Frogs on Logs

Lesson Book page 41

what's new

Change of hand position within the piece

what's important

Moving finger 2 to three different positions within the piece
Noting the finger numbers on the page

let's get started

What do frogs like to do? (Jump) Put your second finger on C. Make it hop to D. Hop to E. Hop back to C.
Let's circle all the repeated notes in this piece. These frogs are really hopping, aren't they?
Watch me play and sing this piece. Fourteen little frogs (hop to D). Sat upon a log (hop to E). (See video)
Now your fingers can try out the hops.
At the very end, your left hand can jump onto Middle C. (Use the LH braced finger 3 to play the final C.)

The hand can switch positions within a piece.

explore and create

Mighty Low Bullfrog Splash
How big is your bullfrog's splash? Play the final LH note on the lowest C.
Hopping Higher
Play the pattern in Mm. 1-2, but keep hopping to the next key until you get to C an octave higher.
Frisky Frog Improvisation
Let's explore keyboard ribbit sounds. Play steps with fingers separately or together. Now listen as I create a frog song for you. A low "ribbit" will end my piece. Will you create a frisky frog song for me? (See video)

A fingering pattern might also be a rhythm pattern.

partner pages

Theory

p. 27 The Time Signature

Eye-Training requires students to circle incorrect 4/4 measures with too many or too few counts.
For Ear-Training, students listen for which example is played, then practice naming these notes.

Technique & Artistry

p. 19 Finger Hops

What do rabbits like to do? This little pattern hops up the keys from C to C.
Students should memorize this exercise and watch their hands to check for firm fingertips.
Once the pattern is learned, alternate from forte to piano for each hand shift. The teacher may play an octave lower to model the hand position and sound.
Optional: Variations might include playing with fingers 1-2 or 3-4.

Performance

p. 16 The Inchworm

We've been hopping on the keys with frogs and rabbits. Now, let's do a creeping pattern for an inchworm.
(Demonstrate) First we creep slowly up and down. (Mm. 1-2)
Then the inchworm scrunches up to D and does the pattern again. (Continue.)
For the last C, play any lower C with finger 2 or 3 braced with the thumb.

pedagogy pointers

This is the first piece in which the hand changes position within the piece. Since the middle fingers are used throughout the piece, the hand can remain in balance as it hops from key to key. This also encourages a drop from the shoulder at the beginning of each position change.

accompaniments on disk

CD Tracks 50-51
MIDI File 25

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