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