University of Jamestown Music Lessons for Progressive Theory Integration and Technique Development

CatBoyRenFu guided a piano lesson with a learner from Cicero, where they explored the nuances of staccato and legato, worked on developing a feel for the keys without looking, and practiced the B scale. The "Forest Song" was also a central part of the lesson, with a focus on rests, dynamics, and recognizing steps and skips between notes. The learner was assigned to practice the "Forest Song" without looking at their hands and to continue practicing scales, including the B scale.

During a piano lesson, Garret introduced CatBoyRenFu (Ren) to the E scale and reviewed proper hand technique. Ren also began learning the song 'Lightly Row,' focusing on note reading, counting, and staccato. For homework, Garret assigned Ren to practice counting, looking at the notes, and working on playing some notes louder than others in 'Lightly Row.'

Garret and Ren dedicated their piano lesson to refining fundamental skills and musicality. Their practice encompassed scales—specifically C, G, D, and A—alongside technical aspects like finger curvature, thumb placement, and pedal use. They also delved into two pieces: 'Lonely Pine,' where they focused on dynamics and counting, and 'Liliza Jane.' Ren has set a goal to increase the tempo of 'Liliza Jane' to 120 bpm using a metronome and will continue to hone his scale practice with particular attention to hand position.

Garret Fernandez guided CatBoyRenFu in a piano lesson that delved into scales, posture, and pieces including "Classic Dance," "Haunted Mouse," and "The Lonely Pine." The instruction covered counting, dynamics, note reading, and effective use of the sustain pedal. For homework, CatBoyRenFu was tasked with practicing without pauses between measures, with a strong focus on dynamics, though travel plans might limit their practice time.

Garret and Alex reviewed piano basics, including note reading, chords, and rhythm, using "Jingle Bells" and "Brother John." Alex practiced arpeggios and chord shapes, while troubleshooting keyboard issues. Garret assigned PDFs for practice, including "Brother John" and another song for note reading, and suggested a book for Alex to order.

Garret taught Ren piano, focusing on scales, rhythm, and note reading using the songs "Firefly" and "Sailing in the Sun." Ren practiced scales, worked on playing without looking at the keyboard, and was introduced to the metronome. Garret assigned "The Hunted Mouse" and "Classic Dance" for optional extra practice.