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  • John Barton's Music Logic Lessons Online

    Module 1 - Lesson 01

    Videos and excercises below

    Please do not share this Link


  • Book One

    Book One


    For Module One Parts 1 & 2 you will need a copy of the Music Logic Book One.                                                 see below


    You can download in PDF format here. <------


    Or


    order a hard copy via [email protected]

  • 0.0 Getting Started


    Join the Music Logic Facebook Group


    It is highly recommended that you join the exclusive Music Logic Teachers and Students Facebook Group. Here you will have access to discussion groups, possible Q&A sessions when announced and other content to make your path through your course easier.


    Click here for access.  <------


    Only students and teachers have access to this group.

    Don’t have a keyboard yet?


    No problem. Simply download this paper keyboard, print it off and piece it together. It’s a great replacement for an 88 key keyboard while you are getting started on your Music Logic journey.


    Click here to download and save.   <------

    

    Introduction to Module One


    Throughout this Module we will be using a keyboard/piano as the demonstration instrument simply because most people find it easier to translate the written musical notation to the wide range of the piano. As you progress you will be able to use your new understanding of musical notation to play other instruments.


    Lesson one is the most complex – it involves getting started – getting to know your instructor – getting comfortable with the system – etc.


    We are going to start with a composition called ‘Falling Leaves’ this is a ‘hands on’ piece. We then follow with some nitty gritty basic theory of reading music notation, finishing with some finger exercises.

  • 1.0 The Music Logic Books

  • 1.1 Layout of the Piano


  • Video 1.1 Sustaining Pedal                       

           Figure 1-1

      Notice that the keys are white & black


    Also notice that the black keys come in groups of twos & threes


    A piano usually has 3 pedals at its base. Electronic keyboards usually only have one. This is called the “sustaining pedal” on a keyboard. The right pedal on a piano is the sustaining pedal.


    Right from the start with first performance piece “Falling Leaves” you will be getting to use the sustaining pedal.


    Exercise: Play a number of keys across the entire range of the keyboard and notice the difference between the sound and the length of the note both with and without the sustaining pedal being depressed.

    1.2 Falling Leaves - Performace Piece


  • Let's get started on your first hands on Piece 'Falling Leaves'



  • Video 1.2 Falling Leaves (hands on Piece)

  • 1.3 Nine Notes


  • Video 1.3 Nine Notes 


    Getting started with reading music notation>


    These notes should be used to clarify the video 1.3 Nine Notes below  


    Stave         

          


    Stave is a set of 5 lines and 4 spaces



    Each line and each space represents a white key



    It follows that the stave can accommodate 9 notes


    (5 lines + 4 spaces = 9 notes)



    9 notes going up



    9 notes going down


    Exercise 1.3: Practice playing the keys as demonstrated in the video clip


    1.4 Intervals on a Keyboard


  • Video 1.4 Intervals on a Keyboard


    ‘Interval’ is the distance (space) between a lower sound and a higher sound


    Let’s look at the five smallest intervals


    1.5 Five Finger Exercise


  • Video 1.5 Five Finger Exercise


    Ten flexible fingers


    For many music instruments particularly keyboard/piano – guitar and woodwinds – we need to have 10 independent flexible fingers.


    For the purposes of playing music the thumb of each hand is included as a finger


    Background – as humans we tend to think of having two arms and two hands with which we can grasp and hold and manipulate – whereas with music playing we need to think of 10 independent and flexible levers (fingers).


       Figure 1-9



    Expect a little resistance with finger No. 4 in the beginning as it may not want to co-operate, but it will become automatic with practice.


    Simple Five Finger Exercise


    Suggest about 20 seconds per day


    1.6 Basic Chords on White Keys


  • Video 1.6 Basic Chords on White Keys


    If you are a total beginner – allow approx. 3 to 8 weeks to get to a point where your hand shape and finger connection to the keyboard becomes instinctive and automatic.


    Object – to play with each hand separately – a three note chord on white key

    s



    Fingers 1 – 3 – 5


    3 note chord on white keys


    1.7 Self Check


  • 1.        Can you play falling leaves ?


    2.        Do you understand how a stave works


    3.        Can you define ‘what is an interval’?



    (Typical answer ‘the space/distance from a lower sound to a higher sound’)