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Help Piano Students in the Bad Mood Feel Better by Sujanti Djuanda

The students could be in the bad mood while taking lessons. Force them to play will not make them playing well even the kids often persist in not wanting to play. Let them just sit with no activity is also not the good solution. As teachers, what should we do so that the lessons can still be valued?

As my experienced, the following tips will help students in the bad mood feel better and improve their music knowledge.

1. Being Storytellers

a. Tell a short biography of composer and show his/her pictures since was child.

b. Tell a story behind the music.

For instance, Fur Ellise was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven and the original title was Bagatelle for piano in A minor. It was most probably dedicated to Therese Malfatti, his piano student in 1809-1810. Beethoven could be in love with her but this topic is still debated. Years after Beethoven's death, a researcher Nohl stumbled upon the autograph of the little piece when visited the Malfatti's family. He misread Beethoven's handwriting, he read Fur Therese as Fur Ellise. So it's known as Fur Ellise. Unfortunately, the autograph is lost.

(Source: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ademu/Beethoven/#n21)

2. Being Piano Museum Guides

Let students look at the piano pictures from Baroque period until now, as if teachers are the piano museum guides and students are the visitors of museum.

3. Being Quiz Presenters

At first let students listen some compositions of the composer, for instance, Beethoven. For the quiz, let them listen a composition of another composer then ask, "Is it Beethoven's music or not?"

4. Being Partners of the Game Players

Let students play the computer game that related with music. Teachers can play with them or just sit to see how they play.

5. Being Good Listeners

If students want to share their problem being good listeners, not judges. If we don't know the solution, turn to another topic. Sometimes, it's better not to talk about it such as the problem of kids that just lost their pets.

6. Being Good Supporters

If students can't play well or have slow progress, don't ever blame them with negative words such as idiot, dummy, hopeless, etc. It will put them in the bad mood. As known, Beethoven's music teacher called him hopeless but currently most of us know him as one of great composers. If students want to give up, encourage them with positive words (words of encouragement). The encouraging words have power to change people life much better.

About the Author

Yen Yen (Sujanti Djuanda) has been teaching piano about 14 years. Currently also learn and work on music composing. http://yen03.bizhat.com/

Top 7 Do's for Successful Improvisation by Edward Weiss

Do you think you can't improvise? Nonsense! All you need are a few chords, the right attitude, and a piano or keyboard. Follow these seven principles and you'll be improvising at the keyboard in no time!

1. Do listen to what's going on inside yourself before and while you sit down to play - your inner state will determine the emotional quality of your playing

2. Do let go of the need to be perfect. Trying to "be correct" will defeat the playful attitude necessary for improvisaiton

3. Do believe that you are good enough to begin. No one person knows it all so you might as well jump in and experience the joy of improvisation.

4. Do realize that you don't need a lot of theory or technique before you're ready to play piano in the new age style. If you don't begin now, when will you?

5. Do understand that improvisation is not some mysterious skill, but a game that can be learned and played just like any other game

6. Do enjoy the process and let go of the outcome. Trying to control what comes out of you is a sure way to stop the creative flow

7. Do stop playing when you become bored or indifferent. There is a natural starting and stopping point to playing. Just like anything, when you feel yourself growing disinterested, stop playing.

Learn To Play Piano Chords: Learn To Play II-V-I Progressions by Peter Edvinsson

II-V-I progressions are common in most types of popular music and mainstream jazz and more. If you can play II-V-I progressions you are in a lucky position. What then is a II-V-I progression? Well, come and see!

A C-major scale consists of seven notes: C D E F G A B

A C-major chord consists of the first, third and fifth notes in the C-major scale. This is called a triad.

A chord built from the first step of the scale can also be called I from the roman number one.

If I start on the second note of the C-major scale and construct a triad chord consisting of D F A, I have a chord built upon the second step of the scale.

This will be a D-minor chord and I can indicate that I have built a chord from the second note of the C-major scale by giving it the number II with roman numbers.

If I decide to build a triad chord from the fifth note of the C-major scale I have to add more notes in the C-major scale: C D E F G A B C D

If I start building a triad from G it will consist of the notes G B D. This is a G-major chord and to show that it is a triad built from the fifth step of the C-major scale we can call it V which is the roman number for five.

The smart thing with the roman numbers is that they don't indicate an absolute chord but rather the position of a chord in the key you are playing on your guitar, piano or other instrument.

In the key of C the roman numbers I stands for the chord C, II indicates the chord D-minor and V the chord G. Simplified we can say that when I say I will play a II-V-I chord progression in the key of C I will play the chords D-minor, G and C.

Actually this is just the beginning of the art of playing II-V-I progressions. You can spice the chords in different ways and play the chords in major or minor.

And of course a chord on a piano can be played in many different ways. A C-major chord must have the notes C, E and G but how many or where to play them is a matter of choice.

Here are a few easy examples of II-V-I progressions in C-major that can be transposed to other keys:

1. Dm, G7, C 2. Dm7, G7, C 3. D7, G7, C

When you practice these progressions on your piano you can choose to play them with both hands, with the left hand, giving room for right hand improvisation or your right hand, giving room for left hand bass playing or improvisation.

Practicing playing II-V-I progressions on your piano will help you see the relationship between chords and being able to play these progressions in different key will give you a tool that will help you recognize chord progressions in songs you hear which will help you trancribe songs by ear.

About the Author

Peter Edvinsson is a musician, composer and music teacher. Visit his site Capotasto Music and download your free sheet music and learn to play piano resources at http://www.capotastomusic.com

Learn to Play the Piano the Easy Way by Carlos Semilla

Here are some pointers to help you on your journey in learning to play the piano:

1. Take some lessons with a good classical teacher.

2. Use the Hanon exercises (especially the scales and arpeggios) to gain finger dexterity and to know the correct piano fingering of the scales and arpeggios. Always use a metronome when you're doing these exercises to develop your sense of timing. If you don't have a metronome try putting an accent on the "one" count of every sixteenth note (e.g. ONE,two,three,four; ONE,two,three,four...etc...).

3. After learning the basics/rudiments of playing the instrument, find another teacher who can teach you how to play the chords (a good jazz piano improvisation teacher will do!) and how to improvise.

4. Master the five qualities of chords (major seventh, dominant seventh, minor seventh, half-diminished, and the diminished seventh) their inversions, arpeggios and scales.

5. Try to apply what you are learning to your favorite songs especially jazz standard songs even to some classical music pieces. You can use songbooks, fake books, real books and music sheets, which are readily available at your local music stores or online.

6. Listen to all types of music and try to transcribe phrases/passages/riffs/licks or songs that interests you. Listen to piano players - the way they play, improvise and learn from them. Try to read their biography to learn how they study, practice, who influenced them and their achievements. I believe these can help to make you a well-rounded piano player.

7. Play with other musicians or join a band in your school or in your neighborhood.

8. Try to sing the melody of the song you are playing (you might have a hidden talent in singing) or if you are improvising, sing (scat) what you are playing.

9. Buy some piano lesson books, magazines, piano lesson videos, piano lesson software or CD-ROM.

10. Practice, practice and practice!

About the Author

Carlos Semilla got more piano tips for you and free piano lessons at http://www.learn-to-play-piano-online.com. A website with free sheet music, jazz improvisation lessons, tips, and music resources.

Why all the fuss about Chord Piano? by K Quinn

As I've said in a previous article, Chords are the easiest way to play and the simplest way to embellish your playing.

If you have no illusions of grandeur and you just want to play your favorite songs on the piano or accompany your friends, even your church, chord piano is probably the solution for you.

Chords are three or more notes played together. Chords are also very mathematical, but don't worry. Those of you that are not comfortable with math will relax with the knowledge that it is not necessary to be proficient in the math to excel at chord piano.

Chord Progressions, or sequence of chords, are part of what give certain styles of music their peculiarities. And what help you to know that a song is ending or even beginning.

Chords are usually used to provide the harmony you hear in music. That is why they are especially effective in accompanying.

Many people that play chord piano are able to play a full sounding piece from just chord symbols such as C7 or Eb or even Roman Numerals such as I and V7 .

Those that play chord piano often find that they are able to play piano by ear and pick up chord progressions in their favorite songs.

For some learn at home resources that will help you learn chord piano visit my website http://www.strugglingchurchmusician.us/pb/wp_b03f3772.html?0.7215457338910188

About the Author

K Quinn has been playing the piano for 10+ years. She picked up the guitar 5 years ago and both for her church. Visit her website at http://www.strugglingchurchmusician.us for more church musician tools and tips.

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