| When my students are learning to pick out
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| | go higher or lower than the melody note
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| the melody I tell them to first begin
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| | for "boat". The pitch for the last part
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| with a song they know.(First it is
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| | of the word "gently" lowers back to the
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| important that you know the letter names
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| | same pitch as "your"...like this:C C C D
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| of the white notes on the piano and the C
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| | E E D
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| scale - for more info see you are
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| | Row, row, row your boat...gent-ly down
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| picking out the melody to a song, choose
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| | the stream.Notice how "down the stream"
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| something easy like "Happy Birthday to
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| | the pitch continues to rise. What are the
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| You" or "Row, Row, Row, your Boat". This
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| | next three melody notes? You try!Did you
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| gives you some great practice without
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| | get it? It should be:C C C D E E D E F G
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| being too difficult. Here's the thought
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| | Row, row, row your boat...gent-ly down
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| process for picking out the melody to
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| | the stream.Last of all, notice how the
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| "Row, Row, Row Your Boat".1. Begin on the
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| | very next melody note for the word
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| note Middle C with your right hand. (If
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| | "Merrily" goes much higher than the
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| you know where the C-Chord is, play it
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| | melody note for "stream". Guessing, where
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| first so you can hear the full chord
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| | do you think the melody note will fall?
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| before beginning.)2. Of course the first
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| | Will it fall on A (the next note higher
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| three pitches to the first 3 words is the
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| | than G)? Probably not...because the
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| same. Therefore, the melody (tune) note
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| | melody not for "Merrily" is MUCH higher
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| to the song will be the same fir the
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| | than the melody note for "stream". Try C!
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| first three words...like this:C C C
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| | That's it! Try to finish the song...when
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| Row, row, row your boat...Notice how
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| | you're done, check it to see if you were
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| that the melody note changes (it goes up
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| | right!The melody to the rest of the song
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| only a little bit) for the words "your
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| | should appear like this:C C C D E E D E F
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| boat"...progressing up with each word.
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| | G
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| NOTE: I'm using the word "up" because it
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| | Row, row, row your boat...gent-ly down
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| indicates the pitch has moved to a higher
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| | the stream.C C C G G G E E E C C C G F E
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| sound.So, when looking at the "higher"
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| | D C
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| notes after C...the next note could be D
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| | Merrily merrily merrily merrily...life
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| or E (depending on how much the melody
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| | is but a dream.For more information about
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| note is raised). Well, when you listen to
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| | playing by ear, check out the information
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| melody notes rise on the words "your
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| | on my website at Stephens has been
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| boat" you'll hear that the change is very
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| | teaching students to play piano by ear
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| little. Therefore, the melody note for
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| | for over 17 years. Having grown up in a
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| "your boat" must be D then E...like
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| | Pentecostal Church and being the pianist
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| this:C C C D E
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| | for the the services, playing the piano
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| Row, row, row your boat...3. Notice how
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| | by ear was a very important talent to
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| the first part of the word "gently" is
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| | possess.
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| the same note as "boat" (ie., it doesn't
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