Shapes
A Music Method for the Expert Beginner
Contents
Skills:
• Playing With Songs
• Tactile Reading
• Chord & Key Levels
• Tonescapes & Tensions
• Reading Imagery
• Level 1: A Shape
Commentary: Why Music Videos?
• Level 2: Different Shapes
Commentary: What Is a Shape?
• Level 3: A Group of Shapes
Commentary: Is This the Circle of Fifths?
• Level 4: Shape Fingerings
Commentary: The Centered Keyboard
• Level 5: The Anchor Note
Commentary: What is the Anchor?
• Level 6: Playing With the Anchor
Commentary: Musical Structures
• Level 7: Bass Notes
• Level 8: Matching A Shape
• Level 9: Notes In Time
• Level 10: Changes
Commentary: Chord and Key Levels
• Level 11: Groups of Shapes
• Level 12: Reading by Touch
• Level 13: A Tonescape and Tensions
• Level 14: Imagination as an Instrument
• Level 15: Two Higher and Lower
Commentary: What is a Tonescape?
• Level 16: Reading by Ear
• Level 17: Switch To Number Names
• Level 18: Reading by Touch Part 2
• Level 19: Moods
• Level 20: Reading by Ear Part 2
• Level 21: Light and Heavy Tensions
• Level 22: Reading by Ear Part 3
• Level 23: Reading by Touch Part 3
• Level 24: Moods and Tensions Together
• Level 25: Getting Inside of Moods
• Level 26: Reading by Ear Part 4
Commentary: Shape and Standard Notation
• Level 27: Making Time Relative
• Level 28: All Moods and Tensions
• Level 29: Mood Notes
Commentary: Chord-Modes
• Level 30: Incidentals
• Level 31: Independent Solfege
• Level 32: Free Play
By Skill Series
Playing With Songs
Level 1 introduces a shape. Level 2 and 3 expand to a full group of shapes and give them names. Level 6 introduces the anchor note as a way to structure what you play. Level 8 shows you how to figure out the shape on your own. Level 9 introduces music notation. And Level 11 introduces three additional groups of shapes that will occasionally show up in songs.
Tactile Reading
Level 4 introduces a single fingering pattern that allows you to play hands together in any shape, starting on any note. Level 12 uses this pattern to begin reading a relative notation along with songs, in a way that feels like playing a rhythm game. Level 18 and 23 expand the range of shapes and add features to the notation. Level 27 replaces pulse dots with rhythmic note symbols. And Level 30 gives a way to notate outside the shape.
Chord & Key Levels
Level 5 introduces the anchor note as a way of structuring the other notes of the shape. Level 7 shows that changing bass notes along with any other notes of a shape create the recognizable framework for a song. And Level 10 introduces changing shapes, anchors, and bass notes.
Tonescapes & Tensions
Level 13 introduces a tonescape, and recognition of the anchor, one note higher, and one note lower within the tonescape. Level 15 expands to two notes higher and lower. Level 17 brings in octave equivalence and switches from higher/lower names to number names. Level 19 and 21 introduce different moods that result from the sum of tensions to the anchor. Level 24, 25, and 28 expand to recognition of all moods and all tensions. And Level 31 removes the tonescape.
Reading Imagery
Level 14 introduces imagery, Level 16 uses notation to draw two additional notes out of the tonescape. Level 20 expands to three moods. Level 22, 26, and 29 expand to hearing all tensions in all moods. And Level 32 is free play imagery in all moods.