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Piano Magic

Level 1c

By Kristin Jensen

© 2012 EarTrainingandImprov.com

All Rights Reserved

This lesson is owned exclusively by EarTrainingandImprov.com and may not be shared,

reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form without the expressed written permission of the

publisher. There are no resale rights issued with this lesson.

2

Copyright 2012 EartrainingandImprov.com. May not be copied or distributed without permission.

How to use this book

Piano Magic

Kids love creating their own music. I tell my students that the more “tricks”

they have in their magic bag, the more music they’ll be able to create.

When you include improv activities alongside the Piano Magic Skills, kids

will soon realize how much fun they can have when they know how to play

scales and chords.

My students are actually excited about learning their scales because they

love improvising. They know that with each new scale and technical skill

comes greater ability to create new sounds and beautiful music that is

completely their own.

Triads

Chords are the foundation upon which the vast majority of improv and

accompaniment techniques are based. Teach your child to master chords

and how to use them, and before you know it, your child will be creating

beautiful music.

With this book you will teach your child the half step patterns used to create

major and minor chords. I recommend introducing the concept, and then

moving right into playing triads. Then frequently review the half step

patterns and have kids practice making triads.

Practice playing triads just like you practiced open chords in Piano Magic

Level 1a. First play the scale and then play the corresponding triad. Play

the scale and chords with both hands at the same time.

3


Pentascales with Both Hands

This book shows you how to teach kids to play simple scales with hands

together.

Playing with hands together is easiest for kids when they’ve already

mastered the scales with hands separate. Piano Magic Level 1a covers this

skill.

Look at the diagrams to learn where to place your hands. If you’re playing

a C scale, you will find two C keys, one for the left hand and one for the

right.

Always choose a right hand starting key that is close to middle C. Place

your left hand on the correct key that is close to your right hand.

For example, look at the diagram to see the starting notes for the E major

scale. There are several E keys, but we want the ones marked with red and

blue.

Middle C C

Middle C E E E E

4


How to Practice

Assign one scale and chord per week and direct the child to practice it

three times each day. Although the scales are easy, it’s important to repeat

them to develop muscle memory.

Play the chord immediately after the scale. Your right hand should play

fingers 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1, immediately followed by pressing 1, 3 and 5 at the

same time to play the chord.

Remember to play with hands together! Your left hand plays the same

keys, but with different fingers.

Suggested Schedule

Week 1: C scale and chord, hands together

Week 2: G scale and chord, hands together

Week 3: D scale and chord, hands together

Etc.

At the end of the week, give the child the opportunity to “pass off” the scale

for you. Record his progress on the Progress Charts.

Progress Charts

Help kids stay motivated by tracking their progress and praising them each

time they accomplish a technique.

5


Major Scales Progress Chart

Each time she passes off a scale, the child gets to color in the

corresponding scale on the fish.

When she passes off a chord, she gets to color in the corresponding fin.

Piano Magic Progress Chart

When your child or student has passed off all the major scales and chords,

he gets to color in the stars in the Piano Magic Progress Chart.

When the child has completed all the skills in Piano Magic Level 1a, it’s

time to celebrate! The Piano Magic Progress Chart becomes a certificate of

achievement with a place for you to sign.

6


Major Triads

A triad is a chord with three notes. You learned how to play open chords in

Piano Magic Level 1a and adding the middle note will be easy for you.

Take a look at the C major triad. You just add finger 3 to the open chord

you already know.

Try playing the C major triad with your right hand. Use fingers 1, 3 and 5.

Now play this triad with your left hand, using left fingers 5, 3 and 1.

1

3

5

5

3

1

7


You’re ready to play the C major triad with both hands at the same time.

Every time you finish playing a scale, play the triad that goes with it. Play

your triads with hands together.

There is a pattern of half steps for major triads. Count the half steps

between the first and second notes of the chord. Then count the half steps

between the second and third.

Write your answers in the purple boxes. Check your answers on the next

page.

1 3 5

Right Hand

5 3 1

Left Hand

Middle C

How many

half steps?

How many

half steps?

8


Check your answers below.

The formula for creating a major triad is 4 half steps + 3 half steps.

If we wanted to make a D major triad, we’d start on D and then count up 4

half steps.

Now mark that key and then count up 3 more half steps.

How many

half steps?

4

How many

half steps?

3

1

2 3

4

1 3

2

D Major Triad

9


Playing Scales with Hands Together

In Piano Magic Level 1a you learned how to play easy pentascales with

your hands separate. You’re now ready to play the scales with both hands

at the same time.

Practice playing with your hands together on the carpet.

Step 1: Start with your left hand pinky and your right hand thumb. Lift these

fingers at the same time and press them into the carpet.

Steps 2-9: Follow the diagrams to practice using all of your fingers. Find

the two highlighted fingers and lift them at the same time and then press

them into the carpet.

Go up (steps 1-5), and then come back down (steps 6-9.

2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9

10


When you can go up and down with hands together on the carpet you’re

ready to play scales with hands together.

To play the C major scale, find two C keys on the piano.

Place your left hand pinky on C and your right hand thumb on middle C.

Then place each finger on its own key.

Lift your left pinky and right thumb at the same time and then press them

down at the same time.

Repeat with the next fingers, just like you did on the carpet.

Follow this pattern as you learn all the scales with hands together.

Middle C C

Right Hand Left Hand

5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5

11


Major Scales

C

G

D

LH RH

LH RH

LH RH

12


Major Scales

A

LH RH

Eb

LH RH

LH RH

Bb

F

13


Major Fish

Color the fish’s scale each time you pass off a scale.

Color a fin each time you pass off a chord.

C

C

F F

G G

Eb

Eb

Bb

Bb

D

D

A

A

14


Spider Scale

We’re ready to learn more of the spider scale. You’ll now be able to go from

C to C. To do this we’re going to use finger 2 whenever there are two white

keys next to each other.

Look at the diagram to see the fingering of the right hand spider scale. Pay

close attention to where you use finger 2.

Look at the fingering for your left hand. Notice that finger 2 plays a different

key.

Practice playing these spider scales with your hands separate, going up

and coming back down.

3 3

1 1

2

RH

LH

3 3 3

1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2

1 1 1 2 1

3 3 3 3 3

15


Minor Triads

Minor triads are easy to play after you’ve learned major triads. One trick to

playing minor triads is to lower your third finger by a half step.

Compare the C major triad to the C minor triad in the pictures below.

Try playing the C minor triad with your right hand. Use fingers 1, 3 and 5.

Now play this triad with your left hand, using left fingers 5, 3 and 1.

1

3

5

5

3

1

C Major Triad C Minor Triad

16


Now try playing the C minor triad with both hands at the same time.

Every time you finish playing a scale, play the triad that goes with it. Play

your triads with hands together.

Another trick for learning minor triads is to learn the pattern of half steps.

Minor triads have a pattern that is different from major triads. Count the half

steps between each note of the chord to figure out the pattern.

Write your answers in the purple boxes. Check your answers on the next

page.

1 3 5

Right Hand

5 3 1

Left Hand

Middle C

How many

half steps?

How many

half steps?

17


Check your answers below.


If we wanted to make an A minor triad, we’d start on A and then count up 3

half steps.

Now mark that key and then count up 4 more half steps.

A Minor Triad

How many

half steps?

3

How many

half steps?

4

3

1

2

3

2

1

4

18


Minor Scales

Am

Bm

LH RH

LH RH

LH RH

Em

19


Minor Scales

F#m

Gm

Cm

LH RH

LH RH

LH RH

Dm

20


Minor Fish

Color the fish’s scale each time you pass off a scale.

Color a fin each time you pass off a chord.

Dm

Cm Bm

Am

Em Dm

Am

Gm

Bm

Cm

F#m

Em F#m

Gm

21


Progress Chart

Color a star each time you complete a skill. You’re adding more and more

to your bag of magic tricks. Soon you’ll sound amazing on the piano!

Your parent or teacher will sign you off when you’re finished.

Congratulations! You just completed Piano Magic Level 1c.

22


Review of Finger Numbers

Piano players have given each finger a number. Use this chart to learn

which finger to use when you see a number.

Left Right

5 5

4 4 3 3

2 2

1 1

23


Bonus

Triad Worksheets

24


Practice Making Major Triads


Use this formula to circle the keys you would play to make major triads.

The first key is highlighted for you.

1

2 3

4

D Major Triad

1 3

2

G Major Triad E Major Triad F# Major Triad

Eb Major Triad F Major Triad C# Major Triad

25


Practice Making Major Triads

Fill in the blanks to complete the formula for making major triads.

The major triad formula is: half steps + half steps.



A Major Triad C Major Triad Ab Major Triad

Db Major Triad F Major Triad D Major Triad

Bb Major Triad B Major Triad

26


Check Your Answers: Major Triads




1

2 3

4

1 3

2

G Major Triad E Major Triad F# Major Triad

Eb Major Triad F Major Triad C# Major Triad

D Major Triad

27


Check Your Answers: Major Triads


The major triad formula is: half steps + half steps.



4

3

A Major Triad C Major Triad Ab Major Triad

Db Major Triad F Major Triad D Major Triad

Bb Major Triad B Major Triad

28


Practice Making Minor Triads

The formula for creating a minor triad is 3 half steps + 4 half steps.

Use this formula to circle the keys you would play to make minor triads.


1

2 3

F Minor Triad Eb Minor Triad G# Minor Triad

Db Minor Triad G Minor Triad E Minor Triad

2 4

3 1

D Minor Triad

29


Practice Making Minor Triads


The minor triad formula is: half steps + half steps.



A Minor Triad C# Minor Triad Gb Minor Triad

C Minor Triad Ab Minor Triad D Minor Triad

B Minor Triad Bb Minor Triad

30


Check Your Answers: Minor Triads

The formula for creating a minor triad is 3 half steps + 4 half steps.



F Minor Triad Eb Minor Triad G# Minor Triad

Db Minor Triad G Minor Triad E Minor Triad

1

2 3

2 4

3 1

D Minor Triad

31


Check Your Answers: Minor Triads


The minor triad formula is: half steps + half steps.



3

4

A Minor Triad C# Minor Triad Gb Minor Triad

C Minor Triad Ab Minor Triad D Minor Triad

B Minor Triad Bb Minor Triad

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