So you chose to learn the Primo part.
Great choice. The Primo plays the melody, an essential part of music.
So let's get started.
Here's the sheet music to "La Cinquantaine".
Let's take a look at line one together.
Now if you had chosen the Secondo part,
you would be looking at these chord symbols up here.
But as the Primo player, you're going to be reading the notes on the staff.
Can you tell me what time signature we have?
If you said four four, you're correct.
So we know we'll have four beats per measure.
Notice how sometimes the left hand plays like here and here,
mostly our right hand will be playing on this line.
Let's tap the rhythm of "La Cinquantaine" while we count the beat out loud.
So we'll say one, two, three, four.
If you see eighth notes we're going to have to use the word and.
So this is beat one, this is beat two and this is the other half of beat two
so we'll say and for this.
And this finally brings us to beat three.
Since it's a half note it also gets beat four.
This one note will take up both of those beats.
So that measure will sound like this.
One, two and three, four.
We have that same rhythm over here.
Now let's use left hand to tap the bass clef notes,
but all of these treble clef notes we'll tap with the right hand.
Count the beat out loud with me and let's tap the rhythm.
One, two, ready go.
One, two, three four.
One, two and three, four.
One, two, three four.
One, two and three, four.
Good.
Now let's take a look at which notes we're playing.
Can you tell me the letter name for this note?
If you said A, you're correct.
Finger three of the left hand will play A.
Can you tell me the letter name of the first note of the right hand?
If you said E, you're correct.
So we'll start with finger two of the right hand on E.
Now we play A E then tell me if the notes are stepping, skipping or repeating from here on.
Ready go.
Start, let's say it together.
Repeat, repeat, repeat, step down, step up, step up.
Good, now looking at these notes, what do you notice?
That's right, it's the same pattern.
Now let's come to the piano and figure out how to play these notes.
Alright so we said that finger three of the left hand was going to find A
and that we needed finger two of the right hand to find E.
You'll notice that the right hand falls on the D minor pentascale,
and the left hand is covering up the white keys from F to C.
There is no key signature in this piece, so we don't need to lower B to B flat
or use any other flats or sharps.
All white keys with the thumbs right next to each other.
Alright the first four notes are A, E, E, E. Now your turn to try.
Good. Then we have one more E. E, D, E, F.
Now your turn.
Good now let's put all of those together.
So we have A, E, E, E,
E, D, E, F.
The hard part about this song is remembering how many E's in a row.
That's why I encourage you to count the beat while you play.
You can go one, two, three, four
and then there needs to be one more E that you play on the next beat one.
One, two, three, four,
one, two and three, four.
Try counting the beat out loud while you play.
Your turn. Go.
Good then we do that same pattern again.
Let's try it together. Ready go.
One, two, three four,
one, two and three, four.
Good. Press pause and practice all of line one three times,
then press play when you're ready to go on to line two.
Alright let's check out the rhythm of line two.
Can you say the rhythm words?
Up here we counted the beat but this time let's use TA and TI-TI.
Ready go. TA TI-TI TA TA
TA TI-TI TA TA stop.
Now how many beats does a dotted half note get?
If you said three beats you're correct.
So here we can say three
or most people prefer to say one two three as you play that note
and then we have a TA, one, two, three four.
Or we could count one, two, three, four
one, two, three, four.
Alright let's try tapping the rhythm of this line.
When we get to these notes let's count the beat
but when we're here let's use rhythm words just for fun.
So here we're using right hand, when we get down to the bass clef we're using left hand.
Count with me and tap the rhythm. Ready go.
TA TI-TI TA TA
One, two, three, four,
one, two, three, four.
Good now let's see how the notes are moving.
What letter do we start on here?
We've got the G line going through the middle of the treble clef, so we know that's an A.
In the right hand, finger five is playing A so I'll put a five there to remind me.
Then how are these notes moving?
That's right they're all stepping down.
Are there any skips or repeats? Look carefully.
Nope, all stepping down.
Good now over here in the left hand what's the first note the left hand plays?
If you said C or middle C, you're correct.
And in the left hand finger one is on middle C
so we'll use finger one to play C, then how are the notes moving?
Step down, step down, step up, step up.
TA TI-TI TA TA.
Stepping down, stepping up.
Good then we step down again, step down again, step up again.
Basically we're stepping down then up, down then up ending on this B.
Now let's go to the piano and try playing these notes.
Okay so finding our position again,
our two finger one's are on C and D.
And line two starts with right hand finger five.
Remember our rhythm is TA TI-TI TA TA five notes all stepping down.
TA T-TI TA TA.
Now your turn to try that.
Good. Now in the left hand we have finger one on C
and again we have the same rhythm.
TA TI-TI. Three notes stepping down.
Can you try that? TA TI-TI.
Your turn.
Good then it steps back up.
TA TI-TI TA TA. Your turn.
Good and once we make it to that C then we step down
one, two, three, step down
and then we step back up for four beats on B.
One, two, three, four.
Now listen to the whole line once.
TA TI-TI TA TA
One, two, three, four.
Good now press pause and practice that line four times by yourself.
Press play when you're ready to go on.
Alright let's check out line three.
What can you tell me about the notes you see here?
If you said they are the same as line one, you're correct.
Remember it's always important to check every single note.
Sometimes there will be just one note at the end that's different.
But if you look at every single note you'll see it's exactly the same.
So we're good.
Now let's at last take a look at line four.
What can you tell me about these notes here?
You probably notice that this looks a lot like line two.
Can you tell any notes that are different?
Check every single note.
You'll recall that I said sometimes a line will trick you.
Here's one of those cases.
Did you find that this note is different from line two?
Every single note up to that point is the same
except here instead of stepping back up to B,
we're on A and we play one more A to finish the song.
Let's come to the piano and try playing line four.
Now for line four it's going to feel exactly like line two except at the end.
So let's look at just the last two measures.
We have a dotted half note on B.
One, two, three, four.
And then instead of stepping back up we just repeat that A.
One, two, three, four.
So listen to the whole line.
One, two, three, four.
Now that you've figured out the notes to the whole song,
I'd like you to press pause and practice the whole thing.
Play it four or five times until you're very comfortable with it,
then press play when you're ready to try it with me.
Now when we play a duet it's so important that you keep the beat steady.
Can you imagine if one person is going really fast and the other person is playing slowly,
they won't stay together and it will sound crazy and confusing.
So let's practice staying exactly together.
This time I'll play the Primo part with you
and if that goes well then I'll play the Secondo while you play the Primo
to make some really cool music.
This time let's play together. .
We're going to go this fast.
One, two, three, four. Here we go.
One, two, ready go.
One, two, three, four.
One, two and three, four.
One, two, three, four.
One, two and three, four.
One, two, three, four.
One, two and three, four.
One, two, three, four.
One, two and three, four.
One, two, three, four.
Good now when you play a duet, sometimes you'll make a mistake.
But it's important you don't go back and try and fix the mistake
because the other person is going to keep going.
If a mistake happens, just keep moving.
You have to keep the music flowing to be able to stay together.
Now if you are able to play that with me and stay with me the whole time,
then you're ready to try it with me playing the secondo.
Otherwise you can go back and rewind or practice on your own.
But if you're ready we can try the duet.
Now here comes the really fun part.
I'm going to play the Secondo
at the same time that you play the Primo.
To make it sound more interesting, instead of playing it here on middle C,
we're going to go up one octave which means
whenever the right hand plays C here, you're actually going to play C here.
So it will feel the same except you might want to shift your bench over a little bit
and slide over so you're one octave higher so it will sound like this.
And my accompaniment will be going one, two, three, four
while you go one, two, three, four, one, two and three four.
Let's see what it sounds like together.
Remember to count the beat in your mind or out loud as you play
so we keep the beat steady and we keep together.
One, two, ready go.
One, two, three, four.
One, two and three, four.
One, two, three, four.
One, two and three, four.
One, two, three, four.
One, two and three, four.
One, two, three, four.
Good.
Now if that went well you're ready to try my next challenge.
Otherwise you can go back and rewind and try it a few more times.
Practice on your own, then try it again with me.
For my final challenge today, let's go a hair faster and I won't count out loud this time.
Just think the counting in your mind.
Listen and try to keep with my beat so we stay together.
We should finish the song at the same time.
Our speed this time will be one, two, three four
one, two and three, four.
Here we go, get ready.
One, two, three, go.
Great job playing the Primo part for "La Cinquantaine".
It was fun making music with you.
Now if you'd like you could also go and learn the Secondo part.
It's totally up to you.
But in any case, congratulations on making it all the way through lesson 100.
You've worked really hard and I'm proud of your progress.
Now that you've made it to the end of the unit,
I'd like you to go back and review all of the songs from this unit.
I think it would be fun for you to prepare your favorite songs and give a little concert.
Invite some friends and family over and play all the songs that you've mastered.
You can even have treats when you're done to make it extra special.
Congratulations, and I can't wait to see you at the next lesson.
I'll see you next time.
Congratulations!
You made it to lesson 100.
You've been working really hard.
Keep up the great work.