.
- Quarter notes
- Half Notes
- Dotted Half Note
- Whole Notes
- 8th Notes
- Dotted Quarter Note
- Tied rhythm values
- 4/4 and 3/4 time signatures.
- All seven lettered notes on the piano (A, B, C, etc.)
- Locations of notes (by name) on the piano by proximity to black key patterns.
- Treble Clef (symbol)
- Line and space names on the treble staff
- Bass Clef (symbol)
- Line and space names on the bass staff
- Grand Staff
- Repeat sign
- Dynamics (p, mp, mf, f,)
- Incomplete/Pickup measures
- Chromatic alterations (sharps and flats)
Understanding/Key Learning
Do
- Locate and identify all notes on the piano by name.
- Identify proper hand placement as established by indicated hand position.
- Play notes in C position as notated on the staff with both hands.
- Play notes in G position as notated on the staff with both hands.
- Perform quarter notes correctly.
- Perform half notes correctly.
- Perform whole notes correctly.
- Perform 8th notes correctly.
- Accurately perform works in 4/4 and 3/4 time signatures.
- Accurately incorporate dynamics (as indicated) into performance.
- Appropriately realize markings indicating sectional repetition (repeat sign, D.C. al Fine, etc.).
Unit Essential Questions
Lesson Essential Questions
- How does one find/identify keys by name on the piano?
- How does one know how to place their hands on the piano to play a piece of music?
- How does one perform rhythmic values greater than a beat correctly?
- How does one perform rhythmic values smaller than a beat correctly?
- How does one use metrical awareness to organize appropriate beat stress in playing?
- How does one follow a musical “roadmap” when provided with markings requiring sectional repetition?
Materials/Resources
Vocabulary
Assessments
Unit 3: Recital
- Standards
- Know
- Understanding/Key Learning
- Do
- Unit Essential Questions
- Lesson Essential Questions
- Materials/Resources
- Vocabulary
- Assessments
Standards
PA Arts and Humanities Standards:
- 9.1.12.A Know and use the elements and principles of each art form to create works in the arts and humanities
- Elements
- Music: duration, intensity, pitch, timbre
- Principles
- Music: composition, form, genre, harmony, rhythm, texture
- Elements
- 9.1.12.B Recognize, know, use, and demonstrate a variety of appropriate arts elements and principles to produce, review and revise original works in the arts.
- Music: sing, play an instrument, read and notate music, compose and arrange, improvise.
- 9.1.12.D Demonstrate specific styles in combination through the production or performance of a unique work of art.
- 9.1.12.G Analyze the effect of rehearsal and practice sessions.
- 9.1.12.H Incorporate the effective and safe use of materials, equipment and tools into the production of works in the arts at work and performance spaces.
- Evaluate the use and applications of materials.
- Evaluate the use and applications of mechanical/electrical equipment.
Know
Understanding/Key Learning
- Recitals are forums for public presentation and sharing of solo piano repertoire.
- Music is something that can be enjoyed alone but is often most meaningful when shared.
- Learning music to perform publicly (and the inherent pressure that places on us) often motivates us to seek higher levels of preparation in order to put our best work forward. In doing so, we often gain a deeper understanding of the music we prepare.
Do
- Perform music with appropriate stylistic interpretation.
- Perform piano literature in class recitals as a realization of the study of piano literature.
- Respond to student performances.
- Identify and verbalize aesthetic response to personal performance, as well as performance by others.
- Evaluate and critique choices in rehearsal and recital performance.
Unit Essential Questions
Lesson Essential Questions
- How does one focus practice to prepare for recital?
- How is performing on an acoustic grand piano different from practicing on a digital piano?
- What considerations are there regarding pedal usage on an acoustic piano that are not present when utilizing a digital piano?
- What is proper stage etiquette for performing a solo piano recital?
- How does one bow and acknowledge audience appreciation appropriately?
- What is the standard convention for stage arrangement and piano setup?
- How does one behave and interact appropriately as an audience member at a piano recital?