Push It (Walkthrough)

Performance Piece Introduction

Let's have a look at our first performance piece, which will feature both syncopation and eighth notes. You might have noticed a pattern that we've been using in the previous two exercises, and this pattern appears here as well.

Pattern Recognition

• First Line of the Piece:

  • The pattern follows the count: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4.

• Second System:

  • There will be a different pattern.
  • Bars five to seven still start with a quarter rest followed by an eighth rest.
  • So, you'll count to yourself: 1 and 2.

Important Notes

• Be Cautious:
  • The penultimate bar (the second to last bar) really sneaks up on you.
  • You'll be moving from playing the melody in the right hand to looking down at the bass clef in the left hand to finish the piece.

Sound Check

Let's have a look at how that sounds.

• Setup:

  • Start with our five-finger position in the left hand on A.
  • Get your three-finger in the right hand on E.

• Ready to Play the Second System: After a count of four:

  • Count:
    • 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and
    • 1 and 2 and 3 and 4
    • 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 dot and
    • 1 and 2 and 3 and 4
    • 1 and 2 and 3 and 4
    • 1 and 2 and 3 and 4
    • 1 and 2 and 3 and 4
    • 1 and 2 and 3 and 4

Putting It All Together

This is the first time that we're putting the hands together in that second line of music.

• Components:
  • You'll have a lovely melody in the right hand and the bass line in the left hand for a nice groove.
  • I love how that sounds!

Practice Tips

• Remember to isolate the hands first and play them separately before playing them together.
• Practice this over and over again slowly and with counts.

When you're ready, we'll try it with a backing track.