Hello and welcome back. I'm Joseph Hoffman
and in this lesson we're going to continue working on "The Village Prophet"
by Rousseau. Today we're tackling the left-hand part, so let's check out the
sheet music to get started. Let's look at the left-hand part for "The Village
Prophet". What I'd like you to do is pause the video and take these first two lines,
measures one through eight, and analyze every interval between all of the notes. So for
example, from this G up to this D, what interval would that be?
That's the interval of a fifth. One quick way to recognize a fifth is to see this is a
space note, we skipped a space to the next space. It's kind of like a double
skip which is a fifth. What about the distance from here to here?
From D to B is a third. Thirds are easy to recognize because it's a space to the nearest
space, or it could be a line to the next nearest line. Now pause the video and on
your own go through and figure out all the intervals between each successive
note, and write it in. Use a pencil just in case there's a mistake. It's easy to
erase with a pencil, and pause the video to analyze all the intervals, and then
press play when you're ready to check your answer.
Here are the intervals, so why don't you check your answers. We go up a fifth, down
a third, down a third, then up a fourth, up a second.
Remember, if notes are stepping we can call that a step up, or we can call it
the interval of a second. Then down an octave, which is also called an eighth. Up
a fourth, then up a third, then from here to here is down a third. So let's also
mark that, mark that in your music if you didn't already, then up a fifth, down a
third, down a third, up a fourth, up a second, down an octave or an eighth, up a
fourth, then up a fifth, down a third, down a third to bring us to measure nine.
Now, if you need to fix any of those, press pause to fix anything, otherwise let's
keep going. Now you'll recall that "The Village Prophet" is in the key of G minor.
At least I hope you'll recall that. It's always important to keep in mind what key
you're in so you can remember the sharps and flats, remember where DO is. So to
kind of warm up your left hand, let's play the G natural minor scale two octaves.
Up and down. Will you pause the video, and don't forget that we've got our B-flats
and E-flats. We use all five fingers and cross over a finger 3, cross over
finger 4, cross over a finger 3, and coming down 3, then 4 plays A,
3, and then you're done. Press pause and review that G natural minor scale up
and down two octaves, then press play to go on.
Now, let's see, we start with finger 5 of the left hand on this G, which is
fairly near middle C so we'll be right here. Here's my middle C, and because I
know we're going to have a B-flat, I'm going to go ahead and have my finger
3 ready on that B-flat. Now, what I'd like you to do is press pause and see if
on your own you can figure out this first line from measures one through
four on your own. Note that while your hand starts in this position, by the time
you get to that octave jump down, remember we've got this D and then our
finger 5 has to come all the way down to this D, and then we go up a fourth and
it says finger 3, so there's going to be a little bit of a glide or a stretch
there. Okay, so be aware of those last four notes of the line. In fact, let's
learn that first. Let's start here on D with finger 1, down to this D with
finger 5, then up to G B-flat, with fingers 3 and 2. Okay one more time.
D down to D, then G with finger 3, then B-flat with 2. Now the rest of the
line I'd like you to figure out on your own.
So, press pause, figure out measures one through four on your own, then press play
and we'll try it together.
Here's what it should have sounded like. We have 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3. Notice because of
that decrescendo there, I'm going to float my left hand forearm and wrist a
little bit as I get to that last note of the phrase.
Okay, now let's try it
together. Get your hand in position, 1 ready go, 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
Now, press pause and work on that a little more on your own until you feel really
confident with it, then press play to go on.
Now, here's a little mystery challenge for you. The question is, in which measure
of line one do you outline a G minor triad?
if you said measure two you're correct. In measure two, see how those notes move
through the G minor triad, it's called outlining the triad. It just
skips down through that G minor core. Now let's take a look at line two. What do you
notice about the notes of this line?
You'll notice that measures five, six, and seven are the same as measures one, two, and three.
However, in measure eight we've got this slightly new pattern. Now instead of what
we did before, we have G all the way up to D, and then B-flat with finger 3 1 3
and that's, we have to use that fingering because of what we just played in the
measure before, and what we're going to play in the next measure. So trust me
that that fingering is going to be very useful.
So now, press pause and work on measures five through eight on your own, and let's
actually go into the first note of measure nine, and so measures five through nine on
your own, then press play to go on.
Now, let's talk about the style of playing this piece. Because this piece
comes from the Baroque style, it's important to play it with the right
Baroque kind of sound, and one thing that will make you sound more Baroque in your
playing, and I don't mean broke but Baroque. When you play in a Baroque style,
it's very common to kind of separate your quarter notes a little bit. Instead
of being perfectly legato, it sounds more interesting and true to
the Baroque style to kind of detach them a little bit like this. Listen,
So it's almost staccato but not quite. It's not a true staccato, it's just
putting a little bit of space in between each note listen,
It's kind of a chubby staccato instead of a really quick staccato. It's a little bit bouncy sounding,
but not too aggressive. The half note is the only one we're going to hold and
make that a little legato. Okay now, press pause and on your own work on a nice
detached sound. One thing that will help with that, is to just kind of use your
arm and a really relaxed wrist, and just think of gently dropping on each of
these notes. See how I do that?
Now, press pause and work on a good Baroque detached
sound, and then press play to go on.
Now, once we get to measure nine, the notes are the same as before, but this time
piano, so it's like an echo.
And then here the changes that we just hold on that G for a dotted half note.
Okay, so now that you know all of the notes of
the A section, let's come back to the sheet music and check out the B section.
For the B section of "The Village Prophet", let's do the same thing for the left
hand where we analyze these intervals. This time instead of a melodic interval
where we see the notes one at a time, this time we have a harmonic interval,
which means that the notes play together, but we still want to measure the
distance between those notes. So, can you tell me this harmonic interval?
If you said a fifth you're correct.
So go ahead and put a 5 in your music next
to that interval. Now what do you see for this interval?
This would be the interval of a sixth. So we can write a six there. One way you could have quickly noticed
that, is to see that the top note did not change, it's a repeat, but this bottom
notes stepped down. When you notice patterns like that, comparing to what you
just played, if you knew that this one was a fifth, that's a quick way to
realize, oh if this note steps down it must be a sixth.
What interval do you see here?
Well, again if you compare to what you just did,
ah this notes stepped down, and this bottom note of the harmonic interval also
stepped down. So, which means it must still be a sixth.
Now, can you figure out this next interval?
This time the top note is stepping up, and the bottom note is stepping down.
You could also notice that this is a D, and this is a D. When we go from one note
to the next of the same note, that's an octave. So we know this is an eighth or
an octave. Now what do you notice when you look at the left-hand part for this
next line of music?
You'll notice that all the intervals are the same. So, let's
come to the piano and try and play it. Let's find where our left hand goes, our
finger 5's on this G, and then finger 1's on the D a step above middle C. We
hold that for 3 beats, 1 2 3. Remember this top note repeats, the
bottom note steps down to form the interval of a sixth. 1 2 3, we've
got that F natural and the D, then both notes step down, but recall that E is
automatically flat, so we're going to shift our hand forward. Remember, don't try
and reach black notes by twisting your arm, just glide forward to be able to
comfortably reach that black key, the E flat and the C, and that forms that sixth,
and then the top note steps up, the bottom note steps down to form this
octave. Now, if your hand can't quite reach an octave, for example if you have
smaller hands, then just take that low note and leave out the top note, okay, but
if you can reach that octave, boom there you've got it from D to D. So try it with
me now. Back to measure seventeen. Here we go, we have a fifth 1 2 3, stretch down to a
sixth, 2 3, both notes step down E-flat and C, 1 2 3, then we
expand to the octave. One more time, going on to measure twenty-one we
do the same thing again. 1 2 3, go down to a sixth, 2 3, both notes step down, 1 2 3,
expand to the octave. Great, now press pause and work on measures seventeen through
measures twenty-four, those two lines. Work that on your own a few times till you're
comfortable with those harmonic intervals, then press play to go on.
Now, to check on how you did, I'd like you to play the left hand of this B section,
I'll play the left hand and the right hand so you get used to how they sound
together. Notice like here in measure eighteen, how the left hand plays on beat 1 while
the right hand rests. So it will sound like this, listen to it once. 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 Left hand
always plays on beat 1.
The right hand often is resting on beat 1, so make sure as you're playing
the left hand, let's have you count out loud 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2
3 1 2 3 Will you try that with me? Let's count out loud and play
the left hand. Ready go, 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 Now I'll play the right hand, and the left
hand, you just play the left hand and count. Ready go, 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
And I slowed down just a tiny bit right there because it's the end of the B
section, and that helps our ears get ready for the return to the A section,
2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
And then we're right back to the normal tempo.
And it repeats.
Notice a crescendo mark
Notice how each line of the B section starts soft, and then we have a crescendo
mark. So we're gonna keep getting louder until we see that decrescendo.
Now we crescendo again,
float the wrist a little bit.
Back to the A section.
Now, let's practice the B section where you play the left hand and I'll play the right hand and the left
hand, and we'll try and follow the dynamics really carefully this time. So
it starts soft and then grow to the end of the line, and then follow the
decrescendo. Here we go. I'll count 3 beats and then we'll start. 1 2 3
1 2 3, grow, grow, 2 3 1 2, now start soft again, grow, 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
And then we're back to the A section.
Great work learning the left
hand part for "The Village Prophet". During your practice time, work carefully on the
left hand part, and also be sure to continue to review and practice the
right hand part. Please be sure to be careful with your piano posture, and of
course always listen for a beautiful tone as you play.
Don't just hammer out the notes to try and get your practice done in a hurry.
Be a musical artist who is always working to craft something beautiful to share.
Once you have the left hand and right hand parts mastered, you'll be ready to
put it hands together in another lesson soon. Happy practicing and see you next time.
T-Rex, I have a question for you. Okay. Do dinosaurs have scales? Of course we have
scales, here's one for you now. G A B-flat C D E-flat F-sharp G. Yes, that was a very
nice G minor harmonic scale. I've even more scales, do you want to
hear them? Sure, why don't you come with me we'll get some lunch.
You can sing on the way. Oh goody! Here's D minor, D E F G A