Lesson Plan

Novice

Introduction to the Instrument
  • Parts of the Instrument
  • Correct sitting posture
  • Proper hand positioning and terms

Basics of Music (Part 1)
  • Notes (Whole, Half, Quarter)
  • Measures/Bars
  • Time signature
  • Understanding Metronome
  • Rhythm and Beats
  • Tempo
  • Clapping Rhythms
  • Playing Rhythms
  • Finger Excercises
  • Notes of Music (12 notes; C to C; Sharps and Flats)
  • Understanding Whole steps and Half Steps
  • Dynamics

Basics of Music (Part 2)
  • Major Scale (Whole Steps and Half Steps)
  • Playing Major Scale
  • “The Shortcut” for Major Scale

Intermediate

Chords (Triads)
  • Major Chords
  • Songs using only Major Chords
  • Basic Strumming Pattern
  • Basic Rhythm pattern for Piano
  • Natural Minor Scale
  • Playing Minor scale
  • Minor Chords
  • Songs using Minor Chords as well
From this point on, the student can choose between Western Classical learning and Contemporary learning.

Western Classical
    Staff Notation
  • Treble Clef (and Bass Clef for piano)
  • 5 lines and 4 spaces
  • Writing Notes on Staff
  • Basic Guidelines for Writing Music
  • Initial Grade Level pieces and Sight Reading
  • Continuation with Grade levels

Contemporary
    Intermediate (continuation)
  • Tablatures
  • Strumming Techniques
  • Chord Progressions
  • Genre Understanding
  • Picking Techniques
  • Bar Chords

Advanced

  • Major Scale Positions
  • 7th Chords (Major 7th and Dominant 7th)
  • Songs using 7th Chords
  • Songs with 3/4 and 2/4 Time Signature
  • Natural Minor Scale (2 Octave)
  • 7th Chords (Minor 7th, Half Dim and Full Dim)
  • Understanding Harmony
  • Chord Progressions

Novice

  • Introduction to the Human Voice
  • Maintaining Vocal Health
  • Introduction to Head & Chest Voice
  • Introduction to Breath Control
  • Breathing Exercises for proper breath control

Basics of Music (Part 1)
  • Notes (Whole, Half, Quarter)
  • Measures/Bars
  • Time signature
  • Understanding Metronome
  • Rhythm and Beats
  • Tempo
  • Clapping Rhythms
  • Singing Rhythms
  • Solfege
  • Singing Solfege
  • Notes of Music (12 notes; C to C; Sharps and Flats)
  • Understanding Whole steps and Half Steps
  • Dynamics

Basics of Music (Part 2)
  • Intervals
  • Harmony
  • Expansion of Vocal Range
  • Singing Major Scales
  • Melodic Dictation using Solfege

Basics of Music (Part 3)
  • Rhythmic Dictation
  • Melodic Dictation using Staff Paper
  • Sightsinging for Beginners

Basic Vocal Exercises
  • Lip Rolls
  • Vocal Humming
  • Basic Solfege Exercises

Intermediate

I. Vocal Techniques
  • Vocal Agility
  • Singing Dynamics
  • Legato & Staccato
  • Phonation/Registration/Placement
  • Pitch Accuracy & Flexibility

II. Scales
  • Minor Scales
  • Major Pentatonic Scales

III. Music Theory
  • Minor Chords
  • Seventh Chords
  • Rhythm Patterns

IV. Aural Theory
  • Rhythmic Dictation
  • Melodic Dictation
  • Intervals including Major 7th & minor 7th

V. Grade Exams
  • Grade 5 & Grade 6 (Genre depends on the student)

Advanced

I. Vocal Techniques
  • Introduction to the Bel Canto Technique
  • Breath Control
  • Articulation
  • Range Extension
  • Vibrato
  • Harmony

II. Scales
  • Minor Pentatonic Scales
  • Scales based on Genre (based on students' interests)

III. Music Theory
  • Understanding Harmony
  • Compound Time Signatures

IV. Aural Theory
  • Advanced Rhythmic Dictation
  • Advanced Melodic Dictation
  • Chord Analysis
  • Chord Inversion Analysis

V. Grade Exams
  • Grade 7 & Grade 8 (Genre depends on the student)

Novice

Introduction to the Instrument
  • Different types of piano/keyboard
  • Posture
  • Finger and arm positioning

Basics of Music (Part 1)
  • Finger numbers
  • Musical alphabets
  • Finding different notes on the keyboard
  • Notes (Whole, Half, Quarter)
  • Measures and bars
  • Time signature
  • Five Finger Exercises
  • Understanding Metronome
  • Rhythm and Beats
  • Clapping Rhythms
  • Playing Rhythms
  • Understanding Whole steps and Half Steps
  • Dynamics

Basics of Music (Part 2)
  • Building and playing Major Scales
  • Building and playing arpeggios
  • Playing short songs and rhymes

Intermediate

Basic elements of music

Chords (Triads)
  • Major Chords
  • Songs using only Major Chords
  • Basic Rhythm pattern for Piano
  • Building and Playing different Minor scales
  • Minor Chords
  • Songs using Minor Chords as well

From this point on, the student can choose between Western Classical learning and Contemporary learning.

Western Classical
  • Staff Notation
  • Clefs
  • 5 lines and 4 spaces
  • Writing Notes on Staff
  • Basic Guidelines for Writing Music
  • Initial Grade Level pieces and Sight Reading
  • Continuation with Grade levels
  • Composers/history

Contemporary
  • Seventh chords
  • Chord progressions
  • Chord patterns and inversions
  • Accompaniment techniques
  • Suspended chords
  • Songs

Advanced

Western classical
  • Musical genres
  • Techniques
  • Dynamics/articulation
  • Italian terms
  • Right and left hand balance
  • Scales in 3rd and 6th
  • Harmonic/natural/melodic minor scales and arpeggios in 4 octaves
  • Major scales and arpeggios in 4 octaves
  • Sight reading (advanced)
  • Music theory
  • Types of pedal and pedal techniques

Contemporary
  • Musical genres
  • Right and left hand balance
  • Modes
  • Pentatonic scales
  • Augmented/Diminished chords
  • Secondary dominants
  • Modulation using different chords
  • Understanding harmony
  • Chords/inversion analysis
  • Pedal techniques
  • More suspended chords

Novice

Introduction to the Instrument
  • Parts of the Instrument
  • Holding the bow
  • Tuning your instrument
  • Left hand and right hand position
  • Establishing Good Posture
  • Understanding and Minimising Tension

Basics of Music (Part 1)
  • Holding the Violin
  • Bowing exercise on Open string
  • Left hand finger pattern
  • Straight bows
  • Understanding using whole bows and half bow
  • Playing on heel(lower half), middle and point(tip/upper half)
  • 1st left hand shape
  • 2nd left hand finger shape
  • 3rd left hand finger shape
  • Basic music theory
  • Intro to Quarter Note, Eighth Note, Half Note, and Whole Note
  • Pizzicato and Arco
  • Various Time Signatures 4/4, 3/4
  • A Major Scales
  • D Major Scales
  • G major Scale
  • Metronome

Basics of Music (Part 2)
  • 2 notes slurs
  • Broken slur
  • Dynamics
  • Playing 2 octave Major Scale
  • 3 notes slur

Intermediate

  • Using 4th Finger
  • Shifting 3 position
  • 4 notes slur
  • Mixture of 1st and 2nd left hand finger pattern
  • Introducing 1st and 3rd position
  • Vibrato
  • Eight note slur
  • Double stop

Advanced

  • 3 octaves major scales and minor scales