International Teacher Education Conference 2014 1

International Teacher Education Conference 2014
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Ergonomic computer keyboard
Ergonomic hand position at the piano
• Curve your fingers slightly from the third knuckle to the fingertips.
• Position your thumb similarly to the position of the fingers by touching the key on the curve of the nail
instead of the first knuckle.
LESSON 2: IMPROVISATION WITH DYNAMICS, ARTICULATIONS AND PHRASING
HOW THE PIANO CREATES CONTROLLED DYNAMICS
Create various dynamic levels by depressing a single key at different speeds.
• First depress the key as slowly as possible. {This may result in no sound at all. If possible, look inside a
grand piano to see the speed of the hammer movement.}
• Continue striking the key repeatedly at MM (metronome mark) 60 while gradually increasing the key’s
speed of descent. Notice how this results in a gradual increase in volume.
pp p mp mf f ff
PLAYING WITH A LEGATO CONNECTION
Pianists must “walk” from finger to finger in a continuous motion to create a legato sound.
PLAYING STACCATO ARTICULATION
Staccato is Italian for “detached.” In music, this articulation indicates space between notes.
PHRASING AND FORM
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“question”
“answer”
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