Teacher Resources

Improvisation ideas and alternative notation for pupils who do not read and more. Read about the benefits experienced by learning disabled people when they have been given the opportunity to play a musical instrument. See what has been done by others.

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The Storm

This is a good improvisation for a beginner who is just starting to explore the piano. The idea is to describe a storm in sound.

The three elements can be repeated as often as required.

Rain
 Using both index fingers, describe rain falling, starting at the top of the piano and moving to the bottom.
Thunder
 Make loud thunder noises with the palms of both hands at the bottom of the piano.
Lightning
 Make quiet lightning noises with the palms of the hands at the top of the piano.

Learning Objectives

  • The beginnings of independence of the fingers.
  • Exploring concepts of -
    • high and low (pitch)
    • loud and soft (dynamics)