A GRAMMY Foundation
Piano Class Handbook
Ms. Kornhaus
2007-2008
| Music
has a power of forming the character, and should therefore
be introduced into the education of the young. ~Aristotle |
A GRAMMY Foundation
Piano Class Handbook
Ms. Kornhaus
2007-2008
| Music
has a power of forming the character, and should therefore
be introduced into the education of the young. ~Aristotle |
Table
of Content:
GOALS OF THE INSTRUMENTAL
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
To provide a safe environment in which students can learn about
music through performance.
To help develop creativity, self discipline, character and control.
To help students develop the desire to search for knowledge and
to appreciate music after their formal education has been completed.
To give fundamental understandings and develop advanced skills
to those desirous of pursuing a musical career.
1.
Respect your teacher, classmates, and equipment
2.
Be supportive of each other
3.
Leave all food and drink outside the Piano Classroom
4.
Be at your assigned keyboard with all materials
and your headphones on within 1 minute after the bell
5.
Raise your hand when you have a question or a
comment
6.
Work only on piano music during class
7.
Im having difficulty, but Ill do my best
instead of: I cant do it
Instructor: Ms. Kornhaus
Text: Adult All-In-One Course,
Lesson, Theory, Technique, Level 1 or 2; music handouts, Grade
Level: 9-12
Course
Credit: 1/2 credit per semester
Prerequisite:
none
Fee:
$15.00 each semester
Course
Outline:
This course is designed
to teach the fundamentals of piano playing.
Instruction will focus on proper playing technique and encompass
a variety of musical styles: folk, rock, reggae, blues, and classical. You will learn a vocabulary of chords,
accompaniment patterns, and improvisational techniques.
You will also learn how to play melodies in several positions
and possibly participate in ensemble playing.
In addition to the performance proficiencies that must be met,
there may be a number of written evaluations.
The written portions are not busy work.
Please make a strong effort to UNDERSTAND and MASTER all parts
of all units, written and played, as they
build upon each other. What
you learn in each unit will be useful later in the course.
If you do not understand a concept or skill, please ask.
You will find that I appreciate when students ask questions
if they dont understand.
Your
progress in piano playing is almost totally dependent upon you. I will help you and guide you, but you
are in charge of absorbing the instruction, applying it, and disciplining
your fingers. No one else can
accomplish progress for you. The
best players at the end of each year are not necessarily those who
are the smartest or those who have been blessed with the best physical
coordination. The finest players have been those who
really worked, those who were committed to playing well. With a positive attitude and a firm
end-goal in mind, these students created self-discipline in practice,
which rewarded them, ultimately, with fine playing skills.
I hope that each of you is one of these disciplined people
and that this course will help you to reach your playing goals.
Course
Outcomes:
Students will be able to:
1. Follow classroom procedures regarding practice and instruction
2. Demonstrate basic competencies of piano performance in the areas
of tone production, articulation, technique, and musical phrasing.
3. Identify music notation and symbols relative to the level of proficiency
4. Identify basic musical forms within learned pieces
5. Identify proper performance habits and apply these habits to other
aesthetic and/or musical experiences
Fees:
Each student will pay a $15.00 course fee each semester. If a student is signed up for the year,
then they will pay a total of $30.00. Checks may be made payable
to Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Music Department. Fees will be
used to purchase method books, supplemental materials, and to perform
maintenance on keyboards, benches, and peripheral equipment.
Attendance/Tardies/Discipline:
Classroom policy is identical to the B-CC attendance and discipline
policies delineated in the student handbook.
Please be at your assigned keyboard with all of your materials
and your head phones on within 1 minute after the bell.
Folders/Pencils:
Each student will be given a folder to store written materials, exams,
and worksheets. Students should bring a pencil to class to mark their
music.
Instruments:
Students will use digital piano workstations or acoustic pianos as
appropriate. It is expected that each student will treat the school
instruments with respect and do their utmost to prevent damage. Each
student and their parent/guardian are responsible for the condition
of the instrument. If an instrument is damaged during class, it is
the student and parent/guardians responsibility to repair or replace
the instrument.
Proficiencies:
Written, group, and individual performance proficiency assessments
will be announced and posted. Students are encouraged to play for
the instructor the music required in advance of the due date. Only
the actual proficiency will be graded. Students who do not complete
the proficiency by the deadline will receive an E for that proficiency.
Learning to play piano can be a fun, rewarding experience. With the
right attitude and approach to practice, you will be successful. I
hope you enjoy what you learn here and that you will continue to grow
as a pianist when you leave this course.
Bethesda-Chevy
Chase High School
Piano Class Assignment
Calendar (approximation)
Every week you will
learn a new Hanon exercise and will begin every practice session warming
up with Hanon.
September
Notation quarter, half, whole notes, clef signs
Keyboard familiarity; posture
Right, Left Hand C Position
Songs as appropriate
October
Grand staff
Time signature
Melodic, harmonic intervals 2nds, 3rds
Songs as appropriate
November
Melodic intervals 4ths, 5ths
C major chord
G7 chord
Introducing B for left, right hand
Songs as appropriate
December
New time signature
Dotted half note
Dynamics
Slurs and legato playing
F major chord
Songs as appropriate
January
Introducing A for right hand
G position
Melodic, harmonic intervals in G position
Sharps
Songs as appropriate
February
G major chord
D7 chord
Block and broken chords
Damper pedal
Songs as appropriate
March
Writing G, D7, block, and broken chords
Introducing E in left, right hand
New position of C major chord
Thumbs on C
Songs as appropriate
April
Waltz time
Eighth notes
Dotted quarter notes
Songs as appropriate
May
Melodic intervals 6th, 7th, octaves
Flats
Half, whole steps
Tetrachords
Major scale
Songs as appropriate
June
Primary chords in C major
Chord progressions
Blues
Right hand extended position
G major scale
F major scale
Songs as appropriate
Final Exams
SUMMATIVE
ASSESSMENTS
45%
* Students will perform
assigned repertoire in groups and alone for a grade.
* Students will sign-up 1-2 weeks before
a playing deadline and will be graded
based on a rubric
that will be provided and reviewed ahead of time.
* Students will play the material as
a dry run for the teacher before the due date
* Playing Tests not completed by the
due dates will receive an E.
FORMATIVE
ASSESSMENTS..
....
45%
* Students come to
class prepared and have all necessary materials at the beginning of
class.
* Students play assigned materials and
are on task during class time.
* Students demonstrate proper playing
techniques and posture during class time.
* Students complete group work and individual
classroom assignments.
To
achieve success, students must practice. While proficiencies represent
culminating activities, daily practice constitutes the most intense
learning period. Evidence of effective practice skills must be demonstrated
daily. Students must have their materials on a daily basis. Students
without an instrument, pencil, or books are still responsible for
all the material.
JOURNALS/WRITTEN
EVALUATIONS/HOMEWORK
10%
* Students are required
to have a Journal that stays in the Piano classroom
* Written evaluations may entail piano
/ music theory worksheets, compositions,
arrangements, and
critical listening evaluations.
*Students will be allowed
to reassess certain assignments (except for final exams)
up to one week after
the due date. Ms. Kornhaus will indicate which assignments
will be able to be reassessed.
*The reassessment grade always replaces
the original grade.
*Students must meet with Ms. Kornhaus
to review or relearn the material at least
one time before reassessment.
*Reassessment will take place during
class time.
August
2007
Dear Piano Class Students
and Parents,
Welcome
to the 2007-2008 school year! As the music department has continued
to grow, so have the expenditures necessary to operate a quality music
program. Due to increased enrollments in the piano classes, we have
found it necessary to repair the piano benches and headphones as well
as purchase new books and music.
Therefore,
each student enrolled in a piano class will be charged a lab fee of
$30 for the school year or $15 for one semester. Fees will help cover new books and materials,
sheet music, and repairs and replacement of equipment in the piano
lab.
From
now on, we will only be collecting money through B-CC's online store.
However, it is not finished being set-up yet. You will be informed
when the online system is ready and may pay the lab fees. Thank you
for your patience!
We
are also committed to purchasing a piano for the department to further
improve the quality of our program.
We encourage you to make a donation to the piano fund.
A donation of any amount will be welcome but $25 from each
parent with a student in the music program would allow us to reach
our goal.
The
music department anticipates a rewarding year and looks forward to
providing your student with the highest quality and education here
at
Sincerely,
Cindi Kornhaus
Music Director