C Song
Lesson Book page 52
- Octave
- Bass C
what's new
- Finding octaves up and down
- Playing LH octaves by leaping, not stretching
- Recognizing Bass C
what's important
let's get started
- How many legs does that octopus have? If you count down 8 keys from this C, where do you land?
- Eight keys up or down from any key is called an octave. The keys will have the same name—C to C or G to G.
- Play an octave higher from the C I play. Now the E. The F. Now play an octave lower from the D I play. Now the G. The A.
- You can play an octave with one hand. Put your LH thumb on C, then leap down an octave. Jump back and forth.
- How many times does this piece jump down an octave? Where is that Bass C on the staff? Is it easier for you to think of Bass C as three spaces down or two spaces up?
To find an octave, leap—don't stretch!
explore and create
Sounding the Depths
Can you play the C Song beginning on a lower C? Big old octopus! How about beginning on F with your LH thumb? Think octaves.Octave Blues Pattern
Copy this octave pattern using braced finger 3s. Start on Cs.
Play this through a twelve-bar blues progression: C, C, F, C, G, F, C, C). (See video)Octave Blues with Duet
Play the Octave Blues pattern while I play a bluesy accompaniment. Nice and steady!(See video and download duet)
Bass C prepares the left hand for a new five-finger scale.
partner pages
Theory
p. 40 Learning Bass C
- Presentation of Bass C through drawing various note values, circling all the Bass Cs and completing a rhythm with Bass C.
pedagogy pointers
Octopus to octaves—eight arms, eight keys—is a natural connection to a new concept. Finding octaves higher and lower then becomes an easy trick. At this stage, it's important not to stretch the hand too far, so the left hand leaps from top to bottom.
This is also a chance to introduce Bass C as the note an octave lower than Middle C. Although the piece is short, you can use it as a launching pad for other octave-related games and ideas.
accompaniments on disk
- CD Tracks 70-71
- MIDI File 35