Part 5: Mastering Four Notes in Each Hand (Exercise 11 & 12)
Welcome to a new stage in your piano journey! In this lesson, you’ll tackle two exercises designed to help you gain control over playing four notes in each hand – a significant step in enhancing your piano skills.
Day 1: Getting Started with Four Notes
- Written Guidance: Before diving into playing, read the ‘Detailed Breakdown of Exercises’ in the Materials tab. It offers an in-depth view of what to expect and how best to tackle these exercises.
- Video Practice: Watch the lesson video and play along. This visual demonstration is key to understanding how to manage four notes together.
- Sheet Music Practice: Transition to practicing with just the sheet music, applying what you’ve learned from the video.
- Exercise 12 – Audio Download: Grab the MP3 file available in the Materials tab.
- Groove Along: Play along with the ‘Exercise 12 – A B C D notes song’ track. This helps you practice maintaining rhythm and integrating the notes smoothly.
Day 2: Refining Your Skills
- Dedicated Practice: Continue practicing with the sheet music until you feel comfortable and confident with the exercises.
- Backing Track Practice: Finish your practice by playing along with the MP3 track again, focusing on keeping a steady rhythm.
Completing Step 2 on Day 2 signifies you’re ready to advance. This mastery of four notes in each hand is a fantastic achievement, so be proud of your progress and excited for what’s next in your piano learning journey!
Detailed Breakdown of Exercises 11 - 12 In these exercises, we're introducing new notes: D for the right hand and E for the left hand. The approach remains familiar, but with a focus on these new elements. Practice Procedure:
- Right Hand First: Start by practicing the right hand part of each exercise. Familiarize yourself with the new D note.
- Then the Left Hand: Move on to the left hand, concentrating on the E note.
- Both Hands Together, Slowly: Once you're comfortable with each hand separately, begin practicing with both hands together at a slow pace.
- Gradually Speed Up: As your confidence grows, gradually increase the tempo, ensuring both hands work in harmony.
Common Mistake Alert: While Exercise 11 may come easily, Exercise 12, particularly its last bar, often poses a challenge. It's common to see students finally getting it right after several attempts and then eagerly anticipating the next exercise. However, here’s the key: once you play it correctly, the goal is to repeat it until you can't play it wrong. This isn't like a video game where you pass a level without dying and move on. Instead, think of it as becoming immortal in that level. Mastery is about consistency and reliability, not just a one-time success.
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