JOHN THOMPSON’S MODERN COURSE FOR THE PIANO TEACHING LITTLE FINGERS TO PLAY

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＞　Modern Course for the Piano Teaching Little Fingers to Play

Targets

5 years of age and over.

Elements

-G C D E F G A B C(middle) D E F G A B C D E -G clef / F clef, 2/4 (two-four time), 3/4 (three-four time), 4/4 (four-four time) -whole note, quarter note, dotted quarter note, half note, dotted half note, eighth note, whole rest, quarter rest, half rest -tie -sharp ♯ ・ flat ♭・natural♮

General comments

Play with the beat (strong / weak) in mind. The lyrics are attached so that they match the phrase, and if you play with the words in the lyrics in mind, it will be easier to add a sense of phrase to the melody. I think it’s a good training to play musically.

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〈First Keyboard and Notation Lesson〉
①learn first as a song ②play and sing the words ③play and sing the letter-names of the keys ④play each hand separately in various octaves

〈Second Keyboard and Notation Lesson〉
introduction of quarter note, half note, whole note

〈Third Keyboard and Notation Lesson〉

The Birthday Party	A1
C(middle) D E described about beats

Sandman’s Near	A1
C(middle) B A

Baseball Days	A1
A B C(middle) D E

The Postman	A1
G A B C(middle) D E F introduction of dotted half note Description of 3/4 (three-four time)

Rain on the Roof	A1
Description of 4/4 (four-four time)

Song of the Volga Boatmen	A1
mention of Major & minor

A Message	A1
first time for G(right) repeated touching exercise description of phrase play while being aware of the phrase of score after this song

Chimes	A1
first time for F(left)

Good King Wenceslas	A1

Lazy Mary	A1
first time for quarter rest / half rest / whole rest

Betty and Bill	A1
G A B C(middle) D E F G for the last C, cross your left hand from above your right hand

Flying to the Moon	A1
first time for eighth note

Air, from Surprise Symphony	A1
the melody of Haydn’s Symphony No. 94 in G Major, Hob.I:94, “The Surprise”

By the Pond	A1
playing G on the various octaves

Paper Ships	A1
first time for sharp ♯ (by accidentals) playing both hands together for the last note

Sledding	A1
introduction of G Major

The Butterfly	A1
first time for tie

Questions	A1
higher or lower octave than C (middle)

Blue Bells of Scotland	A1
G Major be careful C♯ by accidentals first time for D on F clef

Toy Soldiers	A1

Big Ships	A1
let’s get used to play with both hands at the same time

Steamboat ’round the Bend	A1
introduction of flat♭ & natural♮ by accidentals

Comin Round the Mountain (Duet)	A1
introduction of F Major repeated touching rhythmically

The Long Trail	A1

The Bee	A1
like “Flight of the Bumblebee” by Rimsky-Korsakov

My Bonnie	A1
description of Auftakt, however, it is already mentioned in “Blue Bells of Scotland”

Vacation Time	A1
introduction of 8…………… (meaning to play one octave higher notes)

Home on the Range (Duet)	A1
beautiful second be careful G clef for both hands

The Juggler	A1
playing C on the various octaves with hands crossing

From a Wigwam	A2
let’s get used to the chord accompaniment of your left hand for the introduction to the next volume