Teacher's Guide For Books 1 & 2 Return to catalog   Sample Page...   GUIDE TO BOOK 1 To keep its visual examples as simple as possible, Book 1 illustrates its materials in the key of C Major, where white keys predominate. Progressions which start on the tonic C chord transpose easily to the key of F when Bb replaces B throughout the keyboard illustrations to the Key of G when F# replaces F. The lessons always contain one or more visual keyboard columns to illustrate particular types of chord progressions. Additional materials then explain each progression and provide matching melodies. Periodically throughout the book, suggestions for varying accompaniment styles, for adding bass lines and for interpreting melodies appear, as do explanations of general theory. GENERAL METHOD OF PROCEDURE The following step-by-step procedure outlines an extremely thorough method for learning all the materials in Lesson 1. After taking students through the procedure, teachers can decide if and how it should be modified in subsequent lessons, according to the level of the students' capabilities. Is there enough repetition? Is there too much repetition? Should the exercises begin with the left hand instead of the right hand? And so on. 1. The teacher plays down Column 1, counting four beats for each chord, while students listen. This step sets the tempo and allows students to concentrate on the aural characteristics of the progression. 2. The teacher reads the first three paragraphs of explanation aloud while students follow the words. 3. Using the right hand only, students play down Column 1 in unison while looking at the keyboard examples. 4. Students repeat the exercise while looking at the chord symbols. 5. Students repeat the exercise while looking at the written notes. 6. Students repeat the exercise while looking at their right hands. 7. Using the left hand only, students play down Column 1 several times. 8. The teacher reads the last four paragraphs of explanation aloud and answers any questions. 9. Students play down Column 2 several times with each hand, first looking at the keyboard examples, then at their hands. They repeat the exercise for Column 3. 10. The teacher plays Trial Tune 1 while students play any column they choose as they count three beats for each chord. 11. Students play the melody of Trial Tune 1 while the teacher demonstrates various broken chord and arpeggio accompaniment figures. 12. The teacher plays Trial Tune 1 while students experiment with broken chord and arpeggio accompaniment figures. 13. The teacher plays the example at the top of page 14 to demonstrate the bass line made from successive roots. 14. The teacher plays the right-hand chords from the same example while students play the bass line. 15. The teacher plays the next example on page 14 to demonstrate the bass line made from roots and passing tones. 16. The teacher plays the chords from the same example while students play the bass line.