Module 1 — The Keyboard as a System
The purpose of this module is to change how you look at the piano. Instead of seeing 88 separate keys and remembering them mostly as до-ре-ми, we want to see a repeating geometric system of 12 notes, intervals, and scale degrees.
You already know how to read music, so we’ll skip beginner notation and go directly to the structure underneath it.
1.1Three names for the same notesIn Europe we learned:1.2There are only 12 different notesIgnore octaves for a moment.1.3The most important keyboard geometryLook at the white keys:1.4Exercise: stop naming keys for a minuteSit at the piano.1.5Intervals: distance between notesAn interval tells you how far apart two notes are.1.6Build a major chord from geometryTake C.1.7Minor chordA minor triad is:1.8Diminished chordNow we can revisit your earlier question.1.9Your first interval ear trainingAt the piano, play these pairs slowly.1.10Scale degree is more useful than absolute noteSuppose you play:1.11Why numbers matter for playing by earImagine you hear a melody:1.12The same thing happens with chordsSuppose the chord progression is:1.13Roman numerals versus ordinary numbersWe'll use both.1.14Practical keyboard exercise: 1-3-5 everywhereFor now, do only these six keys:1.15Now minorFor the same roots, lower the third by one semitone:1.16An extremely important ear experimentPlay only two notes:1.17Another crucial interval: the fifthPlay:1.18The tritone: the sound of instabilityPlay:1.19Your first harmonic experimentAt the piano, play:1.20Mini improvisation exercisePut your left hand on a low C.1.21Now use only three notesKeep C in the left hand.1.22Your homework for Module 1Spend about 20–25 minutes per session.•Module 1 mini-testTry these at the piano before looking at the answers.