Kingswood School Thurs. Feb. 14 11.40-12.40pm

Happy Valentine's day.

We had a great class. Today we learned a new scale: G major.
The key of G major has one sharp. A sharp is a symbol that looks like this #
When you see this symbol in front of a note in music, it raises that note by one semitone.
A semitone is the smallest interval (distance between two notes) on your keyboard. For example, if you play a C# (raise it by one semitone), you will play it as the black key directly above the note C.
In the key of G major, there is one sharp. It is the VII note of the scale - F.
When you play your G major scale, use the same fingering as your C major scale, but when you get to the VII note, play the black key above F. We call this F#.

Laura, keep practicing your C major scale hand separately, and review the chapter 1-2 in Theory Thinker, if you have the Piano Suite software at home.
Do the exercises for note values. Quarter notes, half notes, whole notes, and so on.

Next we practiced our songs: Let it Be and Happy Birthday, and learned a new song, Clementine. (Aidan had a head start on this last week - nice work).

Laura, you should practice Old Grey Goose, Twinkle Twinkle and Pop goes the weasel.
Remember to keep a steady beat, and curved fingers. In Pop goes the weasel, you have to count 3 beats per bar.

Finally, we played some games to strength your melody playback skills, and Laura played some note naming and rhythm playback games.

Excellent job today. Guys, we had such a busy class that I forgot to return some of your tests at the bell. I'll hand them back to you at the beginning of class next week.

Thanks!!