Have you ever tried to teach a group or piano ensemble class with different ages and levels in the class? What do you do if you teach a piano ensemble class and one student complains that his part is too easy or that he’s bored? I struggled with this when I first started teaching multi-age group classes. I offer a group class once a month, but I don’t have enough participation to separate the students into different levels. So I started to arrange music for piano ensemble that offers parts for various levels. Problem solved!
In the group class I taught last week, students learned to play Ode to Joy together. The packet of Ode to Joy for piano ensemble (available as a PDF download here) includes:
- A short description about Ode to Joy
Be sure students know why this melody is so famous and where it comes from.
- Rhythm practice
Get those quarter and eighth notes correct before students start playing!
- Individual parts for melody, bass, and harmony
- Variations of each part
After I taught the students about Ode to Joy and we practiced the rhythm, I gave each student a different part. They then played their parts together. I taught the students about measure numbers and they enjoyed saying the numbers out loud to keep each other on track. They also enjoyed trying to play the piece at different speeds. What an immediate improvement to continuity and rhythm already!
Then I challenged students to try the more advanced variation of their part. To advance the melody, students can play it hands together. To advance the bass notes, students can play hands together, in different rhythms, or in different octaves. The harmony variations include different accompaniment patterns. I find when I teach these classes that students really enjoy trying the advanced variation. They enjoy challenging themselves and seeing what they can play. The advanced variations also help if there is an older student in the group class.
Ode to Joy for Piano Ensemble is available as a PDF download here.
Be sure to check out other music for piano ensemble:
Lauren teaches piano to students of all ages. She enjoys creating resources for her students and teachers. She is the author of Ready for Theory®. For personalized help, check out the consultations page for teachers.
