[NOTE: If you are just joining us for the first time, you can find my previous Sixty and Me Free Piano Lessons on my Author page. You can join our lessons any time!]

It’s WALTZ WEEK for our Sixty and Me Piano Lessons! This week we will be playing three Waltzes on p. 39-40 in Upper Hands Piano, BOOK 1. Waltzes are pieces written in a ¾ Time Signature (which means 3 beats per measure) that are played slow enough to dance to.

10.1 A New Note, Stem Direction, and D.C. al Fine

We are also adding a new note in the Bass Staff called “C3” but most people just think of it as the C below middle C. This C is the space note on the 2^nd space from the bottom of the Bass Staff. I use a mnemonic device to remember where to locate it: “C is 2^nd space in the bass.” If you can remember that C is the 2^nd space in the bass (we always count from bottom up on the staves) then it can be another touchstone for you. To learn more, watch my video:

10.2 Fais Dodo, p.39

In Fais Dodo you will play the new Bass note C with your left hand 5-finger (pinkie). As I discussed in my video above (10.1), the new note Bass “C” has a stem going up on the right. Stems go UP when the note head is below the middle line, and DOWN when the note head is above the middle line. (Notes ON the middle line can go up or down.) Here’s a video demonstration of Fais Dodo:

10.3 Oranges and Lemons, p.40

You played Oranges and Lemons on p. 30, and now you will play it again, this time adding left hand notes!

10.4 A snippet of The Blue Danube Waltz, p.40

Here’s a taste of The Blue Danube Waltz by Strauss:

Passion Practice!

1. Exercise #2 in B-flat and F. Play each exercise twice: 1x Forte (loudly) then 1x Piano (softly) with each hand.
2. Play Fais Dodo, p.39 for your first week, then play Oranges and Lemons and The Blue Danube Waltz, p.40 in your second week.
3. Read MORE ABOUT CHORDS on Appendix iv at the back of BOOK 1.
4. Review Barcarole on p.26 if you have time.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

This week we are playing pieces from 3 different parts of the world: Fais Dodo is French, Oranges and Lemons is English, and The Blue Danube is Viennese. I like sharing music from all over the world with you, so that you can become accustomed to and enjoy many types of melodies and rhythms.

Do you have a favorite musical region? What have been your favorite pieces to play since beginning our lessons? Are you finding 3/4 time more difficult to play than 4/4 time?