i a Rae ay PIANO COURSE Lao BOOK THREE MONTGOMERY MUSIC inc. BUFFALO, N. Y.BOOK THREE THE LEILA FLETCHER PIANO COURSE FOREWORD ‘The several Books of the Piano Course are numbered consecutively, not to represent the various grades in music, but as a presentation of a continuous course in music education. The Piano Course is designed to meet the requirements of the average pupil, and is graded to allow the average pupil to make sound, steady progress, and to enjoy the immediate satisfactions of fluent reading. The material used in the Course has been tested by actual experience in teaching a large number of students, and the results apparent from its use arc: greater interest in music study, better musicianship, and fewer pupils who discontinue music study through loss of interest or through discouragement. ‘The Study of Music should be a delightful experience, Almost every child comes to his first music lesson with happy anticipation, The use of suitable musical material, logically presented, will undoubtedly advance the pupil’s interest in music, The Piano Course is dedicated to a four-fold purpose: the development of the ability to read music fluently and interpret it artistically, che establishing of a sound and comprehensive piano technic, the nurturing of the creative musical talent, and the fostering of a lasting appreciation of music. Copyright Copyright Copyright 197 MONTGOMERY MUSIC INC. BUFFALO. NEW YORK 14202 International Copyright Secured Printed in U.S.A All rights reserved Including Publie Performance for P Printed by Boncraft Inc. on high grade eye-ease, tinted paper. Fifteenth printing 64 pp. June 1999~= CONTENTS ~< FOREWORD ......---- Trapeze Artist Top o' the Mornin On the Levee... ‘At the Pond ... Hymn of Praise . Legato Thirds The Accordion Player .. Valsette . Six-eight Time Old Song... The Invitation é Boys and Girls... vv Traditional Pop! Goes the Weasel . .. Traditional Sailing . Marks Ae ow. Schubert Campfire Melody i a The Little Train ba ee Scale Building... Chords... Traditional Haydn Inversions of Triads Minor Scales Nocturne ce ee Rhythmic Study ee Long, Long Ago 2 Valse Brillante . Spinning Song ... Una Corda Pedal The Regatta .... - T'm Called Little Butteroup eon The Brook .... ‘Swanee River Air de Ballet... Mountain Climbers . a Sullivan Schubert .. Foster — Czemny Peasant Dance .. Slovakian Pare Jungle Antics eee nen 2 ‘When Johnny Comes Marching Home Lambert 33 The Big Fire z — mee! Gypsy Dance Russian 36 Mipioly eee Czerny 37 At the Village Fair _-- Lemoine 38 Vespers 39 Skip to My Lou Oer Hill and Dale The Captain's Song ee College Song = z ‘While Shepherds Watched . Handel 44 1 Saw Three Ships ao English 44 Minuet us Bach 45 De Camptown Races eevee Foster 46 Home on the Range ence Cowboy Song 47 Carry Me Back to Old Virginny woe Bland 48 Musical Terms 0 S| dy .. American 50 Marching Along .. Waltz Melody a Chopin. 51 Transposition Studies 52 Transposition in Minor Keys Baas PROGRESS PAGES —a 36 Ranch Rhythm a 56 Hidden Valley Yodel = Kohler 57 The Top pe sserny 58 Answer, Echo _ 59 Carnival Walez Czerny 59 Woodland Flute... sevens CreMMY 60 Broken Octaves 2 60 Hop! Hop! Polka At the Cinema Streabbog 61 Czerny 62 Our Band Goes to Town .... CERTIFICATE OF MERIT . Duvernoy 63 64In TRAPEZE ARTIST, short phrases are contrasted with longer phrases. There is an exciting staccato chord in the seventh measure. The scale passage at the end of the piece suggests the graceful exit of the circus per- former. Play the melody throughout with singing tone. 1. Trapeze Artist Rhythmically high, "neath the |spang - = tent, (There > {RESSEESSSESE Pipe recucsnmas” / coeneneseneeeeesssesen!| swings won - der - ful thing for an - y one to 8 a gl Ld ©Comuright 19 International Copy 1973, 1972, by Montgumery Musie Ine it Secured, All Rights ReserveTe ” the Mc should . be phrased lightly, the 2. Top o’ the Mornin’ strong beats gently stressed. Rhythmically Traditional mg Tis the | top o mornin, a | shining, new |day, All the 2 the | dawn-ing have | van- ished a - a birds, the sing- ing, at the | rise__of the 2 a fair- y - land3. On the Levee Allegretto a Any musical terms which you do not know may be found on page 49. LOOK THEM UP!Moderato ‘Traditional 2 2 day I cameto a |marsh-y pond, AndI | saw a big bull-| frog, sit-ting there in the |bright sun-shine, a-| sleep up-on ey a) link! plank? pink! punk? Go a-|round! Go _a-|round!"the old frog cross, my boy”said a | lit - tle frog"Don't| mind old sleep- yWhen Franz Joseph Haydn was a boy, he loved to play |7 jokes on his friends. Often these pranks ended disastrously for young Haydn. In later life we find that this sense of humor had not deserted him: when writing a symphony he thought it fun to place a loud chord in a quiet place in the music “to wake up those who had fallen asleep!” he said. Franz Joseph Haydn is one of the truly great musicians of the world. He has been called the father of the symphony orchestra. He was very industrious and wrote a great deal of music—string quartets, operas, sonatas, songs, over a hundred symphonies, and much beautiful church music. His kindly, cheerful nature is reflected in the charm and freshness of his music. 5. Hymn of Praise et Thirds When playing thirds, curve the fingers well, lift the fingers fairly high, relax the wrist, and listen carefully as you play. Both notes must sound at the same time — not one note after the other! 5 4 4 3 TegatoPreparatory Exercise: 5 # ED CB a Gt 6. The Accordion Player ModeratoWith left hand, hold Middle C (without sounding the note) while you play the treble line-keys softly — just let finger 3 bounce lightly slong —and say the letter names as you play: E, G, B,D, F,A,C. In the same way, play and’say the bass line. keys: A, F, D, B, G, E, C. Do this once every time you practise, Gracefully10 § TIME In 8 Time, there are six beats in a measure, and an eighth note represents a beat. If an eighth note (J) ) receives one count or beat, a quarter note will receive two counts, and a dotted quarter note will receive three counts: } = 1 count ¢ = 2 counts 4. = 3 counts cee ‘res wu nee of ‘[Link] tan cos grange i nach mean 1) The Strong Accent falls on Count 1, the Medium Accent on Count 4: ¢¢¢ ¢¢¢ 8. Old Song 123456 Count: 1 23 4 5 6 123 4 5 6 9. The Invitation ee Eee gr Jen - nie can you |come to play? It | is- mt rain-ing | out to-day, The = BSS 8. sun is shin - ing |bright and high, You |can-not come? Bye, | bye!10. Boys and Girls Traditional Boys and girls, come| out to play, The | moon is shin-ing as |bright_as day. 3 5 5 z 5 Leave yoursup-perand |leave your sleep, And | meet your play-fel-lows| in _ the street. — : 5 xen 11. Pop! Goes the Weasel Traditional 1" eet eee errAECeenen 2 ee ere goes the}wea - sel.12. Sailing Allegretto G. Marks 2 f aa ~~ —— radiiseseeieiatis ae Perera 7 a): Roe Aebesehsteorih 14 ane a ee nl i : jee13. Waltz Moderato1" 14. Campfire Melody With expression The Little Train - Second Part RH mp accelerando oe g Eg fe. id r eae pease uo cy te titard 4 ¥ r r r FOF mmesaures ies a es ves u veThe LITTLE TRAIN is an effective study in accelerando and ritard. (See page 49 for the meaning of these two words.) 15 vu mg The lit - tle 15. The Little Train lit - tle train goes | puff, puff, puff! Some | times 1 accelerando - ter hur- ry, clear the train is right on time! Yes sit, it's a tempo think it’s line, The right on16 SCALE BUILDING In the Major Scale, the LOWER FOUR NOTES and the UPPER FOUR NOTES have the SAME PATTERN of steps and half-steps (or whole-tones and half-tones, as we shall now call them.) Here is the Scale of C MAJOR: lower half: upper half: ——— oa —-- = oa Se oo eo s tone tone _half-tone tone tone half-tone ‘The LOWER four notes are called the lower tetrachord. The UPPER four notes are called the upper tetrachord. ‘There is a space of a whole-tone (whole step) between the TWO tetrachords — from F to G on the scale above. You can build all the Major Scales by tetrachords: Tone, tone, half-tone. Begin with the note C and build upwards. Always remember that there is a whole-tone between the tetrachords, Each time, as we build a new scale, the Upper Tetrachord of the old scale becomes the Lower Tetra- chord of the new scale. Scale building by Tetrachords: TECHNICAL NAMES OF NOTES OF THE SCALE The notes of the scale have Technical names which are very useful. Here are the technical names for the first, fifth, and seventh notes of the scale: L 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > x ee —o ° oo = = Key-Note Dominant Leading-Note or Tonic The Key-Note, or Tonic, is the Name-note, on which the scale begins and ends. ‘The fifth of the scale is called the Dominant. Notice that the Upper Tetrachord of the scale begins on the Dominant, The seventh note of the scale is called the Leading-Note, because it “leads” strongly to the Key-Note a half-tone higher. (Play the Scale of C Major and pause on B, the Leading-Note, and you will hear this restless quality of tone which leads you to play C, the upper Key-Note.)7 INTERVALS OF THE MAJOR SCALE An Interval is the distance (in pitch) between two notes, Intervals are measured by the number of degrees (lines and spaces) they occupy on the staff. Here are the Intervals of the Major Scale: = = = = = 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th (octave) CHORDS Chords are built upwards in thirds. The note on which the chord is built is called the root of the chord. ‘Triads are three-note chords consisting of a root, a third, and a fifth. (In other words, a root, a third, and another third. The upper third forms the interval of a fifth with the root.) Pa 100% ° TRIADS OF THE MAJOR SCALE a ev bee mW IV Vv VI vial i There are three Triads that are of special importance: I, IV, and V. I—the Triad built on the Key-Note, or To! ‘This Triad is called the Tonic Triad. IV —the Triad built on the fourth note of the scale. We shall learn about this triad in Book Four. V—the Triad built on the fifth note of the scale, the Dominant. This Triad is called the Dominant Triad. Tonic Triads — G Major D Major A Major E Major F major BP major E>major Abmajor If we add another third to a triad, we have a four-note chord which is called a “seventh chord”, because the highest note is an interval of a seventh from the root. Here is a seventh chord built on G, the Dominant of C Major; this chord is called the Dominant seventh chord:18 INVERSIONS OF TRIADS Chords may be “inverted,” that is, the order of the notes may be changed: C Major Triad in C Major Triad C Major Triad ROOT POSITION FIRST INVERSION SECOND INVERSION CS 3 8 $ oe When the lowest note of the chord is the ROOT of the chord, the chord is in ROOT POSITION. In the FIRST INVERSION, the 3rd of the chord is the lowest note. In the SECOND INVERSION, the Sth of the chord is the lowest note. C Major Tonic Triad with inversions: 5 z 5, 2, 5 13 g's Practise playing Tonic Triads with inversions, in all Keys. Play the broken chord form as well as the blocked. The fingering is the same in all Keys: Use fingers 1, 3, 5 in all chords except Ist Inversion in right hand and 2nd Inversion in left hand —in these use fingers 1, 2, 5. MAJOR SCALES swing Bridge,” page 30 of Book Two. In the two octave scale, the “bridge” swings three times. Review “ Scale of C Major — two octaves: a5 4 3 3 mt eg Reseed eas cias ie: Ss ee ie ie i 2 1 fe te ee Practise the Major Scales of C, G, D, A, and E, two octaves. Practise the Major Scales of F, BP, E>, and A?, one octave only. Scale of E Major —Key Signature, four sharps, F#, ct, G#, and D4. 2. 3 4 “ps =| T 54 *Scale of £? Major — Key Signature, three flats, BD, Eb, and A>. i 2, a4 a Scale of A> Major —Key Signature, four flats, B>, E>, a>, 1 2 24 MINOR SCALES Lower the 3rd note and the 6th note of the Major Scale a half-tone and you have a Minor Scale. Here is the Scale of C Major: Here is the Scale of C Minor: z 2 a 5 6 7. 8 i? Sa ee 8 to bo ea oe ue co Here are the Intervals in the Scale of C Minor: o = = = = minor minor 2nd 3rd, 4th Sth 6th 7th 8th (octave) (The Key Signaturesof C Major and C Minor are different; we shall learn about Minor Key Signatures in Book Four.) C Minor Scale and Chord: G Minor Scale and Chord: R. 2, 1 °3 LH D Minor Scale and Chord: A Minor Scale and Chord: ‘The fingering is the same in all the above minor scales. NOTE TO TEACHER: Since the Harmonic Minor scale is more truly minor in effect than the Melodic Minor scale, having the minor 3rd and minor 6th both ascending and descending, it is here presented first to the young. student. And as the Tonic Minor affords a better means of comparison with the major scale than the Relative ‘Minor, it is given our first consideration.20 A Nocturne is a night song or melody. This Nocturne, in the Key of A Minor, should be played with expression. Shade the melody line, make it song-like; this nocturne should not be played too slowly. 16. Nocturne Moderato legato | 4 L diminuendo21 S ‘This is a sixteenth note: J Four sixteenth notes equal — one quarter note: #¢¢e ~@ 17. Rhythmic Study (Tropicana) In strict-time 122 In the twelfth measure, change from finger 2 to finger 3 (23) while holding the note down so that the melody is sustained. Play the harmony notes, E flat and F sharp, softly. (Find the meaning of “D.S.” on page 49.) 18. Long, Long Ago Cantabile Tell me the /tales that to were so ‘Thomas Bayley dear; Long, long a me the me be- I de- songs that you lieve light - ed to love as you hear, loved, > Long, long a- Now you are come, all my |grief is re- me for-|get that so long you have roved; ——Vivo Frederic Chopin, “the poet of the piano,” composed for piano almost exclusively. The son of a French father and a Polish mother, he lived in Warsaw, Poland, where he received his musical education. Like many other great composers, he showed re- markable talent as a child. He wrote music at an early age and played in public when he was nine years old. Later, Chopin lived in Paris where he met many other renowned musicians. The waltz theme presented here is adapted from a Chopin waltz, Play it gracefully, but with spirit 19. Valse Brillante 23Smoothly 20. Spinning Song — (Read the note on soft pedi on opposite page.)una corda The Soft Pedal | Damper pedal Soft pedal " Cright foct) (lett foot) ‘The piano pedal on the left is the soft pedal. The musical term for soft pedal is Una Corda. Una Corda means “one string.” If you look inside the piano you will observe that there are three wires (strung close together) for each piano key on the keyboard; and when you play a piano key, the hammer for that key strikes its three wires, or strings. On the grand piano, when the soft pedal is depressed, the hammers alll shift to one side so that they strike only one of these strings, and the amount of tone is thus lessened. (The abbreviation we. is often used for una corda.) The term Tre Corde (three strings) means that the soft pedal is to be released, so that the hammers will again strike three strings. ‘The action on the upright piano is somewhat different. On the upright piano, when the soft pedal is pressed down, the hammers move closer to the strings, and as their striking distance is thus shortened they have less force, and the tone is therefore softer.26 Allegretto22. I’m Called Little Buttercup (H.M.S. Pinafore] Sir Arthur Sullivan28 A waved line before a chord means that the chord is to be played arpeggio: Place the hands over the chord, then, beginning with the lowest note, play upwards rapidly, one note after another; hold each note as it is played so that the entire chord sings for its full time value: 23. The Brook Franz Schubert Insoné style saStephen Foster, the great American song writer, left a heritage of beautiful songs which have become a vital part of American life —and in many other countries of the world, the lovely melodies and lively rhythms of America’s genius song writer have long been popular. Stephen Foster wrote both the words and the music of his songs. Many of his songs are inspired by the beauty and sentiment of the South. Perhaps the fact that his father was a Virginian, and that his mother's home was in Maryland explains the deep appreciation of the South which is so beautifully expressed in his songs. Stephen Foster was born in Pittsburgh in 1826; he died in New York in 1864. 24. Swanee River With expression Stephen Foster 29Carl Czeray 26. Mountain Climbers Here is a new Time Signature: @ This time signature is sometimes used in place of and has the same meaning, legato 4b ye! (Ges [dea — 3 5SYNCOPATION is irregular accent — the accent being placed on the part of the bar that is 31 usually unaccented. For example, when a long note begins on a weak beat and holds across other stronger beats, the long note attracts the accent, creating an unusual rhythmic effect which is termed syncopation: > SwMw SwM Ww 27. Peasant Dance Slovakian Rhythmically z 4, gee ee poco crescendoAllegro 33 ae 3 533 29. When Johnny Comes Marching Home FT=) C1 count in § Time) March Time Louis Lambert When | Johri-ny comes march-ing | home a-gain, Hur-|rahy Hurrah! Well 7 7 givehim a heart-y | wel-come then,Hur-| rah! Hur-|raht—_—__ The i} men will cheerand the | boys will shout, The | la- dies they will | all turn out,Andwelll good when —_| John-ny comes march - ing | home.30. The Big Fire Allegro (The reels arrive) 3 1 ritard, atempo (The fire rages) 134 134 hf(The fire is out) (The reels depart) 3 131. Gypsy Dance With marked accent Russian Folk SongIn the second line of this Study, right hand crosses over left hand to play bass notes. Moderato . Czerny38 Lemoine Moderato ee‘The Time Signature is often used in church music. Two beats in a measure; a half-nete receives one count, or beat. 34. Vespers Andante L K ga) l bo IN sk40 In the first part of Skip to My Lou, the chords played in accompaniment on the weak beats of the measure give an effect of syncopation. This effect is strengthened in the second meas- ture where the half-note on the third beat attracts an unusually strong accent. In the fifth line, the syncopation is still more pronounced, as the right hand takes the chord accompaniment which resembles the clapping of hands. This is an old American mountain tune. Play it so that it sounds rhythmic and jolly 35. Skip to My Lou prnrtice Gaily 5 2a jBEEEEEeteae| (Sseees) poy [aeeSRESEEE allargando : 5 2 a A 8 Allegretto 4 -| 13 12 5 : outs 737. The Captain’s Song (Trill Study) Allegretta mp I'm the | Cap-tain of theDewDropt’s an | 0-cean go- ing ship; oe ship that goes a-sail-ing on the | sea. I bring | cro -co-diles from Ice-land, Po -lar 4 é bears from Zan-zi- bar, From the | gal-ley I bring cof-fee,cake and | tea. —43 Oh I'm |Cap-tain of the DewDroplt’s an ffir aTTTTEETTTISG 0-cean go-ing ship, And a |smart-er man than I you'llnev-er | see! 38. College Song Moderato 2, 744 39. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks G. F. Handel Andante oe eee perce ie yt gia aaa z 5 40. I Saw Three Ships English Traditional Moderato zi B44 <4 2 fa45 Johann Sebastian Bach belonged to a family of musi- cians, His father was court musician at Eisenach, Ger- many, where Johann was born in 1685. His cousins, uncles, and ali the various members of the large Bach family played instruments in bands and orchestras. Little Johann was a remarkably good composer when he was only a child! We see him here diligently writ- ing down one of his little pieces. When he grew up, Johann Sebastian Bach became one of the world’s greatest composers. ‘The Minuet in G requires skilful playing. It is cheerful and gay; the little runs must sound light and merry, and the phrases must be gracefully shaded; the staccato notes supply contrast. 41. Minuet in G. J. 8. Bach46 A dot beside a note adds the time value of the next smaller note: _ To get the exact time value of the sixteenth note in the 9th measure of Camptown Races, count 4 to each group that repre- sents a quarter note: D Tr 7 fiss De Camptown ladies sing dis song, Doo-dah! doo-dah! De Camptown race track five miles long, Oh! doo-dah-day! Gwine to run all night! Gwine to run all day! Tl bet my money on de bob-tail nag— Somebody bet on de bay. 42. De Camptown Races Rhythmically Pe = Stephen Foster = a =Insong style 43. Home on the Range Cowboy Sony, =n al nuTeeESERERSuGaT ETc 5, 4 47ta wide lat Ra 44. Carry Me Back To Old Virginny ModeratoMusical Terms Allegro—Fast, lively. Allegretto — A little less lively (slower) than Allegro. Andante—Rather slow. Moderato—Moderate time. Lento—Slow. Vivo—Lively, with vivacity. Con moto—With motion. Cantabile—In a singing style. Alla Marcia—In march style, a marching tempo. p—piano—soft. t-—forte—oud. m—mezzo—moderately. mp—mezzo piano—moderately soft mf—mezzo forte—moderately loud. crescendo (cresc.)—gradually louder. ————— —¢radually louder. diminuendo (dim.)—gradually softer. SS gradually softer. una corda—soft pedal tre corde—release the soft pedal. accelerando (accel,)—gradually faster. ritard (rit.)—gradually slower. e—and, poco—little a tempo—at original time (speed) Iegato—connected. staccato—detached. D.C.—Da capo—Play again from the beginning to the word Fine. Fine—The end. DS.—Dal segno—Play again from the sign animato—animated, rather quick. allargando (allarg.)—gradually broader—louder and slower. marcato (marc.)— emphasized. gra of Play the notes under the dotted line one octave higher than written.50 Marches are usually played in a breezy, high spirited manner. Play this lively march with precision. Keep up to time! 45. Marching Along a 5 4 marc.Waltz Melody is adapted from a waltz by Frederic Chopin, Do not hurry in the Sth measure where you play eighth note melody notes sound smooth and graceful. Chopin's music is with a good deal of finish. It must be played with expression. res and a triplet group; make these very polished and must be played 46. Waltz Melody Lento F. Chopin 51. TRANSPOSITION STUDIES Follow instructions given in Book Two, page 44, for Transposition of five-finger studies at the Keyboard, This PATTERN of steps and half-steps will give you the first five notes of any Major Key: Begin with the Key-Note, and say as you play: “Key-Note, step, step, half-step, step.” Each of the Studies on this and the following pages has a Key Chart. As you transpose, write on the Key Chart the name of each Key in which you play the Study. On each Key Chart there is a space in which you will write the name of the Original Key of the Study. The original Key is the Key in which the Study is written in your book. For example, the original Key of Study No. 1 is G Major. STUDY No. 1 - Singing Game 1 No. 1 KEY CHART No. 2 KEY CHART No.3 KEY CHART No. 4 KEY CHART Original Key: Original Key: Original Key: Original Key: STUDY No. 2 - Forest Ranger This Study is to be played as it is written in Book Two, page 12, except that as a Study, Forest Ranger is to be played with hands two octaves apart. In the original Key, play left hand as written and right hand an octave higher than written. Always, in every Key, Forest Ranger is to be played with hands two octaves apart. STUDY No. 3 - Willie Winkie This Study is to be played as written in Book Two, page 41. Willie Winkie is played entirely on the Key-Note of the Scale. Always begin Willie Winkie with the left hand— left hand plays the first note of the Study. STUDY No. 4 + Jogging Along53 STUDY No. 5- The Boatmen i Come, |find our boat,tied | to a tree, And (Use the same fingering for all Keys.) |STUDY No. 6 - Wooden Shoe Dance | STUDY No. 7- Merry-Go-Round ® STUDY No. 8- Prelude No.5 KEY CHART No. 6 KEY CHART No. 7 KEY CHART No. 8 KEY CHART Original Key: Original Key: Original Key: Original Key: i} Lo} |54 STUDY No. 9- Boat Song STUDY No. 10 - Humpty Dumpty Hump-ty Dump-ty sat on a wall, [J had a great fall! In music, the capital letter is used to indicate Major. For example, C means C Major. ‘The capital letter followed by a small “m” stands for Minor. For example, Cm means C Minor. ‘The minus sign may also be used to indicate Minor. For example, C— means C Minor. No.9 KEY CHART Original Key: Noll KEY CHART | [No. 12 KEY CHART Original Key: Original Key: ‘No, 10 KEY CHART Original Key: For more practice in Transposition at the Keyboard, use the following pieces from Book Two: Sunrise Canyon, page 3; The Bee, page 13; Roller Coaster, page 13; Robinson Crusoe, page 14; and Morning Canter, page 37, ‘Also use the Transposition Studies, Donkey Ride, page 46, and The Sailor, page 46, for review and for playing and Sailor Dance, page 45, for playing with treble and bass notes two octaves apart. in new KeysTRANSPOSITION STUDIES IN MINOR KEYS Read page 19 and learn to play the minor scales before playing the following Transposition Studies in Minor Keys. Remember that in the minor scale, the 3rd note is a half-step lower than in the major scale. If, in the major scale the 3rd note is a white piano key, then in the minor scale the 3rd note will be a black piano key, a half-step lower. And if in the major, the 3rd note is a black piano key, then in the minor the 3rd note will be a white piano key a hali-step lower. Always in the minor mode the third note is a half-step lower than in the major mode. This PATTERN of steps and half-steps will give you the first five notes of any Minor Key: Begin with the Key-Note, and say as you play: “Key-Note, step, half-step, step, step.” Here is a short practice Study in G Major, and in G Minor. The minor Study is the same as the major, except for the 3rd note, which is lowered a half-step in the minor. (Finger 3 of both hands plays the 3rd note in the Study.) STUDY in Major STUDY in Minor hg i 8 5 Play this Study in every Key. STUDY No. 11- Trees of the Forest 8 8 (Key Chart on opposite page.) STUDY No. 12 - Starry Night aoe f tf 5556 PROGRESS PAGES The Progress Pages present study examples in the various fundamentals of piano playing — scale and chord playing, passage playing, graces, thirds, sixths, etc., — in all of which instruction should begin early and be continued systematically. By constant association the playing skills are most readily advanced, making the study of music more interesting, more pleasurable. ‘The musical examples, which will bear much repetition without loss of interest, are not to be regarded merely as technical exercises, but are aimed at promoting musical discrimination, which the student will develop by critical listening while practising, ‘The Progress Pages are intentionally not easy, but offer a measure of challenge. Each page will be assigned by the teacher, as the student is ready to undertake the study of that particular page, which should be learned by the student, with help from the teacher only where necessary. Each page, once begun, should be practised carefully so long as the book is still in use, with the goal of a continuing improvement. The instructor will supply guidance, reviewing the student's performance of the pages from time to time, The student, by cultivating a listening attitude while playing, is assured of real progress. 1. Ranch Rhythm “RIDING FREE”: Wrists are loose, they rise and fall easily, naturally, as the hands move along the keyboard. oe Fine87 Have YOU “got rhythm”? The HIDDEN VALLEY YODEL must be played in strict time! Therefore, you must learn the fingering the very first time you play it! Once you know the fingering, the rhythm is easy: Play the measures containing quarter-notes with a marked beat, and then KEEP THE BEAT when playing the eighth-note passages! 2. Hidden Valley Yodel ‘See Musical Terms, on page 49, for the octave sign: goa Lively sn L. KOHLER (arr)‘The Top may “sleep”, but the player must stay very much awake! Practise at three different speeds: slow throughout, moderate speed throughout, faster through- out. The right hand notes are legato, without a break; the left hand plays a short, light staccato. To keep the Top spinning smoothly, learn the correct fingering first of all! The Top may spin gradually faster, gradually slower, the sound may become gradually louder, gradually softer, but always, YOU are in control of the SPEED and the TONE! 3. The Top Rut Legato THIRDS Lift the fingers well when playing the single notes (the broken thirds) and play clearly and rhythmically — keep the beat! Apply this feeling also to the playing of the double thirds — lifted fingers and a rhythmic beat. In playing double thirds, both notes must be sounded at exactly the same instant! moos 4 os 4 54 a3 Se 423 8 1 & 2 z g 5 84235 2 4 ae] wae59 Observe the phrasing in both hands. Try to keep the double thirds in each phrase legato and 4. Answer, Echo singing. | Allegro-gaily ©. CZERNY §—_a &§_—_—_— : L. Hi lightly 3,—_—_—60 Play the trill with even tone, and steady time, Each note must be heard clearly, Listen atten- tively — especially when playing at a very fast tempo, or when playing very softly. 6. Woodland Flute Brightly a4 7 . CZERNY (arr) 23 7. Broken Octaves This is a rhythmic broken-octave study. The hand feels light and “bouncy”, but neatly con- trolled, —_— Play also one octave higher. 1 fae Play also one octave lower.”61 MEMORIZE Hop! Hop! Polka— two measures at a time —while it is NEW. You can then | __ give full attention to your playing. (‘The polka is a lively dance.) 8. Hop! Hop! Polka Allegretto 1. STREABBOG 5 5 5 £ 5 8 54 a # * = crese. [Link] Fine62 The Tremolo— swiftly alternating notes (trembling). The arm and wrist must be loose to allow the hand freedom of movement which is necessary for speed (and endurance) in playing the tremolo. Play AT THE CINEMA with a gentle sideways motion (rotation) of the hand. Throw the weight of the hand gently, but swiftly, towards the 5th finger, in this way giving a slight accent to the notes played by the 5th and 4th fingers. 9. At the Cinema ©. CZERNY (ar 1 5 4 2 # 2 as = x FE SSS BE AN EXPLORER: Occasionally try changing the dynamics that are printed in the music you play. First, learn and play the music as marked (mf, mp, or whatever). Then, try substituting other musical ideas as you play —for example, if the passage is marked forte, try playing it piano; if it is marked crescendo, see how it sounds diminuendo, and so on! You will discover some interesting effects! Use your imagination! Be an explorer!Shape the hand over the interval of a sixth on the keyboard, and play with flexible wrist and neatly shaped hand. (This applies also to the chords in the Sth, 6th, 7th, and 8th measures. ) 10. Our Band Goes to Town Allegretto. : 5 J. B, DUVERNOY (are)Certificate of Merit- This certifies that has successfully comploted BOOK THREE The LEILA FLETCHER PIANO COURSE and is promoted to BOOK FOUR The LEILA FLETCHER PIANO COURSE yeAcieR