TECHNIQUE MADE EASY!
A New Approach...
Every lesson in Take Off! With Technique begins with experiencing technical exercises away from the piano. This allows students to master the exercise before they even play it on the keyboard. Success with tapping exercises will ensure success at the keyboard. This feeling of accomplishment will increase the overall motivation of your students and will have your students happy to play technique!
A Simple Layout...
Every page has Tapping and Keyboard elements. Some pages have Optional or Challenge material. Students can easily tell which element they are on by the icon beside the directions. New concepts are presented in green with very basic diagrams and wording. The focus is completely on the technical work!
Students read rhythm patterns...
Beginner students can have difficulty mastering technical elements when they have to read notation as well.
Learning to read music is a slow and sometimes difficult process. Students at this early stage need to have greater freedom when working on technique. Take Off! With Technique does not have notation for students to navigate so students can easily focus on the exercises with correct hand position and timing.
A gradual progression...
This method takes a beginner student through the black keys to pentascales in a gradual and logical process. During the first 15 lessons, students will master a variety of technical exercises such as legato, staccato, 2 and 3 note slurs and wrist rotation. Next, semitone and whole tone exercises are explored before pentascales are presented. Students will have a thorough understanding of how to create major and minor pentascales as well as the technical ability to play these patterns with ease.
A lot of choice...
Take Off! With Technique offers a lot of variety to keep students engaged in the exercises. Throughout the lessons there are diverse rhythms, many dynamic suggestions, choices on articulation, pencil work, and theoretical concepts. Students who enjoy extra challenges will find the lessons stimulating. If a student repeats a lesson, there are many options to enhance the exercises. Teachers can assign as little or as much as a student requires according to their level or ability.
About the icons...
The TAPPING ICON represents exercises done away from the piano on a hard surface. Students can focus on hand position, posture and proper execution of the technical exercises.
The KEYBOARD ICON represents exercises performed at the piano.
Students transfer the tapping exercise to the keyboard with varied dynamics and articulations.
Students transfer the tapping exercise to the keyboard with varied dynamics and articulations.
The LIGHTBULB ICON represents various options to help reinforce the technique. Students can try one or all of the ideas or the teacher can use it as bonus material.
The APPLE ICON represents exercises where the teacher should demonstrate the exercise. All exercises are taught by rote with fingering or rhythms in the book to assist students at home.