Sample Lessons

Matching Pitch and

Rhythm on Black Keys

eNovation A: This aural playback activity helps beginning students hone their listening skills using the black keys.

Aural Playback:

I, IV & V Triads

eNovation 4: This aural playback helps you recognize primary triads in major and minor keys. Playing back what you hear will improve your chord playing skills.

Aural Playback:

Blues Pentascale

eNovation 6: In this aural playback, you will practice playing melodic patterns based on the blues pentascale.

Basic Rhythms: Whole,

Half, & Quarter Notes

eNovation A: This drill will help you understand basic rhythm values. Remember to practice with the play-along audio tracks.

Compound Meter - Duple,

Triple & Quadruple Meters

eNovation 4: This lesson teaches students to play and count compound meters. Remember to practice with the play-along audio tracks.

Swing Time

eNovation 7: Learn about playing rhythms in swing time. Remember to practice with the play-along audio tracks.

Reduced Staff Reading

eNovation C: Reducing the staff to only one or two lines is great preparation for reading on the grand staff.

Triads

eNovation 4: This drill focuses on playing melodies and accompaniment textures built on triads.

Coordination

eNovation 6: This reading focuses on the physical coordination required for the correct performance of slurs and articulations.

Blues Quartet I

by Susanna Garcia

eNovation 4: In this jazz quartet, the vibes play the tune over the 1st chorus of a 12-bar blues progression. In the 2nd chorus, the vibes improvise a solo using the indicated pentascales.

We Three Kings

by John Henry Hopkins

eNovation 5: This intermediate level arrangement focuses on playing triads all over the keyboard and uses many colorful timbres.

Sevivon (Dreidel) -

Hebrew Traditional

eNovation 8: This intermediate ensemble uses chord inversions, 16th-note patterns, and syncopation. Traditional instruments associated with Klezmer music are used in this arrangement.

Harmonization:

Oh Mary, Don't You Weep

eNovation 4: Learn to harmonize this tune by ear using the i & V chords in a minor key.

Lead Sheet:

Midnight Special

eNovation 8: Learn to read lead sheet with 'slash' notation and realize chords using inversions.

Lead Sheet:

St. James Infirmary Blues

eNovation 10: This New Orleans standard is based on an 18th century traditional English folk song. This tune is notated as a lead sheet using 'slash' notation.

Improvising Melodies

on the Black Keys

eNovation A: This improvisation is designed for an early level student. With guided rhythms and a fun play-along audio track, it is suitable for beginners.

Question & Answer Duets

eNovation 1: In this improvisation students create question and answer phrases using on the black keys.

Scat Rhythms

for Blues Improvisation

eNovation 9: Students learn to develop a feel for jazz melodies through scat rhythms.

Primary Triad Songs

eNovation 6: Use primary triads to create an arrangement of a 3-chord pop-tune.

Boogie Woogie Blues

(12-Bar Blues)

eNovation 7: Use the 12-Bar Blues pattern to create an arrangement of a pop tune in a boogie-woogie style.

Keyboard Styles

The Doo-Wop Progression

eNovation 12: Use common keyboard patterns to accompany doo-wop pop tunes.

Score Reading: 3 Staves,

2 Clefs, 2 Hands

eNovation 4: This entry level score reading drill is restricted to 5-finger position and contains 1 stationary part.

Score Reading: 3 Staves,

2 Parts, 1 Hand

eNovation 7: This score reading encourages expansion of your vertical field of vision by including an empty middle stave.

Score Reading: 4 Staves,

3 Clefs, 2 Hands

eNovation 13: This 4-part score reading includes one transposing part (vocal tenor) and advanced chordal shifts.