Alfred Basic Course
Appropriate start for ages 4-9. Each level’s course pack comes with several books that focus on new musical concepts and pieces, technique, music theory, and note spelling. Students usually take six months to a year to complete each level.
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Teaches basic keyboard topography and fluent recognition of white key names in relation to black keys. Students learn to read notes from the staff in C position and G position, recognize intervals from 2nds through 5ths. Sharps and flats are introduced.
Reviews 1A concepts, then introduces new concepts such as tempo markings, eighth notes and rests, using the damper pedal, half steps and whole steps, tetrachords, the major scale.
Introduces intervals of 6ths, 7ths, and octaves. Teaches greater movement of the hands, including scaleworm. Students also learn more about triads, primary chords, and blocked and broken chords. A few of our favorite pieces from this level: 18th Century Dance * Kum-ba-yah! * Lavender’s Blue * Malaguena * Red River Valley.
Explains “overlapping pedal” and introduces new time signatures of 3/8 and 6/8. Students learn the primary triads in major and minor keys, major scales in contrary motion, the chromatic scale, and the minor scale.