Howcast

How to Read Music

Howcast — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:01:50 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Learn the different kinds of notes Learn the different kinds of notes. An open note head is a whole note, an open note head with a stem is a half note, a darkened note head with a stem is a quarter note, a darkened note head with a stem and a flag is an eighth note, and a darkened note head with a stem and two flags is a sixteenth note.
Step 2: Know what a beat is Know that a beat is a steady pulse. Beats can occur at different speeds and are usually measured by BPMs — beats per minute.
Step 3: Determine how long to hold each note Determine how long to hold each note. A sixteenth note for one-sixteenth of the time as a whole note, an eighth note for one-eighth of the time, a quarter note for one quarter, and a half note for half the time as a whole note.
Step 4: Know the difference between treble and bass clef The symbol that appears at the beginning of every music staff is called a clef symbol. The treble clef symbol looks like an ampersand, while the bass clef symbol looks like a reverse C with a colon next to it.
Step 5: Learn the notes of the treble clef Draw five horizontal lines with the marker on a piece of paper, leaving enough space to write a letter between each line. Now write the letters E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G from the bottom line diagonally to the top line, alternating writing the letters on the line and in the spaces. This is the treble clef staff. Begin memorizing it.
TIP: Assign mnemonic devices to the letters to help you memorize them. The letters on the lines are commonly remembered as “Every Good Boy Does Fine”, and the space letters spell “FACE,” which rhymes with space.
Step 6: Learn the notes of the bass clef Draw another five horizontal lines on a piece of paper. Now write the letters G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, and B from the bottom line diagonally to the top line, alternating writing the letters on the line and in the spaces, ending with the B resting above the top line. This is the bass clef staff, which you should also memorize.
TIP: The mnemonic devices for the bass clef are “Good Boys Do Fine Always,” and “All Cows Eat Grass.”
Step 7: Combine the skills to read a line Pick up your sheet music, and begin reading it. Determine how many beats each note gets and the letter of each note. Soon you will be able to make music from what you’ve learned!
FACT: The Star Spangled Banner was named the National Anthem of the United States by Congress in 1931.

You Will Need

Several sheets of blank paper
A black marker
Sheet music

How to Sit at a Piano

Howcast — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:33:24 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Sit in middle of bench Sit in the middle of the bench, so you can easily lean in either direction to play high and low notes.
Step 2: Put arms straight out Put your arms straight out in front of you, closing your hands into loose fists. Your elbows should be turned inward toward your torso.
Step 3: Put loose fists on keys Put your loose fists on the keys, allowing your elbows to hang close to your body, but keeping your hands level with your forearm.
TIP: Elbows should be roughly four inches closer to the keyboard than your shoulders.
Step 4: Keep hands & fingers rounded Keep hands and fingers rounded, with only your fingertips on the keys. Keys should be pressed with the weight of the hand alone.
Step 5: Place feet flat on floor Place your feet flat on the floor and keep them flat, unless you’re pressing a pedal.
TIP: Don’t forget to sit up straight!
Step 6: Position chin & relax shoulders Keep your chin parallel to the ground and your shoulders relaxed.
Step 7: Start practicing Channel your favorite pianist—or maybe just get out the sheet music and start practicing.
FACT: A complete set of piano strings is subject to 20,000 to 40,000 pounds of tension.

You Will Need

Piano
Piano bench
And good posture

How To Play the “Heart and Soul” Melody on the Piano

Howcast — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:32:35 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Start at F Use your pointer finger to hit the 2nd F key up from the middle C briskly three times, then hit it once more before moving down to play keys E, then D, then F three times, briskly. Then F once more, before bouncing down and playing keys E then D.
Step 2: Go back to G From D (only play D once), go all the way back up to G–playing each key along the way.
Step 3: Go to A From G, go up one key to A, hitting the A three times.
Step 4: Descend two notes Descend two notes; after hitting the A for the fourth time, play G, then F.
Step 5: Ascend to C As soon as you hit that starter key F again, ascend all the way to C. You should play the following keys on the way back up: G, A, B-flat, C.
TIP: Since ‘Heart and Soul’ is in the key of F, every B that is played will be a flat note. A flat note is the black key to the left of the corresponding white key.
Step 6: Play F again After C, reach down and play F, the starter key, again. Then jump (play no keys!) up past the C key to play D; from there descend to the starter key of F again, playing each key on the way. Don’t forget that B flat!
Step 7: Practice Practice until you feel confident. Then grab a partner to play the bass part while you manage the melody. Voila! A duet.
FACT: The original version of ‘Heart and Soul’ was introduced in the short film A Song is Born and went all the way to #1 on the charts in 1939.

You Will Need

A piano
And time to practice

How to Use Piano Pedals

Howcast — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:32:35 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Learn names of pedals Familiarize yourself with the names of the pedals. There’s the damper pedal, the soft pedal, and the sostenuto.
Step 2: Find damper pedal Find the damper pedal, which is located on the right. Played with the right foot, it offers a fuller, more fluid sound.
Step 3: Find soft pedal Find the soft pedal next, located on the left and played with the left foot. The soft pedal produces a fantasy-like musical effect.
Step 4: Find sostenuto pedal Now find the sostenuto pedal, which is in the middle and played with the left foot. The sustenuto sustains the sound long after fingers are taken off the keys.
Step 5: Apply pedal As your fingers press the keys whose sound you want to enhance, apply pressure to the pedal of your choice with the tip of your toe.
TIP: Keep your heel on the ground—it should just be used as a pivot.
Step 6: Remove or hold key Depending on the pedal you have chosen, you can either remove your finger from the key at this point, letting the pedal effect linger, or you can hold both the key and pedal down.
Step 7: Hold pedal down Keep the pedal down for as long as you want its effect to last.
Step 8: Practice pedaling skills Practice your new pedaling skills with a variety of songs—so you can tell your friends you’ve learned how to play the piano with your feet.
FACT: Although a crude version of the piano—the clavichord—was around as early as 1400, the piano pedal wasn’t introduced until 1784.

You Will Need

A piano with at least one pedal
And some coordination