Discover the Joy of Piano with London ABC Piano Studio Piano Lessons - David He

Technical Exercises

Example: Playful Puppy, by Linda Niamath, Preparatory Piano Repertoire Level B

Challenge

Exercise

The opening gesture is repeated throughout with a somewhat complex articulation pattern and the added challenge that in m.5 the RH must shift to 2 on A.  

·  Teach the opening gesture: Do-Re-Mi-So in D Major, by rote, using the rhythm and the slurred and staccato pattern as notated.   

·  Alternate between playing the “So” (A) with the pinky and with finger 2 until both are fluent and comfortable. 

Parallel rocking 3rds in measure 11 can be difficult to coordinate and to keep the hands aligned.

·  Have the student practice D Major triads, broken, in parallel and contrary motion,  

·  Then practice the rocking 31RH/13LH motion in D and A Major in a variety of rhythms and octave transpositions.  

LH accompaniment pattern with staccato quarters articulation vs. whole notes. 

·  Practice D Major, A7, and the unusual chord (call it the “Puppy chord”) found in measures 2 and 6 in blocked chords first, then as written with a crisp staccato touch. 

Piece 1: Calico Cat, by Helen Marlais, Preparatory B

Challenge

Exercise

Group of notes may not be played smoothly, and the last note of each group should be played staccato. 

1.  Pentascale practice. Play the five notes separately after trying to play from Do – So in C major. Make sure the last notes should be played staccato.  

2.  Change the key from C major to a minor. Play from A – E. Make sure the last notes are played staccato. 

3.  Line up the five notes with a sense of ‘breathing’. 

The dotted notes from measure 9 may be difficult to play

1.  Play the chord in C major and then separate the chord into broken chord

2.  Thinking about walk with a cane. Play the first two notes with equal time firstly, and then try to separate the two notes with different time. 

3.  Count number of the beat. Teacher should use their hand to count the beat with up and down. 

LH: In the measure 19, the left hand should be cross the right hand, and then a group of notes should be played smoothly. 

1.  Play the main chord under the middle C for 2 times

2.  Use shifting octaves practice to let students understand how both hands are shifted and then play the higher chord

Piece 2: Mist, by Clifford Poole, Level 1

Challenge

Exercise

Overlapping pedal may be difficult for beginners

1.  Play without pedal firstly, and then practise “clearing” and “changing” of the pedal with playing only the left-hand chords. If it is not clear, the student should slowdown the pace. 

2.  Combine the right hand without the pedal

3.  Play together with the pedal

Different volume between the two hands

Try playing by right hand firstly and then the left hand with different volume. Finally, combine the two hands together. 

M. 16 L.H. should be played in different position with the control of pedal 

1. Play chord F-A-C after D-F-A, and let the student remember the position but move it to the next octave. 

2. Combine the two hands with pedal

3. Try to play pp. but all the notes need to be clear 

Piece 3: Sonatina in C Major, op. 36, no. 1 (first movement), by Muzio Clementi, Level 3

Challenge

Exercise

Extension at measure 8, 10, 31, 33, and 36 should be practiced

1.  Play the pentascale of C major without changing fingers

2.  crossing over and passing under practice with only playing the two notes adjacent each other.

LH rhythm at measure 4-5, 6-7, 15, etc. 

Left hand practice with counterpoint and hand independence. 

Long sentence with F sharp practice from m. 12 - 13

1.  Play D-G-B-D as broken a chord and play C-B-A-G downhill 

2.  Play only the two notes using thumb and middle finger

Piece 4: The Happy Farmer, by Robert Schumann, Level 4

Challenge

Exercise

Multipart from m. 8-12 may be hard to play

1.  Sing all the parts and then play all the parts separately. Students should be asked to emphasize the notes with the sign on it. 

2.  Play the middle part chords and the the single notes

3.  Combine the three parts with emphasizing the first notes of each measure.

Chords in the multipart (m. 9, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18)

1.  All the chords should be practised separately. 

2.  Use the right fingering

LH as the melody 

LH should be emphasized since it is the main part of the music. Students might feel hard to revert the melody from right hand to left, so teachers may sit in the right side of the students and play right hand to let them know how it is sound like.