January 9, 2007

Black Key Songs

Filed under: On-line Resources, Teaching Ideas — natalie @ 9:31 am

Here’s a helpful list of songs that can be played using only the black keys on the piano. From almost the very first lesson, I like to have students working on picking out songs by ear. This will be a great list to keep on hand!

2 Responses to “Black Key Songs”

  1. Sally Buxton Says:
    February 22nd, 2007 at 12:35 am

    I once saw a musicologist on TV who said that all spirituals could be played on the black keys, as they are based on penatonic scales as sung by the Africans who came to the West on slave ships. John Newton, having been a slave-trader, no doubt heard this kind of melodic pattern and put words to it to create “Amazing Grace.” I just showed this to some students tonight, although we couldn’t come up with a very long list of spirituals. Those we did think of certainly fit the pentatonic pattern.

  2. natalie Says:
    February 22nd, 2007 at 12:42 am

    Wow, that’s fascinating, Sally! I’d love to have the list of spirituals you came up with. Thanks for sharing this info!

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