Syllabus Spring, 2020 Music 321 Elementary Piano 1 Section 13137 Lecture 13156 Lab Tuesdays 6:50-10:00 PM

Instructor: Ms. Claire Rydell

E Mail: Ask questions and report absences: [email protected] Subject: Piano Class

Office Hours: Tuesdays 6:15-6:50 PM Room M100

Textbooks: 1) Bastien Piano for Adults Book 1 (you do not need the CD’s), KJOS KP 1B ISBN 0-8497-7302-4. (about $15.95)

2) Rydell Music 321 Scales, Chords & Materials for Learning (about $15) AVAILABLE ONLY AT THE BOOKSTORE

Ask for the coursebook at the cash register if it is not on the shelf. Get the books today. You MUST have the books at the next class. Other music stores include: Baxter Northrup 14534 Ventura Blvd 818-788-7510 Keyboard Concepts 5539 Van Nuys Blvd 818-787-0201 Sam Ash Music 20934 Roscoe Blvd 818-709-5650

Bring a pencil & eraser to class to write in your books. Write fingerings and counting in your music to help you play well. Please bring your own headset to class and a mini jack adapter that converts 1/8” to 1/4”inches (3.5 mm to 6.5 mm.) You need to have a metronome: you can download an app like MetroTimer.

Student Learning Outcome:

SLO #1: Student will be able to play beginning level piano technique, including one-octave scales and primary triad chord progressions in the following keys: C, G, D, A, and E Majors.

SLO # 2: Student will be able to play beginning level piano repertoire.

Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course, students will demonstrate skill in basic piano playing including correct posture and hand position, independence of fingers, locating notes on the keyboard in treble and bass clefs, understanding and performing basic rhythms and learning efficient methods for practicing. The student will ~Learn and perform six five-note pentascales and tonic chords (C, G, D, A, E and F) hands together (see Rydell p. 62) ~Learn and perform 6 one octave scales, hands together in parallel motion (octaves) ~Learn and perform primary triad chords in the following keys: C, G, D, A, E and F Major, hands separately, with correct fingering for the I-IV-I-V-I progressions ~ Play a minimum of six beginning level piano repertoire pieces. ~Learn three minor chords: C minor, G minor and F minor (Bastien p.118)

This is a fast paced and interactive class. Three hours a week of class time is not enough to develop these skills, you must set aside at least a minimum of 30 minutes per day, to PRACTICE outside of class. You need access to an instrument. Students are responsible for all homework assignments (theory, practice, excerpts of music) regardless of absence.

To sign up for the practice rooms send your name and student ID# to [email protected]. You can then sign in on the old computer in Room 103 using the last four digits of your student ID.

Student Conduct Policy Academic dishonesty including plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated, nor will disruptive behavior or talking during class. Students are expected to uphold the Classroom Conduct standards published in the Schedule of Classes (Board Rule 9803.10- 9803.26). Turn off all electronic devices. Students may not use cellphones in class. If they are brought to class, they must be in “silent” mode. Students who do not adhere to these policies will be asked to leave. Smoking, eating and drinking are not allowed in the classroom. Please close your keyboard and push your bench in before you depart.

Classroom Participation Students are expected to attend the full three hours of every class and to arrive on time. A part of your grade is participation in class. If you have 5 absences per semester, your grade may be lowered one full grade or you may be dropped from class. If you depart early from class often, your grade may be lowered one full grade. If you stop attending class it is your responsibility to withdraw officially. Please attend class even if you feel unprepared since it is generally more difficult to learn the material on your own.

Drop Date The deadline to drop without a “W” is February 23, 2020. Dropping after this date will result in a “W” on your transcript. Effective since July 2, 2012, students now have 3 attempts to pass a class. If a student gets a “W” or grade of “D”, “F”, “I” or “NP” in a class, that will count as an attempt. Therefore, please consider if you can reasonably manage this course with other factors in your life (e.g. family, work, course load). If you have any concerns or questions, do not hesitate to talk with me. You may also see a counselor in the Counseling Center in AD 108.

Grade Distribution and Evaluation Your grade is a function of weekly class participation, attitude, performance quizzes (that show your ability to play chords and scales,) six written quizzes, the final exam, the assigned repertoire and one concert report. Grades will be based: 80% Quizzes, weekly quizzes, written tests and Final Exam performances 10% Class participation including sight-reading, transposition, repertoire and scales 10% concert report

A=Excellent class participation and growth, clear understanding of theory, concert report B=Signs of practice and learning, struggling with theory but working hard C=Little demonstration of practice or learning, no concept of most theory D=Little or no practice, minimal performance F=No practice, no understanding of theory

There will be no make up exams. Students must be prepared for technique, pieces and written tests at the designated time of the exam.

Concert Report You must attend a piano performance of classical music and write a two page, double spaced, 12 point typed synopsis of the event. Attach the program. It is due at the final, June 2, 2020. Do not wait until the last minute. Subscribe to the Chamber Music Newsletter by contacting [email protected] and subscribe to [email protected]. Due to renovation of Los Angeles County Art Museum, the free Sunday concerts venue has changed. They will join St. James’ In-the-City’s programs, located at 3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010, 213-388-3417. Concerts will be posted on www.lacma.org/events, visit Sundays Live for information.

You can check the LA Times website, Daily News, LA Weekly and websites such as Eventful or PerformingArtsLive.com. Attend LA Valley concerts Wednesdays at 1 PM (check the dates and times carefully). Chamber music, classical vocal recitals and orchestral concerts are acceptable, just make sure that there will be a piano as part of the concert, and if you’re not sure, ask me. Concerts in bars and church services will NOT fulfill this requirement.

Important Reminders: You must have access to an instrument to practice. Daily practice is essential.

Listen to classical music radio: KUSC 91.5 FM or KCSN 88.5 FM every day. Listen to K-Mozart on the internet or AM 1260, try Pandora, Spotify, IheartRadio, Apple music and seach for “piano music-classical.”

Check the bench height of your keyboard at home.

Remember to curve your fingers all the time. You must have short fingernails to play the piano well.

Notice patterns of black keys on the keyboard and how the white keys are associated. Learn notation and clap rhythms before trying to play notes. Discover your coordination and flexibility by practicing hands separately. Repetition is everything; but playing from the beginning to the end is NOT effective practice. Learn smaller portions, especially the most difficult passages. Repeat one or two measures until it feels comfortable and natural. Build your muscles with slow deliberate practice. Keep a steady beat. Using a metronome is wise. Build your knowledge by attention to details. Learn the terms and pay attention to fingerings.

Financial aid is available! Call (818) 947-2412.

If you are a student with a disability and require classroom accommodations, and have not contacted the Services for Students with Disabilities Office (SSD), do so in a timely manner. SSD is located in the Student Services Annex, Room 175 or call SSD at (818) 947-2681 or TTD (818) 947-2680, to meet with an SSD counselor. Please meet with me to discuss arrangements. This document can be made available in alternate format upon request from SSD at (818) 947-2681.

Optional Additional Texts: Classic Themes By the Masters--Bastien KJOS WP40 $5.95 Easy Piano Classics (more advanced)--James Bastien Kjos WP42 ISBN: 0-8497-5042-3 $15.95 Finally, I strongly recommend for anyone serious about playing well: Scales, Chords and Arpeggios for Piano “The Brown Scale Book”, Frederick Harris ISBN 0-88797-785-5

So, enough of all this! Let’s have some fun and get started learning music!

COURSE OUTLINE (Subject to change) Look ahead and prepare one week in advance for each class. Scale quizzes will begin about 9 PM.

Week 1: February 11, 2020 GET THE BOOKS TODAY Lecture: Let’s get started: Introduction to playing the piano and reading music--Handout (corresponds to Bastien pp. 6-15, 32) Scales: Pentascale in C Major All Pentascales will be performed hands together. Memorize names of notes on the lines & spaces Rydell p. 15 line 3-4 Do Rydell p.43 “Practice Reading the Notes” Homework: learn Ode to Joy in handout or Bastien p. 12. Look ahead and prepare one week in advance for each class.

Week 2: February18, 2020 Mini-Quiz at 9 PM: Pentascale in C Major Rydell p. 62 line 1 (from handout last week) NO MAKEUPS Review Week One Scales: C Major Scale Rydell p. 1 line 1 & 4, Bastien: Half and Whole steps p. 111, C Major Scale Bastien p. 126, Rydell p.16, 49 Lecture: Music Notation Bastien p. 4-20 Harmony: Tonic chord, I, Bastien p. 32 (explanations on Rydell p. 31); Dominant V Rhythm: Time Signatures-Common time p. 127 same as 4/4, Rests Bastien 18, 20, Tie p. 23, Rydell 53 Theory: Intervals Bastien p.21, 25 Repertoire: Bastien pp. 18, 23 Lab: WORK ON NEXT WEEK’S QUIZ Homework: Bastien p. 32

Week 3: February 25, 2020 QUIZ # 1: C Major Pentascale and Tonic Chord Rydell p. 62 line 1 and your choice of one song from Bastien Jingle Bells p. 18 or All Through the Night p. 23 Lab: When you are not playing for me you will work on your own, in class with headphones reviewing Bastien p. 4-29, Bastien 126-scale preparation-thumb movement Lecture: THE PRIMARY TRIADS Handout Rydell p. 18-19, 31-32 , 34 (Bastien 32-34) Repertoire: Bastien Aura Lee p. 27, Chimes p. 29 Rhythm: Placing barlines Rydell p. 38

Week 4: March 3, 2020 Mini-Quiz at 9 PM Rydell p. 32: Chord Etude I (Tonic) and V (Dominant) in C Major NO MAKEUPS (more analysis Rydell page 31) Scale: C Major Rydell p. 1 line 1,2 &4 (see Rydell p. 49), Bastien 126 Lecture: Harmonizing Melodies & Chord Progressions: Primary Triads Rydell 31-33 (corresponds to Bastien 32,34, 40) I-Tonic, IV-Sub-Dominant, V-Dominant Repertoire Bastien p. 27,29,36-39 Choose song for Quiz 3 in C 5-Finger Position Theory Bastien p.35 chord symbols, Upbeat p. 39 (see Rydell 21) , Rydell p.37 slur and tie Homework: Bastien p. 31 Bar lines and Time Signatures Rydell. p. 38

Can’t figure out which key to play on the piano? consult the Grand Staff: understanding note locations Rydell p.56

Week 5: March 10, 2020 QUIZ # 2: C Major Scale Rydell p. 1 line 4 hands together, C Major Triads Rydell p. 1 line 2 hands separately One song: Bastien Aura Lee p. 27 or Chimes p. 29 Lab: in class review Bastien pp. 36-40, Upbeat Rydell p. 21, Learn 41, 42, 44 Lecture: Accidentals: Sharps Bastien p51 Flats Bastien p.45 Natural sign Bastien p. 109 Scale: Bastien p. 64, G Pentascale and chord Rydell p. 62 line 2, Work on G scale Rydell p.2 Repertoire: Bastien 36, 37, 39

Week 6: March 17, 2020 Mini-Quiz 9 PM Rydell p. 62 line 2 G Pentascale and Tonic Chord NO MAKEUPS Lecture: Circle of Fifths: Rydell p.4 --depicts all key signatures in increasing order of sharps or flats Scale: G major and chords Rydell p.2 line 6-7-9 Harmony: Primary Triads in G major Bastien p. 66, 72, 76 Repertoire: Bastien pp. 36, 37, 39, 41, 42, 44 and Rydell 20 Rhythm: Counting with Eighth notes Bastien p. 54, 56 review and Rydell 36 (see Rydell 21 upbeat), Rydell p. 38 bar lines with eighth notes

Week 7: March 24, 2020 QUIZ # 3: G major scale hands together Rydell p. 2 line 9 and chords line 7 hands separately and one song Bastien p. 36, 37 or 39 Lab: Review Bastien 32-44, 53-54 Repertoire: Bastien p. 41, 42, 44 Choose one for Quiz 4 or Rydell p. 20 Beethoven Theory: review Circle of Fifths: Rydell p.4, Why does the F Major scale need a B flat? Scale: F Major Pentascale Rydell p. 62 line 7, Rydell p. 3 line 14 Lecture: learn the terms on Bastien pp. 55, 57, 58

Week 8: March 31, 2020 Mini-Quiz at 9 PM F Pentascale Rydell p. 62 line 7 NO MAKE UPS Scale: C Major 2 Octaves contrary motion Rydell p. 9 line 25 Learn F major scale & Triads Rydell p. 3 lines 12, 14 Repertoire: review Bastien 41, 42, 44 and Rydell 20, Can-Can Rydell p. 23 line 1 begin G major songs Bastien pp. 64, 66,69 Lecture: Dotted quarter notes Bastien p. 90, Rydell p. 21 Theory: Circle of Fifths review and handout Sight-reading Rydell p. 17 & 22 Homework: Bastien p. 80 Struggling with time signatures? review Rydell p. 38 Struggling with Primary Triads? test your knowledge Rydell p.55 in C, G and F major Struggling with scale fingerings? See Rydell p. 55

NO CLASS APRIL 7, 2020 SPRING BREAK Have fun but practice!

Week 9: April 14, 2020 QUIZ # 4: F Major scale hands together Rydell p. 3 line 14 and chords line 12 hands separately and one song from Bastien 41, 42, 44 or Rydell 20 Lab: review Bastien 64, choose G major song to perform p. 66 or 69, Rydell 23 Can-Can Lecture: Scale fingerings simplified Rydell p. 55 Scale: D and A major pentascales and chord Rydell p. 62 lines 3 &4, Rydell p. 60 lines 1,2 Repertoire: F song Bastien p. 105, G songs p. 66, 69

Week 10: April 21, 2020 Mini-Quiz at 9 PM Pentascales D & A Rydell p. 62 lines 3& 4 NO MAKE UPS Scales: D Major and A major scales and chords Rydell p. 60 lines 1 & 2, Final scales Rydell p.61 lines 1-4, 7 Repertoire: Bastien p. 66, 69 Lecture: Chord Inversions Rydell p. 1 line 3, 29-30, 34-35 Terms: Bastien p.81, 82, 130 and Rydell p. 54 Lab: Reading in F Major Bastien 102, 104-105 Theory: can you fill in the chords Bastien p. 74 Lightly Row? Intervals handout Scales: Pentascale E major Rydell p. 62 line 5 Rhythm: Let’s correct the last measure in “Spring” Bastien p. 84. What is the correct note value? Why? New Rhythm: TRIPLETS handout Repertoire: CHOOSE YOUR FINAL SONG: Alouette Bastien p. 93 America--Rydell p. 28 for analysis--three fingerings required RH thumb on C, then D, then B, (corresponds to Bastien p 94) Can you identify the chords? Blue Danube Bastien 114-115 or Amazing Grace p. 144 Blues Scales Rydell p. 52 (with a “triplet” feel) Homework: Bastien p. 107 QUIZ ALERT; Time to study… DO YOU KNOW THESE TERMS? Bastien p. 14 & 96 repeat, 22 & 96 dynamics, 27 slur, Bastien 39 upbeat, 43 fermata , 45 flat, ritard and diminuendo, 51 sharp, 55 first and second endings, 54 (do you see an upbeat and a fermata?), 57 octava, 58 staccato, 81 Da Capo al Fine, 82 Coda, 93 Dal Segno al fine, 96 repeat, crescendo and decrescendo, see also Rydell p. 54, Music words & symbols Rydell p.42 Homework: Do Bastien p.46, Bastien 53, Bastien 101, Rydell 56, Rydell 57

Week 11: April 28, 2020 QUIZ # 5: D Major scale and chords Rydell p. 60 line 1 (No written test tonight) (chords hands separately) and your choice of one song in G major Bastien p. 66 or 69, Rydell p. 23 Lab: choose final song, work on Rydell p. 60 E Major and Final Scales Rydell p. 61 Scale: Pentascale E Rydell p. 62 lines 5 and p.60 line 3 (B Major is NOT required) THAT’S IT! You’ve learned all scales required this semester. Rydell p. 61 Final Scales Repertoire: Review F Major Bastien pp. 102, 104, 105, Final songs Lecture: Major and Minor chords Bastien p. 118-119 Theory: Inversion review, Primary Triads in C, G and F Rydell p. 57

Week 12: May 5, 2020 QUIZ #6: A Major scale & chords (chords hands separately) Rydell p. 60 line 2 Lecture: Minor Scales-A minor Bastien p. 118-119 Major & Minor chords, 134 Beethoven’s Für Elise Bastien p146-147 COMPARE TO THE ORIGINAL Rydell p 45 Rydell p. 12 A minor, 24-25 Minor Scales, Harmonic Minor which raises the 7th note to create a leading tone A Minor is the Relative Minor to C Major (same key signature, different starting note-sixth note of Major scale) Scales for the Final: Rydell p. 61 all the white note scales are required for Piano 1. Fingerings-Major scales Rydell p. 55 Repertoire: Bastien p. 105 and choices for your final song such as Blues Scales Rydell p. 52, Blue Danube Rydell 26-27, America Rydell p. 28, Amazing Grace Rydell 58, Alouette Bastien p.93, Theory Review: Primary Triads in C, G and F Rydell p. 57, Inversion review Homework: Bastien p. 118-119

Week 13: May 12, 2020 Mini-Quiz at 9 PM: E Pentascale Rydell p. 62 line 5 A chance to improve scales that did not receive a grade of “A.” Lab: work on your final song and the White Note Scales Rydell p. 61 Final Part I Lecture: Minor Scales and chords Rydell 12, 24-25 Bastien 118-119, 134 Rydell p. 58 silently switching fingers Lecture: Pedaling Bastien p.29, 118,119, 120 Rhythm: triplet review with Mozart handout Scales Rydell p. 61 Final Exam Scales GET THEM MEMORIZED Repertoire: Final songs

Week 14: May 19, 2020 QUIZ # 7: E Major Scale Rydell p. 60 lines 3 (chords hands separately) and Bastien pp. 105 F major song Scales: Chromatic scale (all the half steps) Rydell p.44--a fun scale needed to play Für Elise White note scales, do you have them memorized? Rydell p. 61 Have you started working on your final performance? Repertoire: Duets: Rydell Chopsticks p. 39 Which two chords are used? Theory: Heart and Soul Rydell p. 40; Can you analyze the chords? Homework: review Bastien 105 for pedaling exercise

Week 15: May 26, 2020 THERE IS A LECTURE AND CLASS THIS EVENING

FINAL EXAM Part One: SCALES Rydell p.61 BY MEMORY Lab: work on final song Lecture: Pedaling review Can you pedal Bastien p. 105 correctly because you understand the chords and where they change? Course review: Everyone will play Bastien 36,37,39 and 41 songs together as a group.

Let’s make sure all these topics have been covered:

1) Syncopation (strong attack on weak beat--ragtime/jazz/Latin/pop sound) Scott Joplin The Entertainer Bastien p. 142-143 or an alternate version Rydell p. 41

2) “Triplet feel” or “Swing Rhythm” in Rydell p. 52 Blues Scales

3) “Replace” or “Finger Substitution” in Amazing Grace p. 144 (silently switching fingers) see Rydell p.58

4) Two- part writing Rydell p. 59

______

FINAL EXAM Part Two: June 2, 2020 6:30-8:30 PM

Concert Report is due no exceptions. NO ONE GETS AN “A” WITHOUT A CONCERT REVIEW. It is 10% of your grade.

Choose one song from the following list.

Most challenging pieces: p. 114-115 “Blue Danube” p. 144 "Amazing Grace”

Difficult pieces: p. 94 “America” Rydell p.52 “Blues Scales”

Accessible piece: p. 93 “Alouette”

You will be graded on: Posture & hand position Accuracy Rhythm Fingering Tone Dynamics Articulation