In the first Musicarta Easy Piano Style lesson, you learn a simple keyboard texture which will build into a way to 'just sit down and play' the piano.

Here's the module performance.

This module study uses the same pattern in two next-door places on the keyboard. We call those, C major (C) and D minor (Dm).

Here's a video showing how to play the C major pattern.

The C major pattern

The D minor pattern

Next, we repeat the pattern one key to the right - "in D minor". Here's the teaching video.

Major and minor chords/thirds

Here are illustrations demonstrating the difference between the 'major' and 'minor' chords.

The illustrations show how you count up four semitones (from the root or octave = zero) to find a major third and make a major chord (C), and up three semitones to find the minor third and make a minor chord (Dm).

Build-up of rhythm drill - D minor

Here is a video of the D minor pattern build-up of rhythm with the scrolling MS (music).

Play along until you can anticipate all the stages and keep up all the way through.

Joining the two patterns

Now, to make a piece of music, we have to join up the two patterns and add an ending.

Joining-the-patterns and ending drill

Here's an easy practice-speed drill for joining the C and D minor patterns rhythmically and smoothly.

Further optional joining-the-patterns drill

See if you can keep up with this joining-the-patterns practice drill.

Example audio performance

Variations

Here's an optional development, adding thirds. Listen through, and notice how the thirds add just 'a little something'.

The extra notes are added only on the last of the three 'wobbles' either side of the main right hand note (the third). We don't 'overdo it'!

You might have to adjust the fingering to make playing the thirds easy. Play the third in both the C position (E) and D minor positions (F) with RH3.

Now go on to MEPS Lesson Two - The Second Pair of Chords.

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