Andrew Eales

Improve your Music Theory!

Educational Resources
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

ABRSM’s former CEO Michael Elliott reportedly once said:

“Separating theory from practice can’t be a good thing.”

While this is a great soundbite for those promoting theory courses, the obvious irony here is that ABRSM have themselves, for generations, separated music theory from practice in their own examination syllabus and published materials.

Paul Harris’s new series Improve your Theory!, written for students preparing for ABRSM Theory Grades 1-5, aims to change this situation for the better. Introducing the series, publishers Faber Music explain that:

“Firmly rooted in Paul Harris’s Simultaneous Learning approach, it will transform how music theory is taught and learnt, improving every aspect of musicianship along the way. Never before has theory been so fun or seemed so natural!”

The books have already been awarded ‘Best Print Resource 2016’ at the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence, so let’s see if they live up to the hype…

Rhythm Games

Educational Resources
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

A gift to Pianodao readers, this set of 37 full-sized cards are mostly in Common time, with a handful in Compound time.

They include easy note values, rests, dotted notes, ties and syncopation. A couple of blank cards are also included for you to copy and use for your own additions to the pack.

Rhythm Flash Cards Download

The set is far from comprehensive, and is based on cards I used when delivering group keyboard teaching in schools – so I hope that you enjoy it as it is, and feel free to develop something similar to fit your own needs!

Some Games

Here’s a few ideas of games you can play with students which will put these flash cards to creative use.

Although the main focus here is on pulse and rhythmic development, the activities integrate many other aspects of musical learning, including the development of aural memory, sight reading, music theory and writing, improvisation and composition.

You’re sure to think of many more similar activities and games, so these are just a taster:

Sound Before Symbol

This is an aurally based activity that helps students make connections between notation and music.

For this game select four cards (with the same time signature) that include rhythms previously introduced.
Lay out the cards and start clapping the rhythm of one card repeatedly (as a loop). If you have an electronic keyboard you could add a drum beat while clapping, or you could use any suitable music recording as a backing track (but this isn’t necessary).
Ask the student to join in clapping the same rhythm.
Finally ask the student to identify which card you are both clapping.
Then repeat using a different card (or selection).
This game can also be extended using two cards as a repeated loop – now the student has to identify which two cards of the four have been selected.

Clapping Game

This activity helps a student develop instant visual recall of rhythms when sight reading.

For this game select four cards and fix them where they can all be seen (e.g. stick them to the board/wall, or stand them on the book rest or desk).
Ask the student to clap the card that you are pointing to repeatedly on a loop.
When you are ready, switch to a different card.
Increase the speed at which you switch card.
Then try the same thing with two pairs of cards (making two bar/measure rhythms).

Create a rhythm

This activity uses the rhythm cards as the basis of composing and writing. It is excellent as a music theory activity because it links notational understanding to sound.

Having clapped a set of several cards, invite the student to arrange four cards in order to create a four-bar/measure rhythm phrase.
Clap the phrase together, and discuss what aspects of the rhythm work best.
Make changes and try again.
Finish by writing out the four bar/measure rhythm and clapping it one more time, this time using the version the student has written out.

Compose a Tune

This can be an extension to “Create a Rhythm”.

Take a four bar/measure rhythm and set the student a home assignment of writing a melody using the rhythm.
Encourage the student to compose an answering phrase using similar rhythms.
In the next lesson the student can provide their written notation and play their melody.
Check that what the student plays matches what they have written, as differences here will point to any misunderstandings they have about the rhythmic notation.

Improvisation Game

This is a really simple way to encourage a beginner to start making up their own improvisations.

Select one rhythm card and ask the student to play the rhythm using one note, then two notes, and then three different ones.
Expand the note pattern, using the same rhythm, to four bars/measures.
Add a second card, and ask the pupil to include both rhythms in their improvisation.
Expand this to 8 bars/measures.
Continue adding more cards and extending the length of the improvisation according to the student’s ability and enthusiasm.

Detective Game

To finish off, an activity that links all the others back to the music that the student is actually learning.

Take the cards used in previous activities, and pick the most difficult or newest rhythm introduced.
Ask the pupil to find where that rhythm appears in a piece they are currently learning.
Clap the rhythm within the context of the musical phrase in which it appears.
Finally, play that phrase in isolation before going on to rehearse the full piece.

Good luck!

There are so many variations on these ideas, as well as many great alternative games and activities which work well with individuals, groups and classes. So these are just offered as an inspiration to get you started, and I hope you have fun making up your own ways of using the cards to foster musical learning!

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My First Beethoven

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

In my recent review of Schott’s ‘My First Schumann’ I concluded :

“This is a collection that will “keep on giving”, with such a great selection of pieces for students to enjoy over a number of years… ‘My First Schumann’ is a brilliant introduction to one of the world’s greatest ever piano composers. Highly Recommended!”

Hot on its heels comes the latest book in the series, ‘My First Beethoven’. Can it repeat the success of the previous book? Let’s take a closer look…

June Armstrong: Stars

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Stars: Fourteen Constellations for Piano is a recent publication from piano teacher and composer June Armstrong’s Pianissimo Publishing. The pieces are for piano solo, in a contemporary style, and the level of difficulty is aimed at between grades 3 to 5.

The book joins the growing library of works from June, which include some dozen books to suit players from beginner level (Toy Box and Paint Box) up to and including the higher grades (Causeway Coast Fantasy, The Girona Suite and Strangford Sketchbook).

Taken as a whole, June has produced an impressive, growing catalogue of piano music written in a modern musical language which will appeal to players of all ages, and which reflects her motto “Music of the Imagination”.

My First Schumann

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Schott Music, the German publishers founded back in 1770, are maintaining an impressive commitment to new piano music publishing projects, including a wide range of resources and publications for players of all levels.

Of special interest to intermediate players will be their ongoing My First Composers series. The first two issues (Bach and Mozart) have recently been joined by My First Schumann, which I am delighted to review here.

Barbara Snow: Animal Jazz

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Edition HH is a publishing house founded by Norwegian musician Per Hartmann, and based in Oxfordshire, UK. Their eclectic and ever-expanding catalogue embraces contemporary scores and scholarly performing editions of rarer items in the musical repertoire, from the Renaissance to the Romantic periods.

‘Animal Jazz’ is a recent addition, a selection of 15 brand new original short pieces for piano solo composed by London-based musician Barbara Snow.

Ben Crosland’s Magic Beans

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

‘Magic Beans’ is the latest collection of easy piano pieces by Ben Crosland, and will be published on Saturday 5th March 2016.

Having received an advance copy from publisher Editions Musica Ferrum, I am delighted to offer this first in-depth review of the book…

Barbara Arens: Piano Misterioso

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

In my review of Barbara Arens’ collection of ’21 Amazingly Easy Pieces’ last month I concluded:

“The partnership between composer and publisher has clearly worked brilliantly here, and the resulting book is quite simply a delight. Let’s hope for more to come!”

I’m therefore particularly happy to be reviewing the follow up ‘Piano Misterioso’, especially as all the praise offered in my previous review equally applies here.

Subtitled “28 Magically Easy Pieces”, the collection would suit early intermediate players at around UK Grade 3 level. And it is clear that publishers Breitkopf & Härtel have again given their full professional attention to editorial detail, beautifully presenting Barbara’s latest pieces with class and distinction.