Piano/keyboards 1B

Course Dates: 13/01/25 - 24/03/25
Time: 10:00 - 11:30
Location: Keeley Street
Tutors: 
Sarha Moore
A near-beginners’ course for pianists. If you have completed Piano/keyboards 1A or and have basic keyboard and music reading skills in C position, this course will introduce you to more notes.
100% of 100
Download
Book your place
In stock
Only 5 left
SKU
230009
Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00
Choose a start date

Piano/keyboards 1B
  • Course Code: ME210B
  • Dates: 13/01/25 - 24/03/25
  • Time: 10:00 - 11:30
  • Taught: Mon, Daytime
  • Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)
  • Location: Keeley Street
  • Tutor: Sarha Moore

Course Code: ME210B

Choose a start date  

Mon, day, 13 Jan - 24 Mar '25

Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)

Any questions? music@citylit.ac.uk
or call 020 4582 0412

Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.

What is the course about?

This course is the second step in our beginners piano programme.
The aim of the course is to move beyond playing pieces which are always in ‘C position’ (i.e. hand position based on middle-C). You will increase fluency at navigating the keyboard, develop your hand/eye coordination and your ability to recognise patterns and shapes in simple melodies.

You will focus on playing hands together, and extending beyond 5-finger patterns to explore a wider range of the keyboard. You will also develop your aural and keyboard skills to increase your fluency of playing and understanding of music, and develop your ability to evaluate music and recognise mistakes as an aid to effective practise.
You need access to a full-sized keyboard or piano for practice (and lessons if choosing the online option). This course continues to Piano/keyboards 1C.

What will we cover?

- Moving beyond ‘C position’ to ‘G position’
- Sharps and flats (accidentals)
- Playing a melody with simple chord accompaniment
- Increased fluency of reading at sight, and playing without looking at your fingers
- Reading and applying shapes and patterns at the keyboard
- Simple scale and chord patterns
- Reading and applying simple time signatures and common rhythmic patterns
- Aural skills, especially identifying and correcting mistakes in playing.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Co-ordinate hands to combine melodies with simple chords
- Read music within 2 octaves
- Perform a complete piece with confidence from the course repertoire
- Aural skills: remember and perform melodies or rhythms played by tutor of up to 2 bars in length.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

You should have completed ‘Piano/keyboards 1A’, or equivalent (approximately 3 months' tuition). You must be able to play simple melodies with chord textures in major keys (hands together), follow basic rhythms, and read music notation in bass and treble clefs. You need to be able to follow written and verbal instructions in English and engage in class discussions.

If you already have experience of playing piano and reading music, and are not sure about your level, you can download our: preparation piece for piano/Keyboards 1B . If you can play this piece confidently (with two weeks’ practice) then this class is the right level for you. We also recommend you study this music ready for the start of your class as it addresses many of the points already covered in the previous piano class.
If you need any further advice please take a moment to read our blog: Choosing a piano class at City lit which lists our full sequence of piano classes and you can always contact the music department directly (music@citylit.ac.uk).

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Please check carefully whether you are booking an online or an in-person course. Online runs via Zoom; in-person uses the digital piano classroom. All courses use Google Classroom to share materials and messages, including any homework tasks.
You will learn through:
- tutor explanation and demonstration
- group playing and individual demonstration tasks
To make good progress a regular practice routine is essential. We recommend a minimum of 20 minutes, 4-5 times per week.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

To see the repertoire and any required music books you will need to bring to this course please refer to our list as follows: City lit piano repertoire books [external website]
A notebook and pencil is also useful. Students should have access to a keyboard or piano for practice between classes plus material, usually one or two printed books (approx. cost £10 each).

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

This course leads to ‘Piano/keyboards 1C’
Please note: we have multiple courses at different times throughout the week.
You may wish to support your learning through a focus on reading, writing and hearing music and musical patterns. For more details about musicianship and music theory please visit our blog: Musicianship and music theory at City lit which lists our full sequence of musicianship and music theory classes.

Sarha Moore

Sarha is an experienced teacher and gigging musician, performing on the saxophone, arranging and composing on the piano, in classical, jazz and world music genres. Her principal band, Bollywood Brass Band, is the UK’s pioneering Indian-style wedding band, performing tunes and compulsively danceable rhythms of Bollywood films. Twice nominated for Songlines World Music Awards, the band has performed across the world in concerts, festivals, and Indian weddings in the UK, Europe, India, Thailand and South Africa. Sarha played with Ghanaian Highlife band Orchestre Jazira, and socialist big band, The Happy End. She also plays in the Charlie Mingus jazz cover band Hog Callin’, The Great Yiddish Parade marching band and Freylekh klezmer band. Sarha’s specialist area is World Music, and she has a PhD on the study of the Flattened Supertonic across different cultures. At CityLit she teaches jazz and classical piano, saxophone, world music styles (practical and academic courses), musicianship and music theory.

Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.