Senior Project:Senior Project:Learning to play Learning to play

pianopiano

Did you ever take piano lessons Did you ever take piano lessons as a child?as a child?

Hello, my name is Alex Gainey. Hello, my name is Alex Gainey.

For my Senior Project I learned For my Senior Project I learned how to play the piano. I have how to play the piano. I have always been interested and always been interested and amazed by musical instruments, amazed by musical instruments, like drums and especially the like drums and especially the piano. piano.

Research PaperResearch Paper

►For my research paper I found the For my research paper I found the commonality between learning to play commonality between learning to play the piano or any musical instrument the piano or any musical instrument and increasing grades and IQ. and increasing grades and IQ. Statistics have shown that learning to Statistics have shown that learning to play piano or reading music has play piano or reading music has increased brain development. increased brain development.

Research Cont’dResearch Cont’d

The effects of learning to play piano and The effects of learning to play piano and reading music on me were noticeable. I reading music on me were noticeable. I was more organized with my work and was more organized with my work and also I was managing my time better with also I was managing my time better with school work and my job. school work and my job.

My expectationsMy expectations

► My first expectations of learning to My first expectations of learning to play the piano were stressful to think play the piano were stressful to think about. about.

► I thought that with my school, football I thought that with my school, football and work schedule I wouldn’t have had and work schedule I wouldn’t have had time to learn or even practice.time to learn or even practice.

First lessonFirst lesson

► My first lesson was very eye opening.My first lesson was very eye opening.► I met at my facilitators house and we I met at my facilitators house and we

immediately began.immediately began.► I learned the first most basic note. I learned the first most basic note.

Which is the middle Which is the middle ““CC ””. . ► Then I learned about the how the left Then I learned about the how the left

hand plays the Treble Clef and right hand plays the Treble Clef and right plays Bass Clef.plays Bass Clef.

Second LessonSecond Lesson

► At my next lesson we practiced and At my next lesson we practiced and went over what I had previously went over what I had previously learned in the first lesson.learned in the first lesson.

► I then learned to play with my right I then learned to play with my right hand. This was difficult for me, hand. This was difficult for me, because I am left handed.because I am left handed.

Third LessonThird Lesson

► I learned to play actual songs with my I learned to play actual songs with my left and right hand at different times.left and right hand at different times.

► My left hand I was very good at. But My left hand I was very good at. But my right I was still having problems my right I was still having problems with.with.

► The first song I fluently learned was The first song I fluently learned was the famous the famous ““Twinkle Twinkle Little StaTwinkle Twinkle Little Starr ””..

Fourth LessonFourth Lesson

► In this lesson with my facilitator, she In this lesson with my facilitator, she taught me to play with both hands at taught me to play with both hands at the same time.the same time.

► Trying to play both hands at the same Trying to play both hands at the same time was very difficult. I would read a time was very difficult. I would read a note and play something absolutely note and play something absolutely different.different.

► I would restart every time I messed up.I would restart every time I messed up.

Fifth LessonFifth Lesson

►My fifth lesson I just kept practicing My fifth lesson I just kept practicing what I had already learned.what I had already learned.

► I kept repeating hand exercises to I kept repeating hand exercises to help me get better with hand eye help me get better with hand eye coordination and playing.coordination and playing.

Sixth LessonSixth Lesson

► In the past lessons I was learning to In the past lessons I was learning to play notes with both hands on piano, play notes with both hands on piano, but it was time to move on. but it was time to move on.

► I was now learning a whole new I was now learning a whole new concept. concept.

► This concept was CHORDS.This concept was CHORDS.► Chords are used to make the music Chords are used to make the music

sound smoother.sound smoother.

Seventh LessonSeventh Lesson

► The next thing to learn was playing The next thing to learn was playing chords and notes at the same time.chords and notes at the same time.

► This was the most difficult task I had This was the most difficult task I had to learn. to learn.

► I have a disability that prevents me I have a disability that prevents me from being able to comprehend a lot of from being able to comprehend a lot of things to doing them physically. things to doing them physically.

Eighth LessonEighth Lesson

► Learning my song for my senior board Learning my song for my senior board presentation.presentation.

► This song is very well known. ItThis song is very well known. It’’s the s the ““When the saints go marching inWhen the saints go marching in””..

Key to successfully playing Key to successfully playing pianopiano

► Practice is the key factor to becoming Practice is the key factor to becoming good at piano. Repetition of notes, good at piano. Repetition of notes, chords and songs is the KEY.chords and songs is the KEY.

Challenges and ProblemsChallenges and Problems

► The main challenges I had was Time! The main challenges I had was Time! ► At the time of lessons I was playing At the time of lessons I was playing

football and coaching a youth football football and coaching a youth football team.team.

► So I had to prioritize my time wisely. So I had to prioritize my time wisely. ► I also suffered two concussions during I also suffered two concussions during

football, so I was not able to make football, so I was not able to make some of the lessons or even practice.some of the lessons or even practice.

My FacilitatorMy Facilitator

►My facilitator is a teacher at Creekview My facilitator is a teacher at Creekview in the Special Ed. Department. in the Special Ed. Department.

► Mrs. Sue Ellen TurnerMrs. Sue Ellen Turner► She has over 40 years experience She has over 40 years experience

playing piano and around 15-20 years playing piano and around 15-20 years teaching piano to all ages.teaching piano to all ages.

I would absolutely recommend taking I would absolutely recommend taking piano lessons and I am considering piano lessons and I am considering keeping up with this through the summer keeping up with this through the summer and possibly into college.and possibly into college.

Learning to play piano has totally Learning to play piano has totally changed my hand eye coordination and changed my hand eye coordination and also has helped me in keep grades up in also has helped me in keep grades up in high school.high school.

Thank you for your time and Thank you for your time and patiencepatience

I will now answer any questions I will now answer any questions you may have at this time.you may have at this time.

► At this time I will be playing my piece for you.