BEGINNER PIANO LESSON PLAN Instructor: Jeremy Koepke

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1 BEGINNER PIANO LESSON PLAN Instructor: Jeremy Koepke MODULE 100 Course Introduction Welcome to the Beginner Piano Lesson series! Meet the instructor, Jeremy Koepke, and get an overview of our upcoming modules as we begin to learn this remarkable instrument. MODULE 101 Getting To Know The Instrument Let s get familiar with the layout of the piano and where to start with finding notes, and learn some of the differences between pianos and keyboards types. MODULE 102 Notes Of The Piano There are 88 keys available for us to play on a full size piano how do we determine which ones to play? Learn the basic arrangement of the notes on the instrument and their names. MODULE 103 Half & Whole Steps One of the primary ways we think of moving from note to note is with the concept of half and whole steps this allows us to know the distance our fingers will need to be from each other when we begin to play music on the piano. MODULE 104 Finger Numbers Of all the options we have with both of our hands, learn how to identify which fingers will be used to play notes and their correct names. MODULE 105 Posture & Playing Notes Learning to play the piano involves using muscles and holding our body and hands in positions that are new for us and on occasion for long amounts of time! Here s some tips and considerations for developing strong fingers and endurance as a piano player. MODULE 106 Finger Exercises Time to put our fingers to use with some simple exercises to start strengthening our right and left hands! MODULE 201 Intro To Chords: C, F, G Major Have you ever wondered what a chord is? Discover this foundational concept used in most of the worship music we will play. MODULE 202 Chords Exercise C, F, G Major Put our chord concept to practice with these three exercises using C, F, and G Major chords.

2 MODULE 203 Using Bass Notes What does our left hand do when we re playing chords? Jeremy explains this and some of the ways we can read music on a chord chart. MODULE 204 Being Efficient With Bass Notes In can be a challenge to use our left hand for so many different notes when we re playing chords, so let s figure out how we can best use our fingers when it comes to changing chords quickly. MODULE 205 Chords Exercise With Bass Notes With this exercise, you ll start on your way to being able to play chords along with bass notes like a pro in no time! MODULE 301 A Minor & D Minor Chords There are many types of chords we get to use in songs, and another common type is a minor chord. Two new minor chords are introduced, and let s get familiar with what makes them unique. MODULE 302 Simple Minor Chord Progression in C Using the chords we have learned so far in the Key of C, put this exercise to the test for playing both major and minor chords. MODULE 303 Rhythm Introduction Part 1 Connect the feel of your piano playing with learning the foundational idea of rhythm. Learn how timing and counting in playing the piano works, and ways that we help support music that is sung to. MODULE 304 Rhythm Introduction Part 2 It can be confusing to know when to change chords when we play worship music, but here s some tips and common approaches to the rhythms that we use on the piano with these. MODULE 305 Rhythm Exercise Part 1 With an easy to follow approach, let s start using basic rhythms and counting with these exercises. MODULE 306 Rhythm Exercise Part 2 Further develop your rhythm playing and counting with some variations that challenge your timing and coordination. MODULE 401 Slash Chords Learning to make sense of all the different types of chords we find on song charts involves beginning to understand some of the basic symbols discover what slash chords are and how to play them.

3 20 MODULE 402 Slash Chords Progression Exercise Here s how slash chords can be used in a few progressions, to get your hands acquainted with this type of chord voicing MODULE 403 Chorus Chords Progression Exercise See how slash chords can be used with a song example, and how our left hand supports these with some quicker chord changes. MODULE 501 Sharp & Flat Notes We have so many notes on the piano available for us to create chords and good music by! Let s learn how to identify and play black keys on the piano to start using them in building additional chords. MODULE 502 Major & Minor Chords In G Now that we ve learned how to identify and use black keys, we will learn how to build chords in the key of G a widely used key for worship songs. MODULE 503 Simple Rhythm Patterns Have you wondered what other options there might be for the rhythms to use when playing worship songs? Look no further we begin a two-part lesson giving you some simple rhythm patterns to start using with chord playing. MODULE 504 Simple Progressions in G Continuing our previous lesson, here is some further use of our rhythm patterns now using our key of G chords. MODULE 505 Song Example In G Following a song-style format, see how our rhythm pattern and key of G chords can work together to play a chord progression. This exercise can be easily repeated and practiced to imitate a worship song section. MODULE 601 Major & Minor Chords In D Another common key for worship songs to be written in is D Major. Moving now into this key, we learn the primary chords used in the key and the new notes to build them. MODULE 602 Simple Progressions In D Time to put our new chords for the key of D to use! This key includes some additional black notes so let s get confident with these chords with a couple progressions that walk through the movement and fingering needed play them. MODULE 603 Broken Chord (Fifths) Rhythm Moving our left hand beyond more than single bass note playing, we learn an rhythm pattern variation that helps make our sound a bit more full and rich.

4 30 MODULE 604 Rhythm & Progressions In D Part 1 Using our first variation of the broken chord (fifths) rhythm pattern, this module provides the first of two exercises that help us acquire quickness and accuracy using progressions in the key of D MODULE 605 Rhythm & Progressions In D Part 2 Time to use our second broken chord (fifths) rhythm pattern variation with a more challenging set of exercises. MODULE 701 Sustain Pedal The sustain pedal is a feature of piano that can add so much texture and feel to the quality of sound you create as a piano player. Finding a balance in incorporating this aspect of playing is crucial learn some initial best practices for excellent sustain. MODULE 702 Simple Progressions Using Sustain Examine the timing and technique of sustain pedal use with this exercise using a chord progression. MODULE 703 Suspended & Added Chords Get an inside look at these chord variations that are so commonly heard in chord playing of contemporary worship songs. Adding these chord options to your playing ability can improve the sound so much you ll be surprised at how much of a difference it can make! MODULE 704 Simple Progressions - Suspended Chords Using our suspended and added chords, practice and get familiar with these in a few chord progressions. MODULE 801 Introduction To Module 800 As we near the finish line of the Beginner Piano Lessons, let s explore some of the upcoming elements we ll learn and look ahead towards next level piano playing. 37 MODULE 802 Syncopated 16th Note Rhythm Many worship songs will use a quicker rhythm pattern that gives a sense of motion and energy. In this module, we break down a more advanced rhythm variation and timing concept that we can use in many songs. 38 MODULE 803 Progressions-Syncopated 16th Rhythm In this module we put the syncopated 16 th note rhythm pattern to use in few chord progressions. 39 MODULE 804 Chord Inversions Want to take your piano sound to the next level? Using inversions is the quickest way to start sounding like a pro piano player. We ll explore the fundamentals of this concept and some of the uses within songs.

5 40 MODULE 805 Progressions Using Chord Inversions See the chord inversion concept in action with how it works in some chord progressions. Practice and follow along as we lay out clear demonstration of the difference this makes in our chord playing.

INTRODUCTION TO CHORDS

INTRODUCTION TO CHORDS Indicates Files in Piano Marvel Repertoire Introduction to Chords Print out this file and use it at your keyboard to study/ Prepared by Christine Brown Please give me your feedback