TECHNIQUE & ARTISTRY BOOK by Nanc. an Randall Faber fv’ (Ee 7 qventnves Da Vina Meany Le THE BASIC PIANO METHOD FABER aaceLeonarDA Note to Teachers and Parents Congratulations on choosing Piano Adventures®. The breadth of this curriculum and its wide variety of styles offers the best in effectiveness and student engagement. There are four core books per level: Lesson, Theory, Technique & Artistry, and Performance. The Technique & Artistry Books combine two essential elements of pianism. The student develops technical skill through the application of “Technique Secrets.” Then, “Artistry Magic” pieces allow these techniques to be tools for music expression. This integration of technique and artistry, the sequence of technique secrets through the levels, and a unique emphasis on gesture that coordinates arm, wrist and fingers make this series especially powerful. The Technique & Artistry Book is organized into units that correlate with the Level 1 Lesson Book. Online Resources Visit pianoadventures.com for teaching resources. Production Coordinator: Jon Ophoff ‘Cover and Mutations: Terpstra Design, San Francisco Engraving: Dovettee Productions ne ISBN 978-1-61677.097-6 Copyright © 1994, 2011 Dovetre Productions, Ine. ‘clo FABER PIANO ADVENTURES, 3082 Creck Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48108, Intemational Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. Printed in US.A. WARNING: The musi, text, design, and graphics inthis publication are protected by copyright law. Any duplication isan infringement of U.S. copyright law. FFIO972ND EDITION LEVEL | PLANO — by Ne and Randall Fabe dventures’ with Vietoria MeArihur THE BASIC PIANO METHOD This book belongs to Note: All exercises and pieces are by ‘Naney and Randall Faber unless otherwise noted, Piano ADVENTURES: 3042 Creek Orive ‘Aan Arbor, Michigon 48108‘These four Technique Secrets are used as daily warm-ups for pieces and exercises in this book. ‘The “secrets” may be learned gradually and are highlighted in gold-colored boxes throughout the pages. For quick and easy use, the Lesson Book also refers to each correlating Technique Book page with this icon: > The teacher should demonstrate each “technique secret” as it is introduced. Four Technique Secrets Technique means skill. These technique secrets will help you play pieces more easily. 1. The first secret is ROUND HAND SHAPE. Hand Cups + Place your right hand over your kneecap. + Keep that “hand shape” and s-1-o-w-ly place your hand on the keyboard. + Now do the same with your left hand. Try it hands together! 2, The second secret is a RELAXED WRIST. Wrist Float-off (on the closed piano lid) + Set your hands in a rounded hand position. + Pretend a balloon on a string is slowly pulling your wrist upward. Let your wrist rise in s-l-o-w motion until only the tip of finger 3 is touching the surface.* + Now gently return to a normal playing position. + Do 2 “wrist float-offs” with right hand, then left hand, Try it hands together! Teacher Note: The shoulder should not rise, but stay relaxed <2.lesson p.8 (Firefly), p.10 [litle River) FRI097‘Teacher Note: The next secret teaches staccato, allowing the hand to bounce lightly from the wrist. ‘The student should be coached to relax while tapping, so as not to stiffen the forearm. 3. The third secret is a LIGHT HAND BOUNCE. Woodpecker Taps (on the closed piano tid) * Place your R.H. in a rounded hand position. * Perch your thumb on the side rip so your wrist doesn’t sag. + Lightly tap this rhythm with your R.H. fingertips. (all fingers tap together). ox iil ds ‘Tap - ping, tap - ping onthe tree, + Repeat Woodpecker Taps with your left hand. \ Now tap hands together. 4, The fourth secret is FINGER INDEPENDENCE. Finger Talk (on the closed piano lid) * Silently play the finger pattern below. Remember to keep a round hand position. * Play right hand. * Play left hand. * Play hands together. 1097 lesson p.14 (Mexican Jumping Beans), p.24 (Poper Airplane)wo Legato means a smooth and connected sound, with no break between tones. When you play LEGATO, one finger goes down as the other finger comes up. ‘Warm-up with Hand Cups (p. 2). Legato Steps for R.H. Butterseotelt Fingers (Remember to play on the side tip of the thumb.) 1 2 R.H. mf P Play le . ga - to, soft-ly on the keys. Cotton Candy Fingers @® 3 RH. mf P ‘Walk — your fin - gers smooth-ly on the keys. Caramel Fingers @ 4 R.H. ype Stick - y fin - gers, play le - ga - to, please. ‘Teacher Duet: (Student plays as written) Use this duct for both pages 45. Butterscoteh Fi 5 3 Cotton Candy F er’ FFIOD«Which of these ideas remind you of legato? (circle two) popping com aflowing stream abumpyroad —_arrolling ball ep “py o— al lee Sticky Fingers Legato Steps for LH. Butterscotch Pingers (Remember to play on the side tip of the thumb.) LH. 2 i Pp Phy le - ga = to, softly on the — keys. Cotton Candy Fingers mfQ 7 P Walk — your fin - gers smooth-ly on the —_ keys, LH. Caramel Fingers md + P Stick - y fin - gers, play le - ga - to, please. L.A. ‘Caramel Fingers 4 3 FFI097 oe ie. gal - lop - in to the | night, roam? Repeat from measure 5.To) Warm-up with Hand Cups (p. 2). + Imagine each staccato note is a popcorn seed. Pop the popcorn with a crisp, staccato sound! + Before playing, circle step or skip. Pop! Pop! Popcorn! Words by Crystal Bowman Bouncing happily steps of skips? lon_? 3, "i " Count the ker - nels | Pop, pop, Pop, Pop, anf pp on repeat ina cup. Pour the oil, Pop, pop, pop! | Pop, Pop, Pop, pop, ton_? steps or skips? steps oF skips? steps or skips? 3) heat it up. get - ting hot. Pop, pop, pop! pop, pop, pop! Repeat eps or skips? playing ‘Hear them siz - zie, | hear them pop! Pop, (resi) pop, (rest) | pop! Pop-corn pop-ping, | pop, pop, pop! f 10 FFIAS RS area ee MEA Cmca + Review: Demonstrate a “wrist float-off” for your teacher before playing. * Imagine your right hand as a rising balloon. / Let your wrist gently rise on the “air currents.” \ Floating Balloon ‘Hold the damper pedal down throughout. ) x Moderately Lon verist wrist = 3 float-off Sloat-off Wrist will gent - ly ise, up like a bal -| Joon, mf 5 5 _wrist wrist 1 float-off float-off 9 wrist wrist 1 foxt-off oat Wrist will gent - ly wrist floatoff (The balloon comes down.) float-off Play the LOWEST F on the piano, ©) R107 epee | eS | pret cK : © Before playing, name the intervals (2nd or 3rd) in each blank. Mouse on a Trampoline C5-Finger Scale Rather quickly 3 4 2 i Play the right hand one octave higher. 16 lesson p.27 (This Is Not Jingle Bell)Warm-up with Hand Cups (p. 2) This 1 is 4 You Steady (for RH. alone) -— sical i ooia if ® mf © Play up a 4th! Play up a 4th! ® ® ete Play up a 4th! Ply up a tht Continue this pattern beginning on G, A, B, and C. This 1 is 4 You, 2! (for LH. alone) Steady Play down a 4th! Play down a ath Play down a ath! Play down a ath! etc, ® @ Continue this pattern beginning on F, E, D, and C. 4 ba Play each exercise again using fingers 2 and 5. Fri007 == iletson p.30 (A MixedUp Song) 17Do Finger Talk (R.H., L.H., then H.T.) using this pattern: 1-4-3-2- Shad * Circle all the 4ths in this piece. Moderately fast Racing Bikes ton 2 TF Rac ing down the y streets,the | bik - ers round the ‘Up and down the | hills, they pass each | oth - er with a Ton “Num-ber Four” is | lead-ing now, and | wins in rec-ord | time! . Ev-"ty=bod- y's |cheer-ing as they | near the fin - ish The last bike to finish had a flat tire. Play the piece again slowly and staccato. 18 lesson p.93 (Runaway Rabbit} FFI097‘Warm-up with Wrist Float-off (p. 2). Magic Doorbells Slowly and gracefully Son_? lon? , @, oe = dong, (float - off) Ding - dong, (float - off) as written bn Ding - dong, (floar-off) Ring! (2. - 3 - 4) Ding dong, (floar-of) Ding-dong, (floarf) Ring! (2-3-4 Ss Se Pe Oe (Sewer Frio? “Lesson p.3d (Rain Forest} 19Ca ce OR Ieee NRE iC Le Different DYNAMICS (p, mp, mf, f) help to make a piece interesting. In this piece, you ean choose the dynamics. + First, read the words and play the music. gt + Then write dynamic marks in the boxes given. + Now play the piece and enjoy your version of Legend of the Buffalo! Legend of the Buffalo With spirit ae 3on_? 4, 1 The ground shakes as a herd of buffalo run The sound echoes from the hills. Ce | ee ae ‘Teacher Duet: (Student plays as written) Note: Follow the dynamic marks chosen by the student. F " o Nn * \_* p + 4 20 lesson p.35 [lightly Row) Fri07FFI007 A Cheyenne child stops and listens. (growing louder) A dust cloud rises as the buffalo thunder by. (You write the last sentence. ; Ose (omit 8 Sor duet) 2UT Do Finger Talk (R.H., L.H., then H.T.) using this patter 5-3-5-3-4-2-4 + First play on the closed piano lid. : Hint: Both hands use the same fingering. Busy Machine Moderately 3 up the | gears. click - y, clack - y, Hear that clat - ter ase E a ant ie 22 lesson p.36 (Forest Drums) Fri0a7Blind Flying — to play by memory, looking straight ahead, NOT at your hands. + Memorize the musical pattern for Bat Sonar, then play it “blind flying.” Bat Sonar (for R.H. alone) Steady . ‘~_—— musical pattern ——¥ 1308 1 | (move) @) 3 5, 1 (move up) mp © ~~ Fly-ing up and down, Fly-ing up and down, ® 2 (move up) @) 3 (move up) Fly - ing up and down. Fly - ing up and down. Continue this pattern beginning on G, A, B, and C. Bat Sonar (for LH. alone) Steady Hang-ing up-side down. Hang-ing up-side down. ss mf, i 3 3 '_— musical pattern ——1 3. 5 1 (move down) (move down) Hang-ing upside down. Hang- ing up - side down. pe pee a8 1 “(move down) GQ) 3 (move down) Continue this pattern beginning on F, E, D, and C. FFI097 Lesson p.38 [No Moon Tonight} ete. ete. BA Rie ules a io ve MAS Ge 4 Have you ever looked through a kaleidoscope? You would see many beautiful colors In music, playing the dynamics creates “musical colors.” * Create “musical colors” in this piece by following the dynamics closely. * Before playing, name the intervals (2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th) inthe blanks, Kaleidoscope Colors Hold the damper pedal down throughout. Rather slowly Son N.Faber ‘Teacher Duet: (Student plays as written) Teacher pedals for duct ME) 4 s RAL meme r fr |< esson p.39 (Grumpy OK Teall) i] Frio?2 mf mp P o_o o- * Use your imagination and choose a color for each dynamic mark. / P mp mf f FFI097 2526 unr oS Warm-up with Wrist Float-off (p. 2) + When playing from a white key to a black key, Jet your hand roll forward (toward the piano). + As your fingers “walk up” to the black key, your wrist will rise slightly. 342 Play OE Play LH. RH. walk up Waves Rolling In Rather slowly 4 Repeat playing the quarter notes staccato. Your wrist should rise, just as when playing legato. lesson p.40 (Merlin's Wand) Fr?A Ree Ss. Tee a A To play with artistry, a pianist must LISTEN. * In this piece, can you continue to hear the right hand “meow” while the left hand plays? jlomeat Howl Mysteriously Ts scarthur, Faber, aber jeArthur, Faber, 3onkb 2onD FS ucow: T )- 3 2 Listen to the sound! Py hold re ; = Qe Doa’t lft until the sound +— has completely faded | = | ‘You and your teacher may wish to time how long (in seconds) the how! at measure 10 lasts until it has completely faded away, seconds e107 lesson p.A4 (Boogie on Broodway) 27wir nO Oe This piece uses only tonie and dominant notes. * Hint: Begin crossing the left hand over while the : right hand is still playing. Gymnasties Smoothly LE LH. prepares = LH. prepares LH, over ® LH. prepares | ! LH. prepares LH. over 28 Lesson p.46 (TwoNote March] F097This piece combines many of the musical ideas you have leamed: 1. steady rhythm 2. legato and staccato 3. dynamics 4, listening Journey by Camel + Does your performance include them all? Music by N. Faber Muderalily Words by Crystal Bowman 5 4 3 2 mf me i ‘through the des- ert, come join our | car - a- van? o mp Rid i o- ver des-ert | sand. yy i ie fs i : ES. Letton p.47 (Girl/Boy on a Bicycle) 29 oe the right hand one octave higher. rion30 uniT OO ‘Warm-up with Hand Cups (p. 2). RH. 16 B___ mf Clim - ing up. Climb - ing down. mf’ Climb - ing up. Climb LH. * For forte chords, play to the bottom of the keys with Ch alk* arelaxed wrist. ord Cakew * For piano chords, play lightly and close to the Keys. Steady 3 I f A cakewalk is « march-like dance with prancing high steps. A cake was the prize for the best dancers. ‘Teacher Duet: (Student plays 7 octave higher) an SN Si) "ae Las, at <=SLesson p.48 [The C Chord) of oe ae Fr1097AR Tees ERs Yo MAR Ge sees An artistic ending puts the finishing touch on a piece. For the last line of this piece: * Practice s-l-o-w-i-n-g down and getting softer. + Doa wrist float-off on the last note. «Lift the pedal end place both hands in your lap. Hold the damper pedal down throughout. Flowing smoothly mf Son 5 © Q) m: St 9 ® B mf slow down and get softer = = LH. prepares LH. over (8) ! | ! ! * Did you play an artistic ending? Listen to your teacter applaud! F197 “Lesson p.51 Row, Row, Row Your Boat) 312 Do Woodpecker Taps (R. then 1.7.) Usethisriythm: FJ JJ [Jee |] Rhythm Hint + Drop into beat 1 of each measure. Baseball Game + Play beats 2 and 3 lightly, staying close to the keys. ‘Light and happy Play 2 tases 5 (or you're out!) ( ‘Teacher Duet: (Student plays as written. Teacher plays both hands J octave higher throughout.) a | Fu Ny melt tl At. ROT pl lesson 0.53 Uozzy Joe) RH ye i ene ayT ips [om pr py R07Melody: the tune Harmony: notes o: chords played with the melody elidel Trading Hint: Make the harmony softer than the melody. Baseball Cards Cheerfully § Keep fingers Medrtir, Faber, Faber 4 close to keys! i. RY © Ss po Mel - 0 - | dy, (play soft - ly) dy, (play soft - ly) L, ton _? Play 10 the bottom of 3 the key for a rich tone, pe ¢ *¢ Pe dy, (play soft - ly) : tune. (soft chords) oe: (Now who has the baseball cards?) 5 | J - dy, (play soft - ly) dy, (play soft - ly) | es B. 4 Keep fingers 2 a 5 close 1 keys! oe dy, (play soft - ly) tune. (soft chords) Pigs P. Fe1097 <=lesion p.54 (Shepherd's Song) 3310 uu Do Finger Talk (R.H., L-H., then H.T.) using this pattern: 5-3-1-3-1-3-5 This exercise uses 4 different G 5-finger scales. « Prepare each new G scale during the half rest. « Before playing, find and circle the ritard. Hiking ona New Path Moderately pee prepare (getting tired) rit. be: ID: be 3 A playing staccaro and mp as you hike on a rocky path. au“ tecenn 9 57 Warmiln in Gl FrI09Do Woodpecker Taps (RH., LH, then H.T.) Use this rhythm: J | an ld dd { + Before playing, name each interval in the blanks (2nd, 3rd, 4th, Sth). * Playfully lon? j Hint: Both hands use the same fingering. 1 Can you memorize and play this piece “blind flying"? (See page 23 for review.) FIGS? <2 lesson p.57 (WarmLp inG) 3536 Warm-up with Hand Cups (p. 2). Accent Warm-Up + Tap this exciting rhythm with your teacher. Count aloud. + Tap heavily for each accent. Tap lightly for the other beats. Prehistoric Rock Very steady = = ‘Teacher Duet: (Student plays as written) 4 af 5 z 8 Lower throughout mas ira} Ties Lesson p.58 (Dinosaur Stomp) FIO97The Upbeat “ge igen ‘An upbeat leads into the first beat of the next measure. The first beat of the measure is called the downbeat. lightly Upbeat Rule: Play the upbeat lightly, then play a stronger tone on the downbeat, Before playing the melodies below: + draw an up-arrow over each upbeat. ‘+ draw a down-arrow over each downbeat. Home on the Range ie Good Morning to You m 1 iF Sood | morn - i to in ou mf . * i The Muffin Man ly Boy (This melody has 2 upbeats) Oh,| doyou know the | muf-fin man mf Oh, where have you | been mp 3 When the Saints Go Marching In a . ent co wi 1 ‘myf’ Oh, when the | saints T 3 5 | Point out a melody that begins on beat 2, on beat 3, on beat 4. F087 slesson p.59 (The Dreydl Song) 37‘With your teacher, look through this piece to find the following: 1, slurs 2. staccatos 3. dynamie marks 4, accent marks [oie Show your artistry in this final piece! Wes' Ocean, Ocean Music by N. Faber Words by Crystal Bowman Moderately 1° ® ocean's big, the 0 - cean’swide, I Ton growing louder @ waves up - on 38 lesson p60 (The Bubble) 1087Fr1097 Crash, crash, | 0-cean’s big, the 0 - cean’s wide, I'll fs] @ 5 growing louder 7 climb a-board a | ship and ride so | far a-way to |Greece or Rome and mf 19 Noor then Tl sail back | home. Crash, crash, | boom! Crash, crash, Ff ma Listen to the sound of staccato with pedal! > $s 4 3) § 3 4 ® Feel the sea spray mp. ~@ .Certificate of Fabulous Fingers Congratulations to: (Your Neel You have completed LEVEL 1 TECHNIQUE & ARTISTRY and are now ready for LEVEL 2A092019 Alphabetical Listing of Artistry Magic Pieces Carousel Floating Balloon Journey by Camel Kaleidoscope Cotors Legend of the Buffalo Ocean, Ocean Roses Are Red. ‘Tomcat Howl. Trading Baseball Cards ‘The Wild Colt 31 13 29 24 -20 38 15 27 33 10Faber Piano Adventures — Level 1 Student-Centered Cur Ty CC Cae) Peieeesastoarés Fn Level 0 i 01 Aetioveront Sl Seat oS on ‘ c Technique 3 Theory Gan Rod asic & Artistry 079 beck FFIOGT ™ Performance PlayTime* Piano - Level 1 Supplementary Series EERREERREA 5)! — Caleeion oveney Crista Hyms Rock'n Rol Jazz Blues Chisimas Sheets US. $6.99 ‘ISBN 978-1-61677-097-6 WIM I) Developing Musical Minds and Hearts* mn 74598-20147" Visit us at planoadventures.com 98781616'770978 FF1007 +HL00420190