Faith Divide Music Lesson

Overview

"So this is the Faith Divide. It's a great little piece of music." This piece is written in the style of indie bands from the 2000s, such as:

• Kaiser Chiefs
• The Killers
• The Kooks

These bands owe much to Britpop influences like Blur and Oasis. While Oasis has a guitar-led sound, you might want to check out Blur, known for their substantial use of keyboards in many tracks. The Kooks also incorporate similar elements.

Structure of the Piece

The piece is divided into four sections, each designed to help you work on specific devices and techniques.

Section A

1. Holding Note Values

   • Focus on holding note values for their entire length.
   • Look at bar four, which might seem simple but ensure you're playing each minim for its full value of two beats.

2. Syncopation Awareness

   • Be cautious at the end of the first bar, as syncopation comes into play.
   • It's good to practice this a little slower than the piece's tempo, using a metronome for stability.

3. Left Hand Repetition

   • In bar two, repeat the left hand figure as written.
   • Remember to strike the left hand note on beat four, particularly when playing the right hand melody.

4. Counting Rests

   • Note in bar 10 that there is a whole bar's rest. Keep counting throughout to come in strong at B.

Section B

• The rhythm complexity increases, especially in the right hand:

  • Focus on the pushed figure that flips the rhythms onto the off beats of the bar (1, 2, 3, 4).

• Challenging Rhythms

  • Pay attention to the rhythms in bars 17 and 18.
  • It should sound like this: 1, 2, 3, 3, 4.

• Chord Awareness

  • Be cautious in Bar 17; the score indicates an E minor but suggests an E sus 4. Keep this in mind to avoid confusion.

Section C

• Different vibe with a constant melody in the right hand, which is also quite syncopated.

• Tied Notes

  • Emphasis on tied notes, displacing some melody rhythm across the bar.

1. Left Hand Reminder

   • While the left hand is simplified, keep striking those notes on beat four.

2. Fingering and Counting

   • Ensure proper fingering for the right hand. Keeping the left hand grounded by playing on beats one and four helps with timing.

3. Practice Techniques

   • From bar 27 onwards, practice bar loops to capture the feel of the rhythmic line.
   • Be mindful of the pushes in the second half of Bar 35 and aim for a clean ending.

Conclusion

"This is a nice little piece with rewarding techniques to master." Although it may not be simple, it's worth the effort once you get everything together.

"I hope you enjoy and see you for the next one!"