Today, Gracyn beautifully composed a complete improvisational piano suite including the pieces "Summer Storm," "Falling Leaves," "Winter Storm," and "Spring Break." Gracyn also learned about the trill, and "call and response" style. We also reviewed several previously-learned pieces, as well as note values and names.

Today we continued our practice of "In the Hall of the Mountain King." In doing so, we reviewed finger numbers and Ben learned about sharped keys. Today Ben learned the music alphabet, and successfully identified every white key on the keyboard. We also played through two pieces in the Bastien Method primer.

We began with some warm ups for the hands, since it was chilly day. We then played several major scales, including a new scale, F major. Next, Stephen learned descending, chromatic fingering for right hand. We practiced "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" and played through to the end of the piece. We concluded with "Toccata in D."

Since it was a cold day, we began by learning some techniques for warming up the hands. We then played musical follow the leader. Next we reviewed the music alphabet, note names and values, the keyboard, and proper technique. We discussed the romantic period of classical music and two if it's composers, Chopin and Tchaikovsky. Arianna also listened to music by each composer. We concluded with
two pieces in the Bastien primer.

We began with "March of the Marionette," which Gwendolyn has almost mastered. We practiced "Russian Dance," and discussed the piece's timing, accents and dynamics. We played through "Bourree" and several major scales.

Today, we continued our practice of "Egyptian Dance," with a focus on tempo, timing, dynamics and legato touch. We learned more of "Pink Panther" by rote, and used music flashcards. We also reviewed "Toccata in D," which Bobby plays well.

Today, Craig listened to the theme from Beethoven's fifth symphony on the piano and learned about the composer. We practiced a piece in the Faber Performance book, and studied rhythm patterns. We also reviewed G and C positions.

Today, Gracyn listened to Chopin's "Prelude in E minor" and learned about the composer. She also played several pieces in the Bastien method primer, practiced "It's a Small World," and played improvisationally.

Today, we reviewed the music alphabet, and Gracyn memorized it in descending order. We reviewed note values and names. We further discussed the composers Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Beethoven; their respective periods of classsical music; and Gracyn listened to more of their pieces. Gracyn's appreciation of classical music is considerable and impressive in such a young student!

We began by warming up with scales. Next we practiced "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," which is coming along very nicely. Stephen also beautifully played "Fur Elise" and "Radetsky March" from memory. We then practiced right-hand chromatic runs up the length of the keyboard. We also reviewed the circle of fifths, as well as proper technique and posture.