Piano lessons for all, with a focus on accessibility and fun, but also excellence through music

Student and Tutor continued their study of piano, focusing on minor scales, arpeggios, and chord progressions, specifically practicing in A minor, E minor, and B minor. They discussed the theoretical function of the major five chord in minor keys and strategies for consistent practice. The Student was assigned to revisit previously learned pieces and incorporate site reading into their practice routine.

The student and tutor reviewed the challenges of distinguishing between major and minor scales and discussed cognitive strategies for learning. They practiced minor scale chord progressions, emphasizing the correct construction of the dominant chord by raising the seventh scale degree, and then moved on to learning various types of seven chords (major seven, dominant seven, minor seven, half-diminished seven, and fully diminished seven) by relating them to the major scale and practicing in different keys. The tutor provided follow-up actions to practice these concepts in various keys.

Student and Tutor reviewed and practiced minor scales, arpeggios, and chord progressions, specifically focusing on the 1-4-5 progression in minor keys. The session extensively covered music theory, defining natural and harmonic minor scales through interval patterns and modifications of major scales, and introducing two church modes: Mixolydian and Dorian. Tutor also introduced different types of seventh chords, assigning practice of these concepts in the key of C.

Student and Tutor worked on an original song composition, focusing on refining its structure, adjusting rhythmic notation, and exploring various harmony techniques like adding notes below the melody and selecting appropriate chords based on music theory. They discussed concepts such as relative major/minor keys, harmonic rhythm, and text painting. The Student plans to prepare another song for the next session.

Student and Tutor reviewed piano arpeggios, working on two-octave major arpeggios across various keys. They then delved into different minor scales, including natural and harmonic minors, before exploring jazz modes like Mixolydian and Dorian, discussing their structure and application over specific seventh chords for improvisation. The Tutor provided practice recommendations for incorporating these new scales into the Student's routine.

Student and Tutor continued their guitar lesson, focusing on technique and pieces. They practiced Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 Prelude, addressing challenging finger transitions, and worked on the song "Guaranteed," reviewing complex chord shapes and fingerstyle patterns. The Tutor provided specific strategies for left-hand finger placement and right-hand plucking. They plan to continue working on these pieces next week.