The Importance of Keyboarding

This year in music the students will be learning basic keyboarding skills. I know that seventh grade music seems a long way away when you are a fourth grader, but now is the time to think about what music option you will elect in junior high. Seventh grade requires a year of fine arts (visual, music, or drama). Lehi Junior High offers an unusually large selection of music classes. You can visit their website and look at the 7th grade registration to see Lehi Junior High's music requirements and offerings. However, two of the classes require prerequisites which must begin in fourth grade. Both percussion and guitar classes require a minimum of three years of piano lessons. This prerequisite is a standard for any junior high offering these classes. As a result, I will cover the beginning of basic keyboarding (however much I can squeeze in during a four week period of time), to help students decide if piano lessons are for them (without mom and dad forking out money for lessons yet).

Basic keyboarding skills are a must for everyone. Whether you choose choir, band, or orchestra in the seventh grade, being able to walk over to a keyboard and pluck out the notes is invaluable. As a vocalist, I would be lost if whenever I started a new piece of music if I couldn't pluck out the notes of my part. My son is a trombonist and the first thing he does and pluck the tune out on the piano. The piano (or any other keyboard) is a unique type of instrument. As long as the piano tuner has done his job, the piano will always play the note in tune. This is not the case with many other instruments which (in spite of tuning) can be played out of tune.

Forms

Click here to view the Upper Grades Disclosure Document.

The Trimester System

The school year is divided into three trimesters. The students will receive their report cards at the end of each trimester. During the trimester, the students will attend four weeks each of all three specialties:  computers, P.E., and music. The order in which they will attend the specialties will depend upon which rotation they are in. Please consult with your child's core teacher to determine the rotation schedule. The follow is the general curriculum for each of the trimesters.

Trimester One (4 weeks)

Reading music (in preparation for piano keyboarding).

Finger Exercises (in preparation for piano keyboarding.

Rhythm accompaniment and creation.

Trimester Two (4 weeks)

Piano Keyboarding beginning with middle C.

Trimester Three (4 weeks)

Identifying instruments.

Create part of a song (melody, ostinato). .