Starter Studies

Lesson 6 - Section 1

Beginning to Sight-Read

You will need your piano keyboard for this next lesson. When you are ready, please play the mp3 file under the image in this section.

Instead of hearing a “click,” you are now listening to the sound of a piano. Each piano sound you hear represents one “click.” The sound you hear is the note “F” above middle C.

Place the ring finger of your right hand on the “F” note of your keyboard. Remember to find middle C on your keyboard first, then go up four white keys to “F.” If you need a refresher, go back to Lesson 1 and re-read that lesson.

Begin tapping the “F” note to match the “F” note being played by the mp3 audio file. Continue to play the “F” note along with the slider bar for 3 minutes. As you do this, let your eyes move from one “F” note to the next “F” note on the staff above. Repeat as needed. You are practicing your Read and Play music skill, also known as sight-reading.

Lesson 6 - Section 2

Sight-Reading and Fingerings

Look at the staff in the image for this section. There are now two different notes shown. In each measure, middle C is shown twice then “F” is shown twice. Please play the mp3 audio file under the image.

Place the thumb of your right hand on middle C of your keyboard. Now, place the ring finger, of your right hand on the F note above middle C. Play middle C twice with your thumb and then play “F” twice with your ring finger. Alternate back and forth from middle C to “F” as shown on the staff. As you listen to the mp3 file, you’ll notice that it is playing the same two notes that you are.

Match what you are playing, to what is being played by the mp3 file (two C’s and then two F’s repeated over and over). Practice this for 3 minutes. As before, let your eyes move from note to note on the staff. Repeat as needed. If you need more than 3 minutes, that’s okay. Take all the time that you need. You should continue playing along with the mp3 file, and reading the notes on the staff, until it feels very natural to do this.

You are learning the basic Sight-Reading skill that you will need to master in order to play written music. Make sure that you are playing the same notes (two F’s and two C’s) as the mp3 file and at the same time. You can use your ears and listen to decide if you are playing in the same place as the mp3 file. Play together as long as you need to in order to feel a “togetherness” with the mp3 file.

“Become one with the music (the mp3 file) . . .”

Lesson 6 - Section 3

Congratulations!

Now you are not only reading and playing music, but you’ve just finished playing your first Duet. A Duet is two people (or in this case 1-person and 1-computer) playing music together at the same time.

Your journey into the world of music is approaching a better understanding and appreciation of music, more then ever before. Blessed are the makers of music. May your continued journey be full of blessings and fun.

Okay, back to work . . .

In each Sight-Reading lesson that follows, you will learn in the same order. The order will be:

1- Look at the Time Signature.

2- Determine the size of 1 measure.

3- Play the mp3 file.

4- Read the notes on the staff (moving your eyes from note to note) at the same tempo as set by the mp3 file.

5- Play the notes you read on the staff (on your keyboard) at the same tempo as set by the mp3 file.

That’s it for this lesson. Good job. You’ve really done well.

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