Piano/keyboards 5C
reading, and your confidence.
Choose a start date
- Course Code: ME228C
- Dates: 25/04/24 - 04/07/24
- Time: 12:15 - 13:45
- Taught: Thu, Daytime
- Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: David Frankel
Course Code: ME228C
Choose a start date
Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)
Note: Course starts today, check start time
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?
Consolidate your skills at a grade 4 standard and gain experience by playing in front of others. Achieve greater confidence in hand co-ordination, rhythmical work and a dynamic range. Improve your musicianship, keyboard harmony skills and aural awareness. You will also develop your theoretical knowledge in order to fully understand the pieces you are playing.
You need access to a full-sized keyboard or piano for lessons and practice.
What will we cover?
- Developing dynamic range
- Increasing co-ordination skills in a variety of articulations
- Technique, style and performance skills will be discussed
- Developing a practice routine and strategies for effective practice.
- Course repertoire will be of a grade 4 standard, anticipating elements of the grade 5 syllabus as appropriate
- Scales: all major scales starting on white keys plus Bflat and Eflat majors and A, B, C, D, E, F and G minors (harmonic and melodic, three Octaves, hands together)
- Arpeggios in the same keys (two Octaves, hands together).
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Perform at least 3 pieces on the piano from the class repertoire
- Be able to use gradual dynamics
- Perform 3 major scales and 3 minor scales from the selection for this level
- Play using staccato in one hand and legato in the other
- Use technical exercises to deal with a number of technical problems.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Students should have completed a City Lit Piano/keyboard 4 class or its equivalent as this course draws on material of Grade 4+ standard. You need to be able to follow written and verbal instructions in English and engage in class discussions.
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 20-30 minutes, 4-5 times per week.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
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).
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). A notebook and pencil are also useful.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
This course comprises of three terms spread across the academic year, after which you may continue to ‘Piano workshop 6’, or you may repeat the course to gain more experience at the same level.
Please note: we may 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.
Early signs of musical activity indicated David’s future path, and after taking grades on both piano and viola, he obtained a first-class honours degree in music at Leeds University, studying both instruments. He subsequently completed a postgraduate jazz course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, studying piano with Simon Purcell, where he obtained an LGSM. He obtained an MMus in composition with Merit at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, with support from the Trinity College London scholarship, studying with Deirdre Gribbin, Gwyn Pritchard and Paul Newland. David is passionate about teaching, and teaches adult piano students at City Lit, as well as piano to individuals in his private practice and to young learners for Richmond Music Trust. He also performs from time to time as a jazz and classical pianist and undertakes practical music examining work for ABRSM jazz and classical syllabuses both in the UK and abroad. David also enjoys playing chamber music on viola.
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.
