Rock On! from the SonaTunes library - Tune of the Week

Several years ago I operated a website called SonaTunes. Last week one of our members wrote and requested a rock tune. As I went back through the SonaTunes library, I found this tune along with several others. I'll be orchestrating some of these tunes and adding them to the WillBailyPianoTunes.com library. If you are familiar with the SonaTunes and have a favorite, let me know and I'll get it added. Happy Teaching! Happy Playing!

Creative Idea for your RMM Teen Classes!

Just finished an RMM Teen Class. We had a blast! I used the ideas from Improv 1 and Improv 2 and Beverly Hills Band on the Tutorial page of WillBailyPianoTunes.com, combined all the ideas and had the class create their own band piece. So this is what we did. First, we reviewed each hand of Improv 1, experimenting with the RH solo instruments. Secondly, we reviewed each hand of Improv 2, experimenting with electric piano sounds, hands separately and hands together. Thirdly, we reviewed playing drums, acoustic guitar, and bass guitar on digital keyboards (as discussed in Beverly Hills Band Tutorial). Fourthly, I gave them the assignment to create a piece where everyone is playing a different part on different instruments: solo, drums, bass guitar, electric piano and acoustic guitar. Lastly, and most importantly, they were going to do this on their own! I said, "Take 15 to 20 minutes - come and get me when you're ready for me to listen." Isn't this how bands work together? As a facilitator, sometimes guiding means getting out of the way. I listened some through the door to laughing and talking, but mostly playing and working things out. What an amazing bonding time for this group! The improv they played for me, each playing their own thing with different voices, was cohesive, interesting and brilliant! Most important, they had fun and created their own music!

Castles Burning - Tune of the Week

A cool tune for pre-teens and teenagers - "Castles Burning" creates an image of a Knight battling through a Castle (on fire), searching frantically for the Princess he loves. This Tune in 2 parts (Solo and Duet) is motivational, accessible and FUN for your pre-teen and teenage RMM students. Happy Teaching! Happy Playing!

Ideas for RMM Teenagers at WillBailyPianoTunes.com

Learn to play "Set Fire to the Rain" (Adele) by ear

There are 2 tutorials posted on the Tutorial page of WillBailyPianoTunes.com that teach you how to play "Set Fire to the Rain" by Adele. One of the tutorials shows the Introduction and verses and the other shows the pre-chorus, chorus and bridge. On both tutorials you'll find a link to iTunes so you can download the mp3 files. Watch the tutorials, learn the chords and play along. Feel free to break the chords up anyway you like! Happy Playing!

WillBailyPianoTunes perfect for Clavinova Festival!

Orchestrations are ready to go! Students can pick their favorite tune and then, pick a favorite voice for their favorite tune; you're ready for Clavinova Festival! The tunes in WillBailyPianoTunes.com are all brand new (as of July 2012) with a NEW tune being added every week on Sunday afternoon. Be the first in your area to show off some cool new tunes! Start getting ready today for Clavinova Festival!

Classical music or Popular music

There is some controversy among piano teachers about whether or not it's appropriate for children to learn to play the piano using methodologies that don't specifically provide classical music preparation. Musical Moments (Adults), Way Cool Keyboarding (pre-teens and teens), Way Cool Keyboarding 4 kids (7-9 year-olds) and the tunes in www.willbailypianotunes.com are all RMM (Recreational Music Making) materials created to teach people to play in a style that is more aesthetically relevant. When we teach reading to children we prepare them by motivating them. "Super Fudge" and "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" by Judy Blume, "How to Eat Fried Worms" by Thomas Rockwell, anything by R.L. Stine and, of course, the "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling. I wonder how many kids who've read and loved these books will ever read Tolstoy or Dostoevsky. Many, perhaps. Hopefully, they'll be prepared. Whatever the case, they've learned to read because they were motivated by what was interesting, fun and relevant to them. We wish the same for our RMM students. Our goal is prepare them to play the music they want to play by learning to read music and learning to play by chords. Some want to play country tunes, some swing tunes from the '40s, some classic rock, some of the kids like whatever is popular 10 minutes ago, some like contemporary christian music, and yes, some like classical music. It is our goal as RMM facilitators to guide our students, as they prepare themselves to play the music THEY LOVE!