#LOGICAL PIANO SERIES#

T he keyboard graphic reinforces the visual image of the scale and the intervals within it. This “harmonic” reading example from eNovativePiano requires both. Reading: When selecting materials for sight reading, keep in mind that it is important to foster both vertical and horizontal reading. Here are two examples of how these skills can be employed when teaching reading and repertoire. Transfer these skills to more complex tasks. This also a great opportunity to work on aural skills if you ask students to sing or solfège the intervals as they play. Besides honing familiarity with each key, students must think intervallically, visualize the keyboard, and navigate by touch. In this Keyboard Topography audio activity from eNovativePiano, students are asked to play intervals spanning an octave within the key of D major by developing an awareness of how various intervals feel. It’s never too early to learn that every major and minor key has a unique topography and therefore, a unique feel under the hand. The end goal is to play the diatonic triads without looking at the keyboard. This can be quite a challenge and it may take several attempts before fluency in the key is achieved. In this lesson video from eNovativePiano, the pianist is asked to visualize, without playing, the diatonic chords in the key of D major. Here’s another visualization activity that fosters understanding of keyboard topography. This helps them correlate the keyboard’s layout to different intervals.

In this exercise, students apply knowledge of major and minor intervals to the keyboard, rather than to the staff. On this site, you can customize a variety of keyboard identification exercises. While most teachers already teach written theory (staff based), applying these same concepts directly to the keyboard can support visualization development.īelow is a customized lesson from the website. If students are unable to move around the keyboard with their eyes closed, it might be a sign that they don’t have a clear internal picture of the keyboard.

#LOGICAL PIANO SERIES#

Have them close their eyes and find the two and three black key groups or a series of notes, chords, scales, or progressions in various keys. Develop visualization skills.Īssess your students’ level of keyboard awareness. Visualizing the keyboard is a necessary part of navigating our hands around the piano to play passages that demand thoughtful fingering choices. Logical fingering decisions depend on anticipating the many shifts that we make when playing. This happens when we extend or contract our hands, adjust to various chord shapes, or use finger substitutions to enhance a legato passage. Good Fingering Choices: Skilled pianists constantly shift their position on the keyboard and reform their hand shape. Good keyboard awareness also directly affects fluency in reading as the hands do not need visual guidance, allowing the eyes to read ahead. For example, accurate playing when there are wide leaps and jumps is dependent on this ability. The ability to visualize the keyboard in the “mind’s eye” helps develop tactile security when playing. Topographical understanding and awareness lead to fluent gestures while playing the piano.Īccuracy and Security: A pianist with good keyboard sense is not overly reliant on looking at the keys when playing. On a more advanced level, it would include understanding scales and chord shapes in different keys and how they feel on the keyboard. At the most basic level, it might include finding the white and black key groups, whole and half steps, and the notes in the musical alphabet, etc. What is Keyboard Awareness and Why is it Important?įluency in Performance: Keyboard awareness means understanding the topography of the piano – how the keyboard is put together – and being aware of where you are on the keyboard as you move about it. But first, you must develop keyboard awareness. Keyboard sense allows you to feel your way around the piano keys easily without looking at your hands – without relying on your eyes – resulting in improved reading and fluency in performance. At the piano, proprioception is necessary for precise and fluid movements and for coordinating independent movements. Being able to close your eyes and touch your nose is an example of this. This is called proprioception and is a kind of “sixth sense” in which our brain is aware of our body’s position in space. Keyboard sense is the ability that allows pianists to know where they are at all times on the keyboard.

Logical piano