Musical Summer 2023

8 Skills to Play Piano by Chords with Style:
Musical Summer 2023 Program Details:

Online Musical Summer Program Intensive (July-August 2023) of Playing Piano by Chords and by Ear

Musical Summer 2023 is for anyone who has a basic familiarity with the piano keyboard - note reading is not required! - and also wants to
​learn to play by chords and play with style in a short period of time! 

I have played by ear and by chords all my life, in addition to classical - and through my years of teaching piano, I developed a systemized curriculum to teach playing by chords using an efficient and productive method that includes music theory, which will train and equip you to play any music that you like, and make it sound great!

Here's a recent pop song medley:
I value versatile musicianship.  While classical training helps build discipline and expression in our music, playing by chords/ear expands the repertoire that we can play effectively and quickly.  Understanding the practical music theory behind playing by chords also develops sight reading and music sense that will
​in turn strengthen classical training. 

We will be exploring this topic by harnessing our technologies to facilitate
in-depth and systemized instruction, coupled with group learning that is
interactive, frequent, and dynamic. 
​
Classes will run from July 6 through August 29.

Program Outline

Song List.  Students will individually create a list of songs they'd personally like to learn by chords/ear this summer, and aim to learn one song/segment per week.  Our Song List Submissions will happen the week prior to the first day of class (can be changed at any time)

We will meet TWICE each week in LIVE ONLINE GROUP CLASSES: 
  • Technique Classes on Tuesdays at  9am or 6pm PST
  • Repertoire/Song Classes on Thursdays at 9am or 6pm PST
  • Each class will last 45+ minutes, for a total of 90+ minutes of live instruction each week. 

Our Technique Classes will introduce one new technical / kinesthetic skill each week, and we will practice them together as a class, to help you master and internalize this skill.  Practicing as a group makes practicing easier to do and gives us motivation to keep going and mastering your skills!

Then, at our Repertoire/Song Classes, students will overlay the practiced skill of the week, onto your song of the week, and see the magic happen!  Students will also have the opportunity to practice the same technique skill on the songs of other learners in the class and learn from each other.  There is tremendous learning potential from peers in this forum and method, where we are applying similar skills and strategies to learn different songs, and thereby enrich our own playing!  Students may be grouped by ability.

Unlimited learning and feedback available all week.  In addition, students will also Exchange Videos of their own songs and progress with me throughout the week, so that I can help with their ongoing progress on any day of the week, and answer any questions.  This way, students can receive additional feedback and idea exchanges with me throughout the week, instead of waiting for the weekly lesson to make progress!  

Recorded classes available for viewing.  All of our group classes will be recorded and made available to students who miss a class, so that they can view the recording and practice on their own.   ​

Frequent and Interactive

By connecting frequently, I will be able to provide ongoing instruction and help students master new kinesthetic skills specific to this topic, and learn new songs quickly.  Compared to classical pieces which require months for mastery, learning and playing by chords can happen quickly if students practice specific skills and apply them to new songs each week, with guidance.  

Interactive.  Students are able to not only learn from me, but learn from one another, as we practice the same skills but apply them to our various, individual songs.  Seeing is believing!  And having a front row seat to others' learning can inspire our own learning and development.

Online format efficient.  The convenience of connecting online makes meeting multiple times each week possible and easy to do.  We can also harness technologies to enable constant feedback and exchange of ideas throughout the week, which isn't possible with the traditional weekly lesson format. 

New/different skills for playing piano by chords than classical.  Because the skillset required for playing by chords/ear is more broad and less deep than classical piano study, this group learning format is ideal for learning to play by chords in order to experience the variety of ideas and facets of playing.  From an instructional standpoint, I am able to provide detailed instruction on new skills in a group setting each week instead of having to repeat myself extensively in private lesson format, and can instead focus on teaching many new, straight-forward concepts and skills each week during class!

Learn one skill and song per week.  Because the class focus is on learning a variety of simple skills,  group learning allows students to learn a new skill each week and apply them to new songs each week.  Then they can practice this same skill on the songs of all the other learners in class, which will cement their learning of their skill of the week.  The online group learning is ideal for learning to play by chords, unlike classical music study which is much better suited for private lessons! 

Equipment.  Each student will require a piano/keyboard with a laptop/iPad for this summer course.  

Program Summary & Registration
​

Musical Summer Program: Playing by Chords Intensive
  • Program Dates: 
    July 6 thru August 29
  • Technique Group Class 
    Tuesdays at 9am or 6pm PST (45+ minutes)
  • Repertoire/Song Class
    Thursdays at 9am or 6pm PST (45+ minutes)
  • Unlimited learning and idea exchanges via Video Exchanges with me throughout the week and at anytime, for feedback and ideas exchanges
  • Program Goal: 
    By the end of summer, students should be proficient in knowing how to play any song they like by chords, using various techniques and strategies to play with style! 

Tuition 
Summer 2023 Immersive Group Learning Program of Playing by Chords
Tuition for the eight weeks of July-August is $800 

Class registrations are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, class size is limited to optimize students' interactive learning experience. 
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