Teaching piano ensemble classes is a great opportunity for students to play together. I offer occasional group classes for students in my studio. You can read more about how I started adding these classes here. It is important to me to add group opportunities for students. Since it is too complicated for me to schedule group classes during the week, I offer group classes once a month on Saturdays. The classes are optional for students.
This year, I am offering group classes on the first Saturday of every month. One of the group classes I am teaching is a piano ensemble class. At the first ensemble class, only two beginning students attended. Even though I knew there were only going to be two students, I didn’t cancel the class. The students (two girls of similar age) made friends and had fun playing together.
We played Happy Birthday and When the Saints Go Marching In together. I arranged both pieces for piano ensemble. The piano ensemble songs that I arrange include separate parts for melody, harmony, and bass. Each part is notated in its simplest form and then includes more advanced variations. Having advanced variations allows students of various levels to play together.
Since both students were beginners during the class, they learned the bass part together. I had the students name the bass notes and then play them with correct rhythm. Then to advance their part, I had them double the bass notes with their right hands. To advance it even more, they changed the rhythm of the bass notes. Each time we changed their part, they played along while I played the melody. Even though their part was relatively simple, it reinforced their rhythm and listening skills. They counted accurately and listened to each other while playing.
See more ensemble music here.
Lauren teaches piano to students of all ages in New Orleans, LA. Teaching is her passion. She enjoys creating resources for her students and is the author of Ready for Theory®.
