Beginning Piano Gorman Learning Center (052344) Basic Course Information Title: Beginning Piano Transcript abbreviations: Beg Piano A / Beg Piano B Length of course: Full Year Subject area: Visual & Performing Arts ("f") / Music UC honors designation? No Prerequisites: None Co-requisites: None Integrated (Academics / CTE)? No Grade levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th Course learning environment: Classroom Based Course Description Course overview: Beginning Piano is an entry-level course in Music. It is aligned to the visual and performing Arts California State Standards. It coincides with the breadth and depth of State Standards in a beginning music course for high school students. This course will instruct the student in Level 1, Beginning Piano. The student will be guided sequentially through the following: basic skills of keyboard technique; reading music; acquisition of terminology; the critique process; the basics of composition; research of a composer and performance of their work; and the historical, cultural, and career connections in music. Students learn from the very basic steps how to read music and play piano. The class is set up for beginners who do not know how to read music and throughout the term students accomplish different playing tasks while building a working knowledge of the basics of music and music theory, music history and performances.
Through standards based instruction, the goals of the piano lab include proficiency in musical concepts and ideas and an understanding of musical aesthetics by performing varied styles of music and repertoire. The students will be able to perform basic proficiencies in music and have a working understanding of basic concepts. One of the main goals of the class is to have students that started out with no or little knowledge of music be able to perform in a public setting with good musical quality and professionalism and to retain a love and appreciation of music. Course objectives include weekly playing tests that increase in difficulty. Also students learn what it feels like to perform on stage in a recital at the end of the class. Objectives also include a comfortable ability to read music and rhythms as well as a better knowledge of music history and composers. Elements of Strong Keyboard Skills Through daily practice, students will learn the elements of strong keyboard skills using both hands (i.e. Scales, chords, 5-finger hand position, fingering techniques, and left hand accompaniment.) Students learn from the very basic steps how to read music and play the piano. Students will be assessed each week. Importance of Daily Practice Through the discipline of daily practice (and log keeping), students will learn music theory concepts (i.e.scales, chords, rhythm, harmony, and musical form.) Students will read, notate, listen to, analyze and describe music and other aural information, using the technology of music as it applies to the piano repertoire. While practicing students will perform with accuracy and expression. Thdey will concentrate on rhythmic accuracy, precision, and tempo. Historical and Cultural Context Students will analyze the role of music in past and present cultures throughout the world, noting cultural diversity as it relates to music, musicians, and composers by listening to and evaluating performances of piano works. Responding to, Analyzing, and Making Judgments about Works of Music Students will attend, listen to, and analyze a live piano recital. Using correct vocabulary, they will identify where the performance was successful and where improvement may be needed. Performance Etiquette
Students will be taught and practice during class with their peers proper piano recital/performance attire and etiquette. Students will develop and demonstrate piano etiquette at both an evening school and afternoon community performance. During their performance that will play alone (solo) and with others a varied repertoire of piano music suitable to the individual development of the students. Assessments: Individual testing of their piano pieces graded by rubric for note and rhythmic accuracy, expression, interpretation of musical symbols, technique, hand and body position Tests and quizzes aural and written, to check for understanding of music theory/ear training/music history/key composers Authentic, in the moment, assessment of group performance to identify musical accuracy and ensemble awareness Self-assessment of progress on piano pieces Oral and written reports graded on depth of observation, relevance, application of material to the music, and organization, using the MLA format. Recitals for the class and invited guests graded on performance etiquette, expressive quality of performance, accuracy of the music, use of appropriate technique. Students will be graded according to the student/teacher written rubric. Peer-assessment of recital performances, based on individual testing rubric Course content: Unit 1 Unit 1 Introduction to Playing and Orientation to the Staff Posture and Sitting Position Finger Numbers Hand Position Keyboard Geography The Music Alphabet Quarter, Half, Dotted Half, and Whole Notes C 5-Finger Position/Pentascale Transposing C Chord Repeat Sign Tempo Intervals-3rds/2nds Orientation to the staff Bass Clef/Treble Clef Time Signatures: 3/4 and 4/4
Class Performance: Amazing Grace (Spiritual) Class Performance: Ensemble Playing Camptown Races (Folk) Class Performance: Ensemble Playing Ode to Joy Beethoven (Classical) Unit 2 Introduction of Grand Staff Time Signatures 3/4 & 4/4 Quarter, Half, and Whole Rests Melodic and Harmonic Intervals: 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th, and 5 th Dynamics: Piano, Mezzo Piano, Mezzo Forte, Forte Damper Pedal Slurs and Ties C major pentatonic scale Class Performance: Ensemble Playing Eine Kleine Nachtmusik Mozart (Classical) Observe/Critique classical pianist performance Unit 3 Using 8 th note rhythms Bass C Pentascale Articulation: Staccato Articulation: Crescendo/Decrescendo Fermata Upbeat/Pick-up Downbeat CM chord/csus Chord Minuet 1 st /2 nd Endings
Key of C chord progression: I, IV, V7, I Class Performance: Ensemble Shepherd s Song From 6 th Symphony Class Performance: Solo Simple Gifts Folksong Unit 4 Sharp Sign Tempo Marks: Allegretto, Moderato, Andante, Allegro Crossovers F Chord Crosshand Arpeggios Treble C Pentascale C Major Full Scale Key Assignments C Major Full Scale Class Performance: Ensemble African Celebration Traditional Unit 5 Reading in the Key of G Time Signature 2/4 Key Signature G Pentascales G Major/Gsus Chords Octaves Coda Sign, DaCapo al Fine Melodic and Harmonic 6ths Harmonizing Melodies with G, D7, and C Chords Class Performance: Ensemble Playing Christmas/Holiday selection
Current Scale Unit 6 Half Step Sharps Flats Natural Whole Step Intervals 4 th, 5 th, 6 th Composer Project Part I: Choose and research a composer and make a Power point or Prezi presentation about the composer to the class. The presentation will include things such as, a brief biography of the composer, historical context in which the composer lived and created music, a basic analysis of the elements of music in a piece of choice. Unit 7 Tonic Dominant Leading Tone Parallel and contrary motion Sonatina Composer Project Part II: Students will listen to and write a summary ( music review ) detailing tone, mood and the historical background of a chosen work of their composer using correct music terminology. Unit 8
V7 Chords Primary Chord Progressions in C Primary Chord progressions in G Inversion Accidentals Lead Sheet Cut Time Class Performance: Ensemble Recital Selection Composer Project Part III: Students will learn and perform a simplified piece by that composer and perform it in class. Unit 9 G Major Scale V7, tonic, Dominant, Leading tone in G Major Performance Etiquette Hanon agility exercises Class Performance: Ensemble Recital Selection Composer Project Part IV: Student will pair their composer with an artist contemporary to that composer, and will find a specific piece of art that best represents visually what their chosen piece represents auditorily Unit 10
Unit 10 Chord Symbols in G major G-D7-C Related to I-IV-V Chord Symbols in C Major Performance Etiquette Class Performance: Ensemble Recital Selection Performance: Student will perform in solo or ensemble setting in Spring Concert Recital Series. Course Materials No course materials have been added to this course.