The Curious Pianist

We are now going to practice with our Finger Numbers 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 - the thumb is finger 1. SING the FINGER NUMBERS. PRACTICE BOTH HANDS SEPARATELY!

We are learning to play in a LEGATO (WALKING) MANNER. The SLUR mark (the CURVED LINE) tells us to play this way. Practice by saying "CAT-STEP, CAT-SKIP" and keep going up the keyboard until you reach the next CAT! PRACTICE BOTH HANDS

Skipping Note exercises using fingers 1 and 5. Sing "CAT 2 Steps Up, Dog 2 Steps Up" and connect your notes as shown by the curved SMILEY SLUR!

We are learning to play LEGATO (smooth and connected) when we see a SLUR - whether the slur is a SMILING slur under the notes or an upside down smiling SLUR on top of the notes. In this exercise, say "CAT 4, CAT 4" then "DOG 4 DOG 4" and move up until your 2 finger is on GOOSE!

Pentascales (5 finger melodies) saying the first note name "CAT then the finger numbers 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1" going up and down in the RED/RIGHT HAND. Then move up to the DOG note and repeat. Keep moving up! Then do the same thing in the BLUE hand starting and different notes and saying the beginning note "GOOSE 4 3 2 1 2 3 4 5" and then picking a new starting note. Play with LEGATO walking, connected fingers.

Play and say the finger numbers starting with the RED RIGHT HAND 1st finger on MIDDLE CAT. Say "1 3 1 5" where the fingers are playing ONE skip from MIDDLE CAT and then TWO skips. When you are done, do a LION PAW lift at the end of the slur and do the same thing starting on the DOG NOTE! Repeat on the BLUE LEFT HAND placing 1st finger on MIDDLE CAT but moving down the keys! Watch the video!

We are using the STACCATO TOUCH to strike the note to make it sound SHORT and SHARP! Say and play the notes with the RED RIGHT HAND saying "Goose JUMP UP ... Ant JUMP UP ... all the way up to DOG and then come back down again with fingers 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1! Move up one note each time. Do the same thing with the BLUE LEFT HAND starting on LOW CAT with finger 5! Watch the video! c2228c7c-c31a-4d88-9e03-c118257b0afa https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mj1VtrZDVzWtYmbF-sJbT0QSH00jYQ8H/view?usp=sharing
19.2 19 Finger Exercises 7: Staccato Pentachords - Exercise B wix:image://v1/053522_62a3f318f9b14ef8b9124917982c63ff~mv2.jpg/IMG_3743_edited_edited.jpg#originWidth=3000&originHeight=1506 Playing Staccato notes with HANDS TOGETHER! Practice starting on the GOOSE NOTE in BOTH HANDS (1 finger in the RED HAND, 5 finger in the BLUE HAND) and say "Goose JUMP, Ant JUMP, Bird JUMP, Cat Jump, Dog Jump). Then move BOTH HANDS up and start on the the ANT NOTE. Reverse directions by making the TOP NOTE the GOOSE NOTE and MOVING DOWN the Pentascale in the same way. Watch the video!

Starting with the RIGHT HAND on MIDDLE CAT, play SKIP NOTES in GETTING SOFTER MANNER (loud, medium, soft) with a "LION PAW LIFT" in between. Sing 1-3-5 but CLOSE YOUR EYES on 3-5. Move up to the next note each time! Do the same exercise with the LEFT HAND starting on BASS CAT.

Practice the STACCATO finger changes with BOTH HANDS TOGETHER saying "4 3 2 1" then MOVING up to the next note!

​

​

​

​

​

We are now going to practice with our Finger Numbers 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 - the thumb is finger 1 BUT practice this AWAY FROM THE PIANO on a TABLE and SING THE NUMBERS.

We are learning to play in a LEGATO (WALKING) MANNER. The SLUR mark (the CURVED LINE) tells us to play this way. Practice by saying the FINGER NUMBERS! PRACTICE BOTH HANDS

Skipping Note exercises using fingers 1 and 5. Sing the Finger Numbers "1 and 5" and connect your notes as shown by the curved SMILEY SLUR!

We are learning to play LEGATO (smooth and connected) when we see a SLUR - whether the slur is a SMILING slur under the notes or an upside down smiling SLUR on top of the notes. In this exercise, say "CAT SKIP, CAT SKIP" then "DOG SKIP DOG SKIP" and move up until your 2 finger is on GOOSE!

Pentascales with EYES CLOSED! Start with the RED/RIGHT HAND on MIDDLE CAT, close your eyes, and play the notes up and down NAMING THE ANIMALS! Then open your eyes and move up one note to DOG and do it again! Repeat, playing LEGATO with walking and connected fingers! Then do the same thing with the BLUE/LEFT HAND beginning on LOW CAT.

Play and say the number of SKIPS numbers starting with the RED RIGHT HAND 1st finger on MIDDLE CAT. Say "CAT & ONE SKIP - CAT & TWO SKIPS" where the fingers are playing ONE skip from MIDDLE CAT and then TWO skips. When you are done, do a LION PAW lift at the end of the slur and do the same thing starting on the DOG NOTE! Repeat on the BLUE LEFT HAND placing 1st finger on MIDDLE CAT but moving down the keys! Watch the video!

Using BOTH HANDS, play the RED/RIGHT HAND STACCATO while HOLDING THE BOTTOM STARTING NOTE on the BLUE/LEFT HAND. Move UP THE PENTASCALE and then start at the TOP and move DOWN THE PENTASCALE holding the TOP STARTING NOTE in the BLUE/LEFT HAND. Then move both hands up one note and play again! Say the finger numbers of the RED/RIGHT HAND! Watch the video!

With both hands in parallel with LEFT HAND 5th finger on BASS CAT and RIGHT HAND 1st finger on MIDDLE CAT.
Sing "CAT SKIP SKIP" and play both hands in a loud-medium-soft manner with a "LION PAW" lift in between. Starting with the RIGHT HAND on MIDDLE CAT, play SKIP NOTES in GETTING SOFTER MANNER (loud, medium, soft) with a "LION PAW LIFT" in between. Move up a step each time.

Practice the STACCATO finger changes with BOTH HANDS TOGETHER saying "4 3 2 1" then MOVING up to the next note but CLOSE YOUR EYES for the "3 2 1" STACCATOS!

​

​

​

​

​

We are now going to practice with our Finger Numbers 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 - the thumb is finger 1 - and this time SING THE ANIMAL NAMES. Practice BOTH HANDS SEPARATELY!

We are learning to play in a LEGATO (WALKING) MANNER. The SLUR mark (the CURVED LINE) tells us to play this way. Practice by saying the ANIMALS in the RED HAND ("CAT STEP, CAT SKIP") and using your THUMB in the BLUE HAND to PLAY the FIRST ANIMAL (CAT) for a WHOLE NOTE. THEN move up to the next note, DOG, and the BLUE HAND thumb moves up too!

Skipping Note exercises using fingers 1 and 5. Sing "CAT 2 Steps Up, Dog 2 Steps Up" and ADD the BLUE LEFT HAND by using the 1st finger to play the same first CAT note with the RED HAND and hold. Connect your notes as shown by the curved SMILEY SLUR!

This is a HANDS TOGETHER EXERCISE. Place the 2 finger on MIDDLE CAT in the RED HAND, and the 2 finger on LOW CAT in the BLUE HAND. Say "CAT 4 CAT 4" then move BOTH 2 fingers UP to DOG and repeat through GOOSE!

Pentascales with HANDS TOGETHER in a LEGATO MANNER! Put your 1st finger of your RED/RIGHT HAND on MIDDLE CAT and the 5th finger of your BLUE/LEFT HAND on LOW CAT. Then walk up and down the pentascale SLOWLY saying "CAT step up, step up ... " and then stepping down from the top. Your RED/RIGHT HAND plays 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1. And your BLUE/LEFT HAND plays 5 4 3 2 1 2 3 4 5. Repeat on a new starting note, DOG.

Play and say the finger number of SKIPS starting with the RED RIGHT HAND 1st finger on MIDDLE CAT. Say "CAT & ONE SKIP - CAT & TWO SKIPS" where the fingers are playing ONE skip from MIDDLE CAT and then TWO skips. Do this while playing the 2 SKIP CHORD in the BLUE LEFT HAND with your bottom finger (finger 5 on CAT, and your 1 finger TWO SKIPS up on GOOSE). When you are done, do a LION PAW lift at the end of the slur and do the same thing starting on the DOG NOTE with both hands! Watch the video!

Starting with the RIGHT HAND on MIDDLE CAT, play SKIP NOTES in GETTING SOFTER MANNER (loud, medium, soft) with a "LION PAW LIFT" in between. Sing 1-3-5 and move up to the next note each time! Do the same exercise with the LEFT HAND starting on BASS CAT.

Practice STACCATO finger changes on the SAME note in the RIGHT HAND while ACCENTING the first note of the group! Sing the finger numbers starting on MIDDLE CAT - "4 3 2 1" then move up to DOG "4 3 2 1" accenting the beginning note! Do the same in the LEFT HAND but move DOWN from MIDDLE CAT saying "4 3 2 1" ...

​

​

​

​

​