Hour Group Piano Lessons:

    Goal:
    To allow a student to develop musical skills at their own pace in a fun and structured
    atmosphere. Group lessons allow students to share and learn from each other, developing
    confidence through peer support.

    Class Objectives:
    To create a solid musical foundation by teaching the piano skills of note reading, technique,
    rhythm, phrasing, dynamics and creating melodies through the use of solo piano pieces,
    unison and ensemble playing, Blue’s improvisation, musical games and duets.

    Activities of a typical hour group lesson:

    Minutes 1 – 20 of class:

    1. Students work with a teacher on their solo piece on an acoustic piano.
    2. Students fill out a theory worksheet naming notes or writing counting numbers
    for rhythms.
    3. Students go to one of two computer stations and sightread a piece using a
    keyboard connected to a computer..
    4. Students warm up on one of 11 keyboards in the main room using headphones.

    Minutes 21-45 of class:

    After all solo pieces are heard students assemble in the main room on the 11 keyboards.

    1. The weekly assignment sheet and music is scanned into a computer and displayed
    on a screen using a projector.
    a. Students play the finger exercise of the week focusing on proper hand position.
    b. Students play the 2 unison pieces of the week. Students are given music
    books that contain that week’s unison pieces to practice at home.

    2. Ensemble Pieces:
    a. These are 4 part pieces that use the different instruments available on
    the keyboards.
    b. Each part has 2-3 students per part.
    c. When performed in the Studio Recital the ensemble piece resembles a
    small band.

    3. Improvisation/Composition
    a. Blues Improvisation (Fall Semester)
    1. Students learn to play the Blues scale with the RH
    2. Students learn the chords for the blues progression to “comp” with.
    3. Students make up melodies using the notes of the blues scale with a
    Blues rhythm section and bass line playing in the background.
    4. A Blues improvisation is included in the December Studio recital.

    b. Composition (Spring Semester)
    1. Students make up a melody and write it on staff paper notating the
    proper rhythm.
    2. Students add LH chords to accompany the melody.
    3. Students add tempo markings, phrase markings, dynamic markings
    and a title.
    4. Students perform their composition in the March Studio Recital.

    Minutes 46-60 of class:

    Students then break in to small groups and play the following games.

    1. Musical Basketball (Ear Training)
    2. Musical Tic Tac Toe (Rhythm clapping)
    3. Speed Note (Note finding activity)
    4. Record practice time from the previous  week’s assignment sheet.

    Recitals:

    1. We have 3 recitals during the school year.
    a. Two studio recitals (December and March) students play the following pieces.
    1. A Unison pieces or an ensemble piece.
    2. A Blues improvisation (December),  student’s composition (March)
    3. A duet with a student partner (Level 2 and above)
    4. A solo from memory.
    b. Spring Recital at the Lawrence Arts Center (main stage)
    1. Students perform two solos from memory
    2. The Spring Recital is held the week before Memorial Day in May.

    Class Information:

    1. Class size 8-11 students.
    A. Classes taught by Eric and assistant teachers.
    B. Student teacher ratio 3-1.
    2. Class meets once a week for 60-minutes.
    3. Class times are offered after school.
    4. Class cost $68.00 per month (billed monthly).
    5. Grades: 1st - 9th grade.