Week 3:

I feel like I have really improved over the last two week and I am finally starting to understand how playing piano works.  This week I have been focused on playing songs in the intermediate level book. In the beginner book it was mostly just short exercises, but I am really happy because I am starting to play some real songs!

In the book I am learning to play from, after every other song it introduces something complete new. So far I have learned some chord names, what the first and last notes are notes on a scale are called, and different a few different pentacles on the piano. That might seem like a lot so I will try to break it down.
 If you do not know what a scale is I put a picture of  a C-scale down below. For lack of better words, here is the Wikipedia definition of a scale - "A scale is any set of musical notes ordered by a fundamental frequency or pitch". Scales can vary based on if there is a flat note or a sharp note that is part of it. Pentacles are basically the first five notes in the scale. Depending on what pentacle you are playing, you have to change the position of you hands on the piano. For example: if you were playing on the C pentacle you would have to put your thumb on the c note. If you were playing the on the D  pentacle, however, you would have to start on the note d. Sometimes during songs you have to switch scales or octaves (the same notes at a higher pitch). I had a bit of trouble with this at first, but I am getting the hang of it.

 The names of chords depend on what degrees are being played, or certain notes on the piano. For example: the I chord is composed of the 1st, 3rd and 5th note on the scale. Or the 1st, 2nd, and 5th fingers. Each three notes in an I chord will be two notes apart. The 1st chord of the scale will be called a tonic note and the last one will be called a dominant note.

Anyways, like I said above, I am really excited to be able to start playing some real songs. I have been practicing quite a bit this week so I could get a few under my fingers. Each song I have been practicing has took some time because I first try to play them slow, to get all of the right notes, then as I am getting the hang of it, I will speed-up. So far, I have played I few folk and traditional songs, a classical piece and a few songs I think the authors of the piano book made-up. They are not too complicated, but complex enough to where I feel I am making leaps and bounds.  My favorite one is called Rustic Dance:



   



That's all I have for this week. This up coming week I will continue to work on learning more scales, and learn some new songs. I am very happy with the progress I have made so far, and I hope I continue to improve as I have been!