Just as the name says, in this MP we are imagining walking, running, and stomping on our fingers. To walk, we lift each finger high from the knuckle like "walking" up a hill. At the top of the hill, "run" down fast with fingers still lifting high. At the bottom we stop and "stomp" in double notes and hold long. While holding, students must keep their hand up so it stays standing and not falling down. These skills are the basic rhythms in all music, long, short, and holding.
Changing Octaves
We are now in Course 4. Previously students played both hands together, unison, and double notes. Now they are learning the five octaves on the staff and jumping octaves. This means that if you have keyboard of four octaves, almost all the keys will be used. To get an idea of what students are learning look at the Method section of their Music Book, labeled Example 11. This example shows all the notes we are now learning to read. We are also learning to move the hand sideways across the keys in lateral jumps. We are also learning to hold the head still while jumping. These skills are very much like those that are learned in sport and dance.
Play the Folk Dance like dancing on the fingers. Students are practicing many of the things that have recently been studied at lessons in the MP. Lift each fingering high from the knuckle and play rhythmic, long and short. Play in unison both hands together, running. And play accompaniment in double notes, stomping. Play fast and have fun.
Unlike other instruments, the piano has a larger range of notes than any other instrument. At the beginning of Grade-level 1, students were reading four notes below middle C and above middle C, or 8 notes. Now they are learning to read four notes above the low, bass, middle, and treble octaves, or 30 notes. On changing octaves, we work on jumping in time, not stopping. This is a great step forward in progress for all students.
Wow! Here comes everything that has been learned so far in one song. It starts with reaching the octaves and tapping to make the sound like the tick of a clock. It continues landing strong to imitate the sound of a gong. Then, we hear the sound of a cuckoo lifting high in a whole arm drop suspending over the keys. We are also playing rhythmic in long and short values.