Piano Magic - My Fun Piano Studio · Piano Magic Level 1 By Kristin Jensen ... Alberti Bass with...

Piano Magic

Level 1

By Kristin Jensen

© 2013 EarTrainingandImprov.com

All Rights Reserved

This lesson is owned exclusively by EarTrainingandImprov.com and may not be shared,

reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form without the expressed written permission of the

publisher. There are no resale rights issued with this lesson.

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Copyright © 2013 EarTrainingandImprov.com. All rights reserved.

May not be shared, reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form without the expressed written permission of the publisher.

How to use this book

Piano Magic

Kids love creating their own music. I tell my students that the more “tricks”

they have in their magic bag, the more music they’ll be able to create.

Kids who have mastered pentascales, triads and arpeggios now have

enough skills to be able to create their own songs.

This ebook shows you how to apply those skills. Here you’ll find fun

activities with detailed guidance to teach kids how to create their own

music.

Teach these tricks and you’ll soon have students who love the piano and

love creating their own music. You’ll see their confidence soar as they

realize that, knowing these tricks, they can sit down at any piano any time

to entertain and impress an audience.

Prerequisite Skills

Prior to beginning these activities, kids should have mastered major

pentascales, triads and arpeggios in the most common major keys.

Pentascales, triads and arpeggios are taught in the first level of Piano

Magic, which includes fun techniques and progress charts to help kids have

success and enjoy the process.

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Suggested Schedule

Week 1: Introduce Alberti Bass pattern. Assign the student to practice

Alberti Bass with the C triad between now and the next lesson.

Week 2: Introduce the primary triads for the key of C. Assign the student to

practice playing Alberti Bass with the primary triads.

Week 3: Ask the student to create a song using the Alberti Bass pattern

and the primary triads in the key of C. Encourage them to play very slowly

at first. As kids progress through this course, speed will come.

After the child has created and performed for you, record his progress on

the Progress Charts.

Continue this three week pattern with each new activity. When students

start getting more confident and skilled, you may be able to introduce

concepts more quickly. Students who are still developing their hand

coordination may need to progress a little more slowly and take more time

to master each left hand pattern.

4



Progress Charts

Help kids stay motivated by tracking their progress and praising them each

time they accomplish a technique.

A child has completed an activity when she demonstrates proficiency in

playing the left hand pattern, switching between the primary triads, and has

composed and played for you a simple song. The child may pass off a

technique at any speed, so long as it’s played in a steady rhythm.

When your child or student has completed an activity, he gets to color in

the star in the Piano Magic Progress Chart.

When the child has completed all the skills in Piano Magic In Action Level

2, it’s time to celebrate! The Piano Magic Progress Chart becomes a

certificate of achievement with a place for you to sign.

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Alberti Bass

Left hand patterns can help you make really cool music. The first pattern

we’ll learn is called Alberti Bass.

This pattern is based on triads. Use your C triad with the left hand. Note

which finger number is on each key.

Play your fingers in this order:

Repeat this patter over and over.

Try “noodling” with your right hand while your left hand plays the Alberti

Bass. Your right hand can use any of the keys from the C scale. Play these

keys in any order. Just let your right hand tinker around and have fun!

1 3 5

3 1 5 1

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Primary Triads

When we play a song that is based on the C scale, we are playing in the

Key of C.

Each key has three primary triads. You can use the primary triads to make

up a left hand part for any song.

The primary triads are built on the 1st, 4th, and 5th tones of the scale. Take a

look at the C scale below. Which keys are the 1st, 4th, and 5th?

Write the letter name of the key:

1st

4th

5th

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

You may not have been

introduced to one octave

scales yet, and that’s okay.

We’ll learn those in another

Piano Magic Level.

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Primary Triads

The 1st, 4th, and 5th tones of the C scale are: C, F, and G.

Now build a major triad on each of these tones. Color the keys you would

use to build the major triads.

Try playing all of these triads. Have your left hand skip around between all

three. You can even try playing the triads with fun rhythms to create neat

sounds.

Your teacher will start asking you to play chords based on their numbers,

and you can do some really cool things when you know these primary

triads.

C Major Triad F Major Triad G Major Triad

1 4 5

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Alberti Bass with the Primary Triads

Start playing the Alberti Bass pattern with your left hand using the C triad.

Repeat this pattern over and over and notice that your ear starts begging to

change.

If you stayed on just the C triad, you’d go crazy! Your ear wants you to

switch chords. Quickly move your hand to the G triad and play the Alberti

Bass pattern with the G Triad.

Now quickly move your hand to the F Triad and play the Alberti Bass.

1 3 5

1 3 5

Your fingers will play

in this pattern:

5 1 3 1 (repeat)

Your fingers will play

in this pattern:

5 1 3 1 (repeat)

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Create a Song with Alberti Bass in the Key of C

Start playing the Alberti Bass pattern using the keys from the C triad. When

you’re ready, move your left hand to either the F or G chord and continue

playing Alberti Bass. Keep switching around between these three chords.

Now that your left hand knows what to do, you can add the right hand. Let

your right hand noodle around while your left hand plays. Your right hand

can use any note from the C scale.

Your right hand can go slow at first. You don’t have to play a right hand

note with every left hand note. Try holding down a key with your right hand

and letting your left hand play a complete 5 1 3 1 pattern. Then play a

different right hand note while your left hand repeats the 5 1 3 1 pattern.

Have fun improvising a song. Switch your left hand between the primary

chords frequently so that the song doesn’t get boring.

End your song by playing the Alberti pattern with the C chord one last time.

Well done!

Your right hand can go slow at first. You don’t have to play a right hand

note with every left hand note. Try holding down a key with your right hand

and letting your left hand play a complete 5 1 3 1 pattern. Then play a

different right hand note while your left hand repeats the 5 1 3 1 pattern.

Woo-hoo! You just

passed off the first

part of Piano Magic

Level 2a! Color in the

“Alberti C” star on

your chart.

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Simple Waltz

Here’s another left hand pattern you can try. We’re going to learn this

pattern based on the G triad. First identify the keys of the G triad.

Practice pressing down fingers 3 and 1 at the same time. Play this two

times in a row.

Now try playing this pattern:

Repeat this pattern over and over.

5

3

1

3

1

5

3

1 1

3

1 3 5

5

3

1

3

1 5

3

1

3

1 5

3

1

3

1

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Primary Triads in the Key of G

Use the formula we learned earlier to identify the primary triads in the key

of G.

Look at the G scale below. Which keys are the 1st, 4th, and 5th?


1st 4th 5th

Now color in the keys that make up the primary triads in the key of G. Fill in

the purple boxes to name each triad.

1 2 3 4 5 6

7

1 4 5

Major Triad Major Triad Major Triad

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Create a Simple Waltz in G

Now that you know the primary chords for the key of G, you can compose a

song!

Use the formula that we identified earlier. First, get your left hand used to

playing all the primary chords in the Waltz pattern.

1. Start playing a simple waltz left hand pattern with your 1 chord (G)

2. When you’re ready, quickly switch your left hand to the 5 chord (D)

3. Alternate between the 1 chord (G), 4 chord (C) and 5 chord (D)

Now start adding in some right hand. Keep your left hand playing in a slow,

steady rhythm. Add in right hand notes using any note from the G scale.

Remember to frequently change your left hand chord so that the song

doesn’t get boring!

End your song by playing the Simple Waltz pattern with the G chord one

last time and then press and hold the full G triad. Well done!

Woo-hoo! You just

passed off another

part of Piano Magic


“Waltz G” star on your

chart.




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Root, Chord, Fifth, Chord

We’re next going to learn a fun way to accompany a singer. Both hands will

need to be able to play chords for this activity and we’ll use the D triad.

Place your hands on the keyboard as shown in the diagram below. Pay

special attention to which finger number goes on each key.

In this activity you will play a single left hand note and then a right hand

triad. Follow the pattern below.

Now try repeating this pattern several times:

1 5 5 1

3

Middle C

Left Hand Right Hand

5

3

1

5

1

3

1

5

5

3

1

5

1

3

1

5

5

3

1

5

1

3

1

5

5

3

1

5

1

3

1

5

5

3

1

5

1

3

1

5

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Primary Triads in the Key of D


of D.

Look at the D scale below. Which keys are the 1st, 4th, and 5th?


1st 4th 5th

Now color in the keys that make up the primary triads in the key of D. Fill in


1 2

3 4 5 6

7

1 4 5


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Accompany a Fun Song in the Key of D

Now that you know the primary chords for the key of D, you can play a fun

accompaniment.

As with the other patterns we’ve learned, you’ll begin by playing the pattern

based on your 1 chord (D). After you’ve played the pattern a few times,

switch to either the 4 chord (G) or 5 chord (A).

Continue playing, alternating between the primary chords. Now try adding

in a silly song. Because both hands are busy, this time you can “noodle”

with your voice!

Remember to frequently change chords so the song doesn’t get boring.

End your song by playing and holding the D triad. Well done!

Woo-hoo! You just

passed off another

part of Piano Magic


“Accompany in D”

star on your chart.

Make up a silly song to sing with your accompaniment. You can also use

this pattern to accompany Down By the Bay and other folk songs. Your

parent or teacher can help you find folk songs that work well with this

accompaniment.

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Primary Triads in the Key of A


of A.

Look at the A scale below. Which keys are the 1st, 4th, and 5th?


1st 4th 5th

Now color in the keys that make up the primary triads in the key of A. Fill in


1 4 5


4 3 6

1 2 5

7

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Alberti in A

You can use the Alberti Bass pattern you learned earlier to create a song in

the key of A.

Place your left hand on the 1 chord (A) and play the Alberti Bass pattern a

few times in a row. Then starting alternating between all three primary

chords: 1 chord (A), 4 chord (D) and 5 chord (E).

When you’re ready, improvise a melody with your right hand. Keep your left

hand playing the Alberti Bass in a steady rhythm while your left hand plays

your new melody. You can use any note from the A scale for your melody.

End your song by playing the Alberti pattern with the A chord one last time.

Well done!

To play the Alberti Bass pattern, your fingers will play in this order:

5 1 3 1 (repeat)

Woo-hoo! You just

passed off another

part of Piano Magic


“Alberti A” star on

your chart.

18



Primary Triads in the Key of F


of F.

Look at the F scale below. Which keys are the 1st, 4th, and 5th?


1st 4th 5th

Now color in the keys that make up the primary triads in the key of F. Fill in


3 4

6 1 2 5 7

1 4 5


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Waltzing in F

Use the primary chords for the key of F and the simple waltz pattern you

learned earlier to create a waltz in F.

Use the formula that we identified earlier. First, get your left hand used to

playing all the primary chords in the Waltz pattern.




Now start playing with your right hand. Keep your left hand playing in a

slow, steady rhythm. Add in right hand notes using any note from the F

scale.

Remember to frequently change your left hand chord so that the song

doesn’t get boring!

End your song by playing the Simple Waltz pattern with the F chord one

last time and then press and hold the full F triad. Well done!

Woo-hoo! You just

passed off another

part of Piano Magic


“Waltz F” star on your

chart.

1. Start playing a simple waltz left hand pattern with your 1 chord (F)

2. When you’re ready, quickly switch your left hand to the 5 chord (C)

3. Alternate between the 1 chord (F), 4 chord (Bb) and 5 chord (C)

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Primary Triads in the Key of Bb


of Bb.

Look at the Bb scale below. Which keys are the 1st, 4th, and 5th?


1st 4th 5th

Now color in the keys that make up the primary triads in the key of A. Fill in


1 4 5


3

4

6 1

2 5 7

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Accompany a Fun Song in the Key of Bb

It’s time to accompany another fun song! This time use the primary chords

for the key of Bb.

Here’s a review of the pattern:

First play the pattern with your 1 chord (Bb). Next practice quickly switching

between all three primary chords: 1 chord (Bb), 4 chord (Eb) and 5 chord

(F).

When you can comfortably switch between the chords while maintaining a

steady, beat you’re ready to accompany.

Play this fun accompaniment as you sing a folk song or a song that you

make up. Have fun experimenting and creating new music!

Woo-hoo! You just

passed off another

part of Piano Magic


“Accompany in Bb”

star on your chart.

5

3

1

5

1

3

1

5

5

3

1

5

1

3

1

5

5

3

1

5

1

3

1

5

5

3

1

5

1

3

1

5

22



Primary Triads in the Key of Bb


of Eb.

Look at the Eb scale below. Which keys are the 1st, 4th, and 5th?


1st 4th 5th

Now color in the keys that make up the primary triads in the key of Eb. Fill in


5

1 4 5


1

2

4

3 6 7

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Alberti in Eb

You’ll often encounter the Alberti Bass in your written music, so it pays to

practice this pattern. The Alberti Bass also makes it easy to create your

own song in the key of Eb.

Place your left hand on the 1 chord (A) and play the Alberti Bass pattern a

few times in a row. Then starting alternating between all three primary

chords: 1 chord (Eb), 4 chord (Ab) and 5 chord (Bb).

When you’re ready, improvise a melody with your right hand. Keep your left

hand playing the Alberti Bass in a steady rhythm while your left hand plays

your new melody. You can use any note from the Eb scale for your melody.

End your song by playing the Alberti pattern with the Eb chord one last

time. Well done!

To play the Alberti Bass pattern, your fingers will play in this order:

5 1 3 1 (repeat)

Woo-hoo! You just

passed off another

part of Piano Magic


“Alberti Eb” star on

your chart.

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Color a star each time you complete a skill. You’re adding more and more

to your bag of magic tricks. Soon you’ll sound amazing on the piano!

Your parent or teacher will sign you off when you’re finished.

Congratulations! You just completed Piano Magic in Action Level 1.

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