Grandmother

Lesson Book page 55

what's new

Playing new LH bass notes as a solo melody
Playing new LH bass notes as an accompaniment

what's important

Feeling the half notes
Using this piece to create questions and answers

let's get started

I'll play the piece and sing the words for you. (Playfully stress that you're pleading to Gra-a-a-ndmother.)
I'll be the metronome and clap a quarter note beat. Can you clap the rhythm of the piece while I'm the metronome?
Try out the Grandmother pattern (G-E-C) in both LH and RH.
Examine measures 3 and 4. Where do you step? Where do you skip?
Prepare the hands-together "cherry pie" in measures 7 and 8.

Ask a question. Create an answer!

explore and create

Grandmother Goes to a New Kitchen
Use the G five-finger scale.
Question and Answer
First I'll call Grandmother (play and sing Mm. 1-2).
Then I'll ask her a new question by changing the notes in Mm. 3-4 (demonstrate and sing).
Now you call Grandmother with your RH in Mm. 5-6 (sing as student plays).
Then make up your own answer by changing the notes in Mm. 7-8. Be sure to come back to C at the end. (See video)
You First
Let's switch. You ask a new musical question. End on any note except C. I'll give the answer. (See video)

Composers use questions and answers all the time!

partner pages

Technique & Artistry

p. 27 Canoeing Upstream

The two-measure canoe stroke must pass evenly from left to right hand. No splashes!
Try playing with pedal for a smooth, peaceful sound.
Can you play with both hands beginning on F? G? A? (all white keys)

Theory

p. 43 Playing Steps and Skips, Eye-Training, Ear-Training

Sightread in Bass C Position with 4/4 and 3/4 melodies.
Listen! How many notes do you hear?
Is the music stepping or skipping?

Performance

p. 27 Horseback Riding

Galloping skips in 3/4 encourage feeling this ride with one beat per measure.
Try playing beginning on G or A! (all white keys)

pedagogy pointers

Here the left hand leads with a melody that uses all the notes in the C five-finger scale. It also provides an accompaniment for the answering right-hand melody, and it's in position to sing a duet with the right hand in the last measure. The coordination between the hands is the most required so far, but the fact that it lies so well within the hand makes it relatively easy.

The words as well as the musical motives invite experimentation with question and answer phrasing. This can be between teacher and student, between student and student, and by a single student "answering" an original question with the opposite hand.

accompaniments on disk

CD Tracks 76-77
MIDI File 38

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