Spontaneous Social Piano Course, for fun and enjoyment, at Benslow Music, Hitchin, Herts, SG4 9RB

 

You see a piano somewhere, and long to play it, but can’t because you don’t have suitable books with you. This course will teach you what and how to play, for your own fun and everyone's enjoyment, on such spontaneous social occasions.

 

STANDARD: ALL

 

 

What is the course about?
Perhaps you have learnt the piano for many years, or perhaps you’ve recently begun, but what you would most like to do is be able to sit at any piano, anywhere, and play without notation -because your books will have been left at home. It would be fun, too, if other people could join in, singing well-known songs or improvising with you.

This course will teach you what and how to play spontaneously, and include others, on social occasions.

 

Suitable for all piano players (social piano playing is all about including people of different levels), it will teach you how to:

 

• Play by ear, including accompanying songs e.g Happy Birthday, Auld Lang Syne, Folk songs, Pop songs and Christmas Carols
• Improvise solo and with others (including with non piano players)
• Choose repertoire suitable for memorising, and memorise it
• Understand chord symbols and play from a leadsheet
• Sight read whatever’s in the piano stool

Everyone will be able to focus on achieving their own personal goals in the mutually supportive atmosphere created by Lucinda, who has forty years' experience working with adult piano players of all ages and stages.

 

 

What will we cover?
Playing by ear, including accompanying songs e.g Happy Birthday, Auld Lang Syne, Folk songs, Pop songs and Christmas Carols
Improvising solo and with others -including with non piano players. Everyone can do it!
Memorising repertoire
Understanding chord symbols and playing from a leadsheet
Sight reading

 

What will we accomplish? By the end of this course...
You will know how to sit down at any piano, anywhere, and play music to your own satisfaction and personal self-respect. And you will have made significant practical progress playing in these ways.

 

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Players of all levels are welcome, social piano is all about inclusion in a mutually supportive atmosphere.The course will be taught in such a way that everyone will be able to work, separately and together, at their own level.

 

How will the course be taught, and will any preparation be required?
Mainly group work with some individual time.

 

Will music be provided in advance of the course?
All material required will be provided, but please bring with you three short, contrasting pieces that you can play -including something suitable for social piano if you have it (e.g. a well-known tune or song?).