PRACTICE: MAJOR SCALE (KEY C)

PIANO/KEYBOARD SCALE PRACTICE
The first thing we are going to learn, which is the basic is to practice the major scale (this is the scale upon which most music/songs are written).
This is one of the best ways to train your fingers to move across the keyboard with ease.


It’s always best to use the proper fingering technique so that you don’t put too much stress on your hands. I use the SPIDER TECHNIQUE where your hand hovers over the keys and your finger press the notes. This way your hand is lined up over each note before you press down to play it.



Spider Technique


Practice playing each of these scales in two octaves using the proper fingering at the beginning of your practice time. The purpose of this lesson is to train your fingers to move over the keyboard. No speed or technique is necessary when practising, at least for a start. But as you go along and you think you are getting efficient with the scale running, you can speed up.
Don’t rush to get there in one practice session, the idea is to be as accurate as possible. This will help you when we begin to cover other piano runs later on during this course.


Remember, practice right hand first, then left hand. And later, do both hands at the same time.




SO, WHAT IS A SCALE?
A scale is a series of tones in organized sequence. It is an eight-letter sequence of the musical alphabet. The first note of the major scale is called the tonic note, or keynote while the last note is the same as the keynote but it is preferably called the octave (musically).


The musical relationships (distance) between the tones of a major scale can be expressed by means of whole-steps and half steps:
do. . . re. . . me fa. . . so. . . la. . . te. do
W W H W W W H
(W=whole step, H=half step)


Let me explain the "WH stuff" above:
Starting from Do,
Re is a Whole step from Do,
Me is a Whole step from Re,
Fa is a Half step from Me,
So is a Whole step from Fa,
La is a Whole step from So,
Te is a Whole step from La,
Do is a Half step from Te.



Starting with the key of C, using your right hand, play the C major scale without hesitation in ascending then, descending order. Now do the same with your left hand.
When you are certain of playing the scale without a break or mistake, try playing with both hands at the same time (this is very important).


The digits represents the appropriate fingers to be used.

KEYS	LEFT HAND do re me fa so la te do	RIGHT HAND do re me fa so la te do
C	5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1	1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5





Download the video showing how to play the C major scale from our page at www.facebook.com/easypianolearning.
Videos for the other keys will be uploaded also.


Furthermore, kindly share this lesson with your facebook contacts.


Thanks and God bless you.

INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC THEORY

INTRODUCTION...

Welcome to EASY PIANO LEARNING....where learning is fun because its easy.

First, I want to say a BIG THANK YOU for subscribing for this musical report. It is my prayer that it helps you as I really intended it in my heart.

Okay, a little about me – I grew up loving music, especially the piano. I never knew I would be so engrossed in it later in life. But here I am, happy that my life has been transformed by this same music. I learnt what I am about to teach you the hard way. YOU ARE LUCKY TO GET THIS ON A PLATTER...ENSURE TO USE IT!!!.

EASY PIANO LEARNING is the vehicle impressed upon me to be a avenue whereby I can help new musicians and would-be musicians. No one man knows it all, thats why I have decided to share the knowledge I have with you, even as I gain more.

This tutorial is actually all about you who has subscribed for this course. All you need for a smooth learning is just 2 things – a listening ear and a desire to learn. Everything you will receive from our course will have the purpose of training your ear, stimulating your mind and working your fingers to make music.

We are starting from the beginner's level, from where we move up to the advanced level. So I urge you to follow as accurate as you can. Soon, you will be jamming like a pro on the piano....JUST STAY WITH US

We are looking forward to being servants first and instructors second. As always you can contact us any time via www.facebook.com/EasyPianoLearning regarding the course or any music concerns.

OK! LET'S START FROM HERE;

For simplicity, I will now start to refer to ''the keyboard'' as ''the piano''.

Now, you might ask yourself this: ''with so much white and black keys everywhere, where do I begin???

Just looking at your piano can be overwhelming! You may wonder, ''How am I going to learn all these notes?''

Simple! You have come to the right place.

I am going to teach you how to ''shrink'' your piano and became familiar with all the keys.

All I want you to do is follow me as I go... Soon, you will be jamming like a pro on the piano.

Ok! Let's learn....

INTRODUCTION to the PIANO/KEYBOARD

The keyboard is made up of white keys with repeating patterns of black keys in groups of two and three.

We use the first seven letters of the alphabet to make music; A,B,C,D,E,F, and G. After G, we start over again with A.

From these groups of two and three black keys, we can name all the 12 keys.

Look at the group of two black keys. C will always be to the left of the two black keys. E will always be to the right of the two black keys. And D is right in the middle of the two black keys.

Now look at the group of three black keys. F will always be to the left of the three black keys. B will always be to the right of the three black keys.

Each key on the keyboard has a particular tone or pitch, and a certain place on the music staff.

The image below will show you all the keys. (Do get familiar with them)

SHARPS AND FLATS

We can raise and lower pitches by putting a sign in front of the note, or by putting sharps or flats in the key signature which appears at the beginning of each music staff.

A sharp (#), raises a note by one-half step (the very next key to the right). The raised note may be a black key, or it may be a white key, but the sharp will be to the right of the original pitch.

A flat (b), lowers a note by one-half step (the very next key to the left). It may be a black or a white key.

A natural () restores the note to its original pitch without the sharp or flat.