Learning the Code ™ Student’s Name a method for piano study http://www.learningthecode.com Book 1 written and edited by James L. King III ©2003 James Legrand King III. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the Invariant Sections being “Introduction for teachers,” with the Front-Cover Texts being “http://www.learningthecode.com”, and with the Back-Cover Texts being “Contact the editor at [email protected] for information regarding supporting and contributing to the further development of this piano method series.” A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License". “Learning The Code” is a trademark of James L. King III. history 02-01-2003 release of book 1, published by James L. King III ([email protected]). 02-05-2003 minor fixes and corrections. 04-08-2003 additional extremely minor fixes, and additions to dedications page, added storefront URL on back cover. 05-06-2003 removed forum URL from back cover. 07-21-2003 major revisions on progress charts. URL and email address changed on license notices. (The old email and URL will remain active until at least January 1, 2006) 2 ©2003 James Legrand King III. This page is part of “Learning The Code.” See the front cover for copying conditions. GNU free documentation license Version 1.1, March 2000 create one stating the title, year, authors, and publisher of the Document as given on its Title Page, then add an item describing the Modified Version as stated in the previous sentence. Copyright (C) 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc. 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA. Everyone J. 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Preserve the section entitled "History", and its title, and add to it an item stating at least the title, year, new authors, and publisher of the Modified Version as given on the Title Page. If there is no section entitled "History" in the Document, 3 ©2003 James Legrand King III. This page is part of “Learning The Code.” See the front cover for copying conditions. dedications The editor wishes to thank all people who have tested the material, made submissions, suggestions, and comments. Some of these people are recognized below: Axel Ortiz Gisela Perez Allan Gabay Odie Carandang Jeanette De Lisa Keith Mead Dan Gillogly Betty Zornosa Kristene Gore Kathy Miller Paulette Hanchett 4 ©2003 James Legrand King III. This page is part of “Learning The Code.” See the front cover for copying conditions. introduction Learning to play the piano or keyboard is fun. At each lesson, your teacher will give you some songs for you to learn at home. If you want to get really good, you need to play these songs every day. At first, you might not play the pieces well. But as you play the songs some more, you’ll find that you get better and better as you play them. After a while you will play your pieces very well. Soon, you may play these songs not only for your teacher, but also for your parents and for your friends and relatives. In the future, you may play in a band. People may hear your music on the radio, or see your video on televison! You might become a concert pianist who plays very hard music in front of many people. Think about how excited you’ll be when everyone stands up and cheers for you when you finish playing! You could play the organ or piano at a church or temple. Perhaps you will become a teacher! Even if you never do any of those things, you can still have fun playing your favorite songs anytime you want. You can play for yourself or maybe for a few friends, too. Many musicians know how to read a secret code. This code tells them all about the musical sounds they should play. This code is really easy and fun to learn, but only if you take some time every day to practice using it, so let’s get started! James Legrand King III (Lee) Introduction for teachers: This method book is designed to provide a solid approach to piano study and music reading, using a “landmark” system of note-reading. It is unique in using the paradigm of music as a “secret code” throughout the book. Please inform the author/editor at [email protected] with your comments, criticisms, suggestions, and praise. It is important for the editor to know what works and does not work well and how the students respond, both good and bad. Every single comment and suggestion is cherished and considered. If you obtained this book free, and would like to support further development in this method series, contact the editor at the email address given above. Book 1 is designed not only as the beginning of the Learning The Code series, but can also be used as a primer before beginning with any method book that has little or no pre-reading exercises. It may also be used as supplemental study material for students using other method books before they begin note reading on the staff. This book is released under the GNU free documentation license. Under the license, you may submit material to the editor for inclusion in later editions, or you may use the material to create your own method, provided it is also released under the GNU free documentation license. 5 ©2003 James Legrand King III. This page is part of “Learning The Code.” See the front cover for copying conditions. have a seat! There are many types of keyboards. There are pianos, synthesizers, organs, and portable keyboards, not to mention harpsichords, clavinets, celestas, and clavichords. Regardless of the keyboard you use, you must sit properly if you want to play it well. Sit up straight, with your feet flat on the ground. If your feet do not touch the ground, then put a small stool on the floor (or even some books) and place your feet there. Your elbows should be just a little higher than the keyboard. Adjust the piano bench or the keyboard stand until you are sitting at the correct height, or place books on your bench and sit on them. When you play any type of keyboard, you should keep your hand relaxed and your fingers curved.Wrap your fingers around a tennis ball to see how curved your fingers should be, Play with your fingertips. Don’t let your wrists fall down on the front of the keyboard. Many people sit too close to the piano. Be sure that your knees are just underneath the keyboard. If you have to twist your wrists to play, you’re sitting too close. Some people play keyboards while standing up. If you do this, be sure that you adjust the height of your keyboard stand so that your forearms are level with the keyboard. Don’t stand too close to the keyboard when you play. Some keyboard instruments, like some synthesizers with guitar straps, and accordians, are meant to be played standing up. Even with these keyboards, curved, relaxed fingers are important. How long should I practice? It’s not really how long you practice (although that helps) but it’s what you do when you practice. At first, try to play each of your assigned pieces correctly at least 5 times every day. If you practice every day, you’ll get better much faster. Your teacher will help you learn the best way to practice. 6 ©2003 James Legrand King III. This page is part of “Learning The Code.” See the front cover for copying conditions. coding the fingers Sometimes you have to use a certain finger to play a certain key when you play the piano. Pianists and keyboardists use a number code for their fingers so they know exactly which finger to use. The thumb of the left hand is called finger number 1, and the thumb of the right hand is also called finger number 1. 3 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 1 1 Left Right Hand Hand There are several ways to help you learn and remember how your fingers are numbered: 1) Place your hands together as if you are praying. Tap fingers 1 together, then fingers 2 together. While you do this, say the finger number out loud. 2) Trace an outline of your hands on a sheet of paper and number the fingers. 3) Place your hands on a table. Have someone say a finger number, then tap that finger number on the table. Later, the person calling out the numbers can also say whether to tap the right or the left hand. 4) No matter what, your thumb is finger 1. Always. Do you know right from left? The easiest way to figure out which hand is which (if you still have trouble with right and left) is to hold out your hands in front of you, making sure you’re looking at the backs of your hands. Fingers 1 and 2 on one hand will make a capital “L”. That hand is your left hand. 7 ©2003 James Legrand King III. This page is part of “Learning The Code.” See the front cover for copying conditions. the keyboard All keyboards have white and black keys. The black keys are found in groups of two and three. Sometimes there is an “orphan” black key on one side of the keyboard. Low High IMPORTANT! In the secret code of music, high and low do not mean loud and soft! Playing groups of 2 black keys etc. 3 Use the right hand fingers 3 and 2. Play groups of two black keys, 2 starting from the highest group. Say “play down” as you play each key and move down to the next group of two black keys. Keep playing until you get to the lowest group of two black keys. Playing groups of 3 black keys etc. 3 2 4 Use the left hand fingers 4, 3 and 2. Play groups of three black keys, starting from the lowest group. Say “play-ing up” as you play each key and move up to the next group of three black keys. Keep playing until you get to the highest group of three black keys. Experiment with playing up and down the groups of black keys.You might even try making up a song using just the black keys! 8 ©2003 James Legrand King III. This page is part of “Learning The Code.” See the front cover for copying conditions. keep the beat! Music follows a steady pulse, just like your heart does. Some sounds last just a short time and other sounds last longer. Mixing these short and long sounds together creates rhythm. The steady pulse is sometimes called the beat. Clap a steady pulse with your teacher. Then, while you’re clapping, say “ONE” with each clap. Many musicians know how to read a secret code. This code tells them about the sounds they are supposed to play and how they are supposed to play them. The rhythm you just clapped with your teacher would look like this in that secret code: q This code symbol is called a quarter note. When you are clapping once q per pulse, click, or beat, you are clapping quarter notes. Quarter notes get ONE count or beat or click. The stem of the quarter note can go either up or down. When the stem points up, it’s on the right side of the notehead. When the stem points down, it’s on the left side: Draw 3 quarter notes with stems up and 3 quarter notes with stems down. Start with Fill it in ... Add the stem ... an oval ... Now you’re done! 9 ©2003 James Legrand King III. This page is part of “Learning The Code.” See the front cover for copying conditions. count to two! Clap a steady pulse with your teacher. Then while you’re clapping a steady pulse for a while, begin to count “ONE-TWO” and clap on “one” and hold your hands together on “two.” The secret code looks something like this: This code symbol is called a half note. When you are playing one note h h and holding it for two pulses, clicks, or counts, you are playing half notes. Half notes receive TWO counts or beats or clicks. Half notes last twice as long as quarter notes. Sometimes musicians write in the counts under notes to help get the rhythm right. Under the line of notes below, write down how you would count the rhythm. Write “1” for every quarter note and “1 - 2” for every half note. Then clap and count the rhythm. Keep it slow and steady. Draw 3 half notes with stems up and 3 half notes with stems down. Start with an oval ... Add the stem ... Now you’re done! 10 ©2003 James Legrand King III. This page is part of “Learning The Code.” See the front cover for copying conditions.