Q & A: The Lifeline
Q: Will I always have my right thumb on Middle C? How do I play a ‘C’ scale?
A: Your right thumb could be ANYWHERE on the keyboard! Most of the songs we play in Passport To Music use what we call “5 finger melodies” to allow students to become comfortable with a limited area of the keyboard first. It’s best not to associate a finger number with ANY particular key or note: “1” won’t always be C and “3” won’t always be E, etc. Since most melodies don’t stay within that C-G range, we have to “map” out which finger will go on each key. The goal is to not run out of fingers! For instance, to play the ‘C’ scale (play C, then all the white keys to the next C) start with your right thumb on C, your second finger on D, third finger on E. Now the tricky part! Slip your thumb underneath to play F, second finger on G, third finger on A, fourth finger on B and fifth finger on C. So, the fingering for a ‘C’ scale is: 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5. To reverse, play 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1. It looks like this in printed music:
A perfect ‘C’ scale and at no time did your fingers leave your hand!
Q: I can play the right hand, I can play the left hand, but I can’t play them at the same time. What’s wrong with me?
A: Absolutely nothing is wrong with you! Most adults struggle with the coordination issue in one way or another. I’m sure there are more scientific answers, but here’s my 2 cents worth.
Issue #1: As adults, we’re less patient with ourselves and expect too much too soon.
Solution: Give yourself a break! Perfection is NOT the goal; enjoying your time at the keyboard is. Realize that you’re making progress every time you play even if you don’t see (or hear) it.
Issue #2: Reading music “horizontally.”
Solution: Rather than reading a measure of melody, then looking below for the left hand part, try to read “vertically.” In other words, read both hands as a unit; don’t think of them as separate “instruments.” You can take this a step further by drawing a line between the notes that happen at the same time (use a pencil!) so that you can visually associate how both hands work together.
Here’s an example…
Issue #3: It’s overwhelming to learn this new “language” of music and expect your hands to do what they’re told (especially when your brain isn’t sure what that IS), AND to play the right notes. ALL at the same time! Try this: turn the keyboard power off and practice your hands together. If you have an acoustic piano and can’t “turn it off,” you can practice on a table.
Now you’re focusing only on the coordination and not worrying about the correct notes. One thing at a time…
Issue #4: Each part becomes its own “song.”
Solution: If you practice each part alone long enough, your fingers, brain and ears will learn each part as a “solo.” Play each part just enough to learn fingering and accuracy, then put the hands together—not for the entire song—take 2 or 4 measure at a time. Remember, your hands are a UNIT. Think about an organist: both hands going (on different keyboards), left foot playing the pedals and right foot on the volume pedal. Now, THAT’S a unit! Right hand, left hand? You CAN do it!
Q: What’s a “fake” book and how is it different from regular piano music?
A: Fake books were created for professional musicians who had to know every possible request tossed their way. Written in traditional form, a song book with that many songs would be a foot thick! So, they wrote out only the melody line and chord symbols. These books have become popular with all types of musicians, professional to amateur, and are available for all styles of music from pop to rock, classical to country. To be able to use these books, you need to read treble clef notes and know how to play chords. The left hand plays multiple notes at the same time to create “harmony.” For instance, a ‘C’ chord is C, E and G played simultaneously. An ‘F’ chord is F, A and C. A ‘G’ chord is G, B and D. Many keyboards offer “automatic” accompaniment: all you have to do is press a single key on the lower part of the keyboard for each chord. If you know the C, F and G chords, you can play many songs. In fact, there are entire books of “songs with 3 chords.”
Here is an example of a fake book format. It’s also called a “lead sheet.”
Have a question for Passport To Music? Click here to send it!
Question of the Month
We’ll throw out a question for YOU to ponder each month. Share your answers with fellow PTM students!
October’s Question:
Do you have one of those songs that replays in your mind over and over? What is it? Is it comforting or does it drive you crazy? Does this song hold special significance for you?