Modern Band Lesson 3

Introduction to Guitar, Bass, and Piano

GUITAR

In this lesson, students are introduced to the concept of using fret-hand fingers as tone producers by pulling them off of already vibrating strings. The introduced exercise, “Pull Offs,” utilizes the first four frets of the 2nd string, and develops students’ finger strength and dexterity by combining some fingers in execution while others operate independently. Rhythmic concepts are reinforced through technical mastery as the pattern is introduced in quarter notes, then in eighth notes.

Introduction to Reading Music

Note Values

Chromatic Scale on the First String

BASS

In this lesson, students are introduced to the right hand technique of “slap and pop.” Students work on the technique of alternating between two strings on the bass, then are worked through different combinations of slaps and pops to create a variety of rhythms and grooves within the style.

Reading: Notes on the Fourth String

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Piano

In this lesson, students will learn to identify the correct piano keys and correct letters to play a D major scale, as well as the corresponding fingerings for right hand and left hand. Students will review finger number assignments, review black key concepts of naming with sharps, as well as improve their crossing technique through the process of the lesson as they learn to play the scale ascending and descending. At the end of the lesson, students are challenged by attempting to execute the scale with both hands synchronously.

Intro to Piano: Learning the Notes and Keys