• previous page
• menu of all pages
• next page

• Print this page

My Invention

Lesson Book page 37

let's get started

1. Let's discover which notes are in the "invention box" (see the picture). The LH gets to play the new Bass F.
2. Test all your fingers on Bass F. Which feels the most comfortable? Which finger does this piece use?
3. How does this invention "work"? Which measures are the same? Which are different?
4. Where does the RH play two notes together—like Honking Cars?

Look ahead. Check for patterns!

explore and create

• New Inventions

  Play the LH one octave lower, or the RH one octave higher.

• My Invention Is Expanding

  How far apart can you put your hands and still play the piece?

• Command Your Invention

  If you had an invention, what would you like it to do? Clean your room? Make chocolate?

• The Popsicle Invention

  An 11-year-old boy invented the popsicle. Find out how he did it at kidzworld.com/site/p1010.htm.

• Play a Real Invention

  Benjamin Franklin invented a glass armonica. You can play it at fi.edu/franklin/musician/musician.html.

Choose fingers that can do the job best.

partner pages

Performance

p. 13 Listen to the Drums

• Tap the rhythm on a drum with the correct hands. Tapping the dynamics will give a natural pulse to this 4/4 piece.
• Play on balanced finger 3s. Use arm weight to drop into Middle C and Bass F.
• Play again, using finger 2s on Middle C and Bass F.
• Play with the duet at three tempos
• A slow processional march
• A moderate drum call for the villagers to gather together
• A fast, energetic dance by the firelight

pedagogy pointers

This piece combines and reinforces Middle C, Treble G, and Bass F. Bass F, however, is the only note played by the left hand. The left hand can push off on the third finger, making it easy for the student to play from the shoulder. The right hand plays both melodic and harmonic fifths, much like in Honking Cars.

Comparing measures to see what's the same and what's different is the best way to help a student read a new piece. Looking ahead and checking for patterns also teaches the student how music is put together. Choose fingers that can do the job best.

accompaniments on disk

• CD Tracks 42-43
• MIDI File 21

^back to top

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

see it in action

Teaching Video 36

This "invention" stretches Philip's imagination and opens his ears to new sounds. Bass F, the new note, gets a workout. Any finger can play it, but Philip sees why this piece uses the third finger. Bracing that finger can help to make bombastic sounds.

Creative repetition frees Philip to explore the range of the keyboard and to experiment with different tempos. The "weird" gears come to life in the mechanical-sounding duet. Philip's facial and physical reactions show that he's anything but a "robot" as he digs into that last solemn performance!

Ask Yourself

• What does Philip do when the teacher demonstrates the piece?
• As Philip's invention gets further and further apart, does anything change in his body language?

Dial-up users: Click to play with RealPlayer (low quality)