Our guest blogger is Carol Matz. I met Carol though Social Media site called Linked IN. Carol has been a Piano Instructor in Florida for over 30 Years. Amongst her many other musical achievements, she is also a Composer and Arranger for Alfred's Music Publishing Company. For the past two and a half years, she has been creatively writing her own piano method called "Carol Matz's Interactive Piano Method." Her method contains lesson books with corresponding online activities, digital download and much more. In this post, Carol helps us interpret Educational Piano Music Levels.
What’s the difference between Late Elementary and Early Intermediate? While leveling varies from publisher to publisher, there are certain basic parameters that apply to the various levels of educational composers’ and arrangers’ works. This handy chart shows the main components and concepts included in each level. However, of course, there is often overlap. None of this should be viewed on a strict basis, but instead used as a guideline for what materials you might choose for various students, based on what they’ve learned in their piano studies. Early Elementary • Uses notes on the staff from Bass C to G-above-Middle C • Avoids eighth notes • Sharps and flats written as accidentals (no key signature) Elementary • Notes on the staff might extend from Bass G to Treble G • Introduces simple eighth-note rhythms • Root position triads might be used, along with intervals up to the 5th • Sharps and flats largely written as accidentals (might include Key of G) • Simple “down-up” pedal might be used Late Elementary • Introduces ledger-line notes (up to 2 lines) between the staves • Use of single eighth notes and eighth rests, as well as dotted-quarter notes • No more than 1 sharp or 1 flat in the key signature • Harmonic-interval playing extended to 6ths • I, IV, and V7 chords may be used (in the keys of C, F, and G) • Use of pedal changes (“connected” or “legato” pedal) Early Intermediate • Notes extend no more than 3 ledger lines above/below the staves • Triplets and swing rhythm introduced • Cut time and 6/8 time introduced • Key signatures usually include no more than 2 sharps or 1 flat • Harmonic-interval playing extended to include the 7th Intermediate • Increased use of ledger-line notes • Introduces sixteenth-note rhythms, including the dotted-eighth • Features inverted triads and playing octaves • Key signatures might include up to 3 or 4 sharps or flats ...and those mysterious pop-music labels of “Big Note” and “Easy Piano?” • Big Note = Late Elementary to Early Intermediate • Easy Piano = Intermediate
1 Comment
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
September 2020
Categories |