PIANO I

Sample Lesson Piano I Placement Guildelines Piano I Setup Guide Choosing a Keyboard/Piano

The CLAA Music Performance courses
begin with the piano (one of the core courses)
before moving on to voice, choir and orchestral instruments.

Each piano course is divided into four sections

1. Lesson Reading
The concepts covered in the lesson reading material build upon the concepts learned in
Music Theory while also preparing students for Music Composition. Each lesson contains text, diagrams, audio and video examples.

Students are taught the correct way to practice (the most effective and efficient way
used by professionals). Not only is there an entire lesson devoted to the correct practice
method, there are also numerous practice tips throughout the course. The SmartMusic
software used in the course (see bottom of page for details) includes excellent practice
tools that will allow students to practice the correct way and reinforces the correct
practice method in the student's mind.

Students are not taught to read by number or by letter, as this is just a crutch and hinders
the student from ever being able to "truly" read music. Instead, students are taught how
to read by "order" (i.e., being able to recognize the patterns and mathematical structure
inherent in music).

2.  Musicianship Exercises and Songs
Section two contains musicianship exercises and songs. Assignments will be completed
and submitted using SmartMusic software.

a.  Musicianship exercises include:

• Rhythm Reading
  In the rhythm reading exercises, students will learn how to properly count and play rhythm so that it is internalized. When fundamentals are isolated and mastered from the start they become second nature, allowing students to focus on their instruments and on making music without being bogged down by concepts that should come naturally to a musician.

• Ear Training
  In the ear training exercises, students listen to audio samples of concepts learned in their lessons and then must identify them using only their ears. Developing and refining the ear is an important part of playing an instrument, and is also crucial for voice and composition as well.

• Sight Reading
  One of the goals of every musician should be to be able to pick up a piece of music and play it. This is where sight reading comes in. Students are carefully guided through many sight reading exercises and given the tools necessary to be able to see large amounts of music at a glance, and also to view notes in relation to one another (both rhythm and pitch) and not just in isolation.

• Technique
  Technique exercises deal with how the fingers and hands need to move, and help the student to build the muscle strength, coordination, and dexterity necessary to play music written for the piano.

b.  Songs include:

• Lesson Songs
  All of the songs in the piano courses have been carefully selected to cover all of the material learned in the Music Theory courses. Students will begin playing actual classical pieces right from the start. (No "Mary Had a Little Lamb" here!) For example, the Piano I course includes composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and Kabalevsky.

• Repertoire Songs
  A certain number of these songs have been specified as "repertoire" songs. So often students simply move from one song to the next, and after a year of lessons cannot play a single piece! For their final assignment at the end of the course, students will be asked to record video of themselves playing all of the repertoire songs from memory (while following all the details and aspects of the piece such as dynamics, articulations, tempos, etc.). Students will upload their videos to YouTube as "unlisted" videos and send the links to their instructor who will then assess their performances and make comments and suggestions.

3.  Memory Questions
Section three contains memory questions that test the students' knowledge of the most
important concepts learned in their reading material.

4.  Examination
In the lesson examinations, students are tested on their understanding of the reading
material, memory questions, and also on the songs they learned. This course is unlike any
other music course because it requires students to analyze each and every song they play!
Before completing each examination, students will print out a copy of the songs learned
in the lesson. They will then be asked a series of questions about the pieces in their
exams. Piano I begins the analytical process and each subsequent course goes deeper into
what music is and how it is put together. One of the goals of this course is to make music
intelligible to students. When students understand what they are playing, they will play
better, retain more (and for longer), and also get more enjoyment out of it. Analyzing
music will also give them the tools necessary to write their own music when they move
on to composition.

 

 CONCERNING ONLINE LESSONS

More often than not, students in traditional music lessons end up spending the entire lesson with their music instructor practicing the songs they should have been practicing all week. Thus, lesson time becomes practice time. Parents are in essence throwing away tons of money each week to have the music instructor baby-sit their child while they practice. This will never happen with an on-line course.

Many on-line courses teach by imitation. This course does not. Pull any person off the street and they can be taught how to play a simple song in a matter of minutes through imitation. Sure, imitation can give instant results, but if the instructor is always playing for the student and then having the student copy what they see, what will that same student do when his instructor is not there? What will they do when a piece of sheet music is placed in front of them? This course forces students to think for themselves, read for themselves, and gives them the tools they need to teach themselves how to play.

The CLAA's Piano I course makes use of the powerful musical instruction software program known as SmartMusic.  This program allows students to complete music assignments designed by Mr. Peters with their instruments.  Student assignments are recorded, submitted and assessed online in a few easy steps using SmartMusic. 
 

TUITION & EXPENSES

There are a number of important expenses required for students wishing to study piano with Mr. Peters.  Please note that all study materials, instruction, assessment, record-keeping and support is included in these prices.
 

This is an intense course and not for the faint of heart. Students will learn more in Piano I then they would after a few years of traditional lessons. The average cost of piano lessons is around $100 a month. (12 months times $100 = $1,200 a year!) This course has a year worth of material for only $275. With a 10 month payment plan, that's a little under $7 a week for high quality piano lessons! 

Questions?  Contact Mr. Peters by e-mail.
 

* The microphone is ONLY used to send the recording to Mr. Peters. It is NOT used for assessment the way it is used with other instruments. The sound wave from an acoustic piano is much more complex than those of other instruments, and also the piano is able to play and sustain many notes at the same time. Therefore the assessment is done through the use of MIDI and the mic is used to submit the recording.

PRICING

As of May 1st, 2013 all tuition for new enrollments will be paid directly to Mr. Peters. The CLAA enrollment process will remain the same but the course price will show up as $0 and you will not be charged for the course by the CLAA. Once enrolled, you will receive an e-mail invoice from Mr. Peters with links to pay through PayPal or credit card. The following payment options will be available to you:

$275 (pay in full)

$48 a month for 6 months

$31 a month for 10 months