pianobooster/doc/courses/README.md

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Piano Booster Music

These pieces of music have been created to work with PianoBooster and have the creative commons copyright. All the music is available here.

Please add to the music on this page - everyone can help. For more information see this forum post. The piano parts for were created using the ABC Plus music system, and the accompaniment was created with the Musical MIDI Accompaniment (MMA).

Beginners Piano Course

Find middle C

Here it is. Right in the middle.

Start with your thumb on Middle C

Press it four times. Wait for four beats then press it again.

Next play E

Two white notes to the right of C is a note called E. Press it four times.

Jump over F to get to G

Jump over F to get to G.

The first five white notes

We will just play the first five notes. Up and down. One note for each finger. (This is the start of the C major scale)

The C cord

These three notes make a cord of C. Press all the notes together, use your thumb, middle finger and little finger to press all three notes at the same time. Any three note cord is called a triad??????.

An Arpeggio for the C cord

When you play the notes in a cord one after the other it is called an arpeggio. Play the three notes one at a time, up and down.

The scale of C Major

All the white notes up to the next c. There are eight notes in a scale. Play scale up and down.

Our first tune

We are ready to play our first tune.

Piano Booster Course

01-StartWithMiddleC

score

Start With Middle C is an extremely easy piece. Just find middle C on the piano and then play that note four times using your thumb on your right hand. The first half of the piece has middle C in the Treble Clef, then for the second half of the piece the same middle C note is shown the Bass Clef. Play this using your thumb on your left hand.

Hint: Try to remember where Middle C is on the piano - this is the most important note!

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02-ChordOfCMajor

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The Chord of C Major piece, introduces you to the chord of C Major which has three notes Middle C, E and G.

Use your thumb for C, your middle finger for E and your little finger for G.

Hint: If you don't know the names of the notes on the score then turn on Show Note Names from the PianoBooster Setup/Preferences menu.

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03-UpAndDown

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Up And Down uses all the fingers of your right hand to play the first five notes of the scale of C major.

Use your thumb for C, your index finger for D, . . . , all the way up to your little finger for G. Make sure you keep using the correct finger for each note.

Hint: If you don't know the notes on the piano then label the piano keys using the PianoBooster Note Chart.

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04-ClairDeLaLune

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This is a simplified version of Clair De La Lune that uses just three notes C D and E from your right hand. First find middle C and always use your thumb for this note, then for D use your first finger and for E use middle finger.

Hint: Remember the fingering: Use your thumb for middle C, your first finger for D and middle finger for E.

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05-ChordOfFMajor

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Now we are going to play using your left hand the F major chord. The three notes of a chord are called a triad and this chord has the same shape as the C major chord we played earlier but played on a different part of the piano.

Use your little finger on the left hand for F, your middle finger for A and your thumb for C.

Hint: If you don't know the names of the notes on the score then turn on Show Note Names from the PianoBooster Setup/Preferences menu.

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06-DownAndUp

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Down And Up is mirror version of the Up And Down piece we played earlier but this version uses your left hand. These are the top five notes of the scale of C major. Again try to use all your fingers.

Use your thumb for C, your index finger for B, . . . , all the way down to your little finger for F.

Hint: Make sure you use every finger on your left hand when playing this piece.

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01-ClairDeLaLune

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This is a simplified version of Clair De La Lune that uses only the three notes C D and E from your right hand. First find middle C and always use your thumb for this note, then for D use your first finger and for E use middle finger.

Hint: If you are a complete beginner try the pieces from the Beginner Course first.

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02-LavendersBlue

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Lavender's Blue is a simple tune in the right hand only that uses the first six notes of the scale of C Major. For the lowest five notes C D E F and G use all the fingers or your right hand - one for each note. (With your thumb on C and your little finger on G). Then for A just stretch your little finger to reach that note.

Hint: To help find the notes ensure Show Note Names are turned on from Setup Preferences menu.

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03-SkipToMyLoo

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For Skip To My Loo start with both thumbs on middle C and then use one finger for each white note on the piano. So for the first two notes which are E you should use the middle finger of your right hand.

This piece introduces the use of both hands as the melody goes across middle C.

Hint: For the notes in the treble clef you always use your right hand and for the base clef your left hand. Make sure you always keep using the correct finger for each note.

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04-FrereJacques

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For Frere Jacques introduces the use of playing both hands together with a very simple left hand part. First practice the left hand and right hand parts separately. Then when ready reduce the speed to 70% and try both hands together. Again start with both thumbs on Middle C.

Hint: Practice the left hand and right hand parts separately.

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05-ScarboroughFair

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Scarborough Fair spans a range of eight notes and so you will have to move fingers up the piano. Use the fingering that you feel comfortable with but ensure that you use all your fingers (of your right hand).

Hint: Don't think about what fingers to use, just use the fingering that comes naturally to you.

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06-Greensleeves

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Green Sleeves introduces the key of G major which has one Sharp - F#. Normally the sharp symbol is not shown when F# is played (but turning on Courtesy Accidentals from the Piano Booster setup/preferences menu will show all accidentals in the key signature). The melody is in the right hand with a simple left hand part.

Hint: You can show Courtesy Accidentals from the PianoBooster setup/preferences menu. But remember to turn them off when you get more skilled.

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07-AmazingGrace

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Amazing Grace introduces the key of F major which has a single Flat - Bb. Again the flat symbol is not normally shown on the score when playing Bb. Practice both hands separately at first and then when ready reduce the speed to 70% when trying both hands for the first time.

Hint: Reduce the speed to 70% when trying both hands for the first time.

midi file

All the music on this page is available here. This free sheet music can be used for beginner piano lessons with PianoBooster.