Guiding you through her book Piano by ear, published by Faber Music in 2015, Lucinda will demonstrate how easy it is to make music spontaneously, by ear, improvising and accompanying well-known songs.
The resources include recording of three 1 hour 30 minute webinars delivered in May 2021 and supplementary materials/handouts.
Price: £50 (Code 21/E04)
What is the course about?
Perhaps you have learnt the piano for many years, or perhaps you’ve recently begun, but what you would most like to be able to do is sit down at any piano, anywhere, and play without notation. It might be fun, too, if other people could join in, singing well-known songs or improvising with you.
Suitable for those new to Lucinda’s lunchtime webinars as well as those who have attended before. Each idea will be introduced in a logical and systematic order, and there will be optional extensions, so that everyone can play and enjoy the ideas at their own level.
Based on Lucinda’s book, Piano by ear, this course will teach you what and how to play spontaneously, and include others, on social occasions. You will learn how to:
Play by ear, including accompanying songs e.g Happy Birthday, Folk songs, pop songs, Christmas Carols and Auld Lang Syne
Improvise solo and with others (including with non-piano players)
Understand chord symbols and play from a leadsheet
Everyone will be able to focus on achieving their own personal goals in the mutually supportive atmosphere created by Lucinda with her life-long experience of working with adult piano players of all ages and stages.
Tutor website: www.lucinda-mackworth-young.co.uk
What will we cover?
Playing by ear, including accompanying songs e.g Happy Birthday, Folk songs, pop songs, Christmas Carols and Auld Lang Syne
Improvising solo and with others (including with non piano players)
Understanding chord symbols and playing from a leadsheet
What will we accomplish? By the end of this course
You will know how to sit down at any piano, anywhere, and play music to your own satisfaction and personal self-respect. And you will have made significant practical progress playing in these ways.
You will also be thoroughly familiar with the layout of the comprehensive book, Piano by ear, and be able to continue developing your skills.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Players of all levels are welcome. The course will be taught in such a way that everyone will be able to work, separately and together, at their own level in an inclusive and mutually supportive atmosphere.
Is there anything I need to bring?
Although printed material will be presented with the aid of the “share screen” facility, it is recommended that you obtain your own copy of Piano by ear so that you can focus on Lucinda’s keyboard demonstrations https://www.fabermusic.com/shop/list?query=piano%20by%20ear
Equipment required by course participants: Piano or keyboard with sostenuto pedal. And it is helpful if you have your own copy of Lucinda’s book, Piano by ear, published by Faber Music in 2015, and available from https://www.fabermusic.com/shop/list?query=piano%20by%20ear
Please be seated at your instrument for the duration of course sessions, with your computer or ipad very close so you can see, hear and try out the ideas as they are presented (usually with your mute button on).
It is also helpful if you position your computer or ipad so that Lucinda can see your fingers on the keys. For advice on how best to do this, please email Lucinda on Lucinda.mackworth.young@gmail.com as soon as you have booked your place on the course.
Please have your copy of Piano by ear to hand. Or, if you don’t have a copy and would like to buy one, it is available from https://www.fabermusic.com/shop/list?query=piano%20by%20ear
What previous participants said about this course…
“Lucinda is an excellent teacher and delivers deep understanding with a lightness of touch.”
“Very welcoming and inclusive to students at all levels. Brings out the fun of playing. Notes and recording provided afterwards help with anything you might not have grasped on first hearing.”
"Well-paced, material clearly presented and well thought through, all with great expertise and enthusiasm. Playing along worked well, despite the limitations of on-line.”
“Good fun and inspiring. Due to the way Lucinda teaches, you will be able to play at the end what you weren't able to play at the start. The course takes the complexity out, and enables you to play with ease and confidence.”