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