Mix and match activities to create a fun lesson on the basics of playing octaves with the left hand.
🎲 What’s included in the activities:
💻 Materials:
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
Can you point out any similarities between those with the widest space between their pinkie and thumb and the narrowest space? (e.g. those with the widest space are boys, with the narrowest space - girls or those who are the tallest have the widest space, those who are the shortest - narrowest space)
Fun fact: when you are playing an octave on a standard piano, the width between pinkie and thumb should be about 16cm (6in). Compare this with your measurement results!
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
Remind the students that the palm has to be lifted and curved - flat palms are usually the reason the students press other keys between the both D's by accident.
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
Play the D-octave - lift up your hand - play the E-octave - lift your hand - repeat!
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
If the students are confused why the song is showing Em not E key symbol, you can tell them that Em is the underlying chord of this octave.
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
Find the C# key;
Play it with the left thumb;
Find one C# key lower;
Play a C# octave with the left thumb and pinky;
Play the D-octave - lift up your hand - play the E-octave - lift your hand - play the - C# octave - lift your hand - repeat!
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
If the tempo is too fast, you can press the minus button in Solfeg.io - that will slow down the tempo.
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
First, your fingers in a fist, then open and stretch all fingers. Repeat multiple times with your students.
Second, move your wrists in a circle-like motion. Repeat multiple times with your students, then change direction and repeat again.
Third, move your shoulders in a circle-like motion. Repeat multiple times with your students, then change direction and repeat again.
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
How did you like playing octaves?
Was it harder to play an octave in the song than playing just with the thumb? Why?
Would you like to learn the right-hand part for this song?
🕐 Time: 3 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by…
Students will learn to play an octave with their left hand and learn to play along with a song with their left hand.
The timing and pacing of the exercises in this lesson plan example are approximate and will differ depending on your students' skill level. If the pace of this lesson plan is too fast for you, divide it into several lessons and add additional activities (see 'Activities' section). If the pace of this lesson plan is too slow for you, explore the 'Beyond the lesson' chapter at the end of this lesson plan for additional activities.
⏰ Time: 45 min
🎓 Grades: 5-12
🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson, students will be able to:
💡 Required Prior Knowledge and Skills:
💻 Materials:
🕐 5 min - Introduce the song
Which hand did we play with last time? (left hand)
Which notes did we play last time with this song? (D, E, C#)
Which finger did we use to play the notes? (left thumb)
🕐 5 min - Stretch your hand!
Can you point out any similarities between those with the widest space between their pinkie and thumb and the narrowest space? (e.g. those with the widest space are boys, with the narrowest space - girls or those who are the tallest have the widest space, those who are the shortest - narrowest space)
Fun fact: when you are playing an octave on a standard piano, the width between pinkie and thumb should be about 16cm (6in). Compare this with your measurement results!
🕐 10 min - Exercise 1 - Just the D key
Remind the students that the palm has to be lifted and curved - flat palms are usually the reason the students press other keys between the both D's by accident.
🕐 5 min - Exercise 2 - Combine with E key
Play the D-octave - lift up your hand - play the E-octave - lift your hand - repeat!
🕐 5 min - Exercise 3 - Add the C# key
Find the C# key;
Play it with the left thumb;
Find one C# key lower;
Play a C# octave with the left thumb and pinky;
Play the D-octave - lift up your hand - play the E-octave - lift your hand - play the - C# octave - lift your hand - repeat!
🕐 10 min - Exercise 4 - The Intro + The Verse
If the tempo is too fast, you can press the minus button in Solfeg.io - that will slow down the tempo.
🕐 5 min - Exercise 5 - Tired Hands
First, your fingers in a fist, then open and stretch all fingers. Repeat multiple times with your students.
Second, move your wrists in a circle-like motion. Repeat multiple times with your students, then change direction and repeat again.
Third, move your shoulders in a circle-like motion. Repeat multiple times with your students, then change direction and repeat again.
🕐 5 min - Discussion