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Keyboard School

Keyboard lessons screenshot

Welcome to the Gigajam Keyboard School. Get ready to learn to play keyboards with our award-winning web-based method.

To get started first download and install the Gigajam Xtractor software, for either Windows or Mac OS X. Read the lesson instructions and watch the Introductory TV Show to get the most from your lessons.

Then open a lesson and have fun learning. When you've completed an exercise you can upload it to your porfolio in your locker.

Technical Exercises

Please practice and upload complete performances for each of the technical exercises in this section when you are ready. Completion contributes to 45% of your award. All of the skills contained in these pieces are developed through the lessons and technical exercises. You will need to demonstrate:

Technical Accomplishment
The extent to which the instrument is effectively controlled.

Musicality
The ability to make sensitive and musical performance decisions.

Musical Knowledge
The synthesis of theoretical, notational and contextual knowledge.

Performance

Please practice and upload performances for each of the songs in this section when you are ready. Completion contributes to 45% of your award. All of the skills contained in these pieces are developed through the lessons and technical exercises. However, you need to play the songs showing:

Technical Accomplishment
The extent to which the instrument is effectively controlled.

Musicality
The ability to make sensitive and musical performance decisions.

Musical Knowledge
The synthesis of theoretical, notational and contextual knowledge.

Communication
The degree to which the performer communicates with and engages the listener through musical performance on their instrument or voice.

Knowledge & Understanding

Please complete the questions in this section when you are ready. Completion contributes to 10% of your award. All of the answers are contained within the course, so please check your understanding of your instrument and the music you have studied so far.

Teacher Verification

Once all the sections of this grade are showing as complete, then please ask your teacher if they will verify the specified technical exercises and performances. You need your teacher to confirm that they have witnessed you perform the specified exercises and performances and that the level of performance is consistent with the level of work evident in this grade of your portfolio. Once complete and verified you can then enter your work to receive your School Music Performance Award.

Teacher Verification

Once all the sections of this grade are showing as complete, then please ask your teacher if they will verify the specified technical exercises and performances. You need your teacher to confirm that they have witnessed you perform the specified exercises and performances and that the level of performance is consistent with the level of work evident in this grade of your portfolio. Once complete and verified you can then enter your work to receive your School Music Performance Award.

Teacher Verification

Once all the sections of this grade are showing as complete, then please ask your teacher if they will verify the specified technical exercises and performances. You need your teacher to confirm that they have witnessed you perform the specified exercises and performances and that the level of performance is consistent with the level of work evident in this grade of your portfolio. Once complete and verified you can then enter your work to receive your School Music Performance Award.

Teacher Verification

Once all the sections of this grade are showing as complete, then please ask your teacher if they will verify the specified technical exercises and performances. You need your teacher to confirm that they have witnessed you perform the specified exercises and performances and that the level of performance is consistent with the level of work evident in this grade of your portfolio. Once complete and verified you can then enter your work to receive your School Music Performance Award.

Teacher Verification

Once all the sections of this grade are showing as complete, then please ask your teacher if they will verify the specified technical exercises and performances. You need your teacher to confirm that they have witnessed you perform the specified exercises and performances and that the level of performance is consistent with the level of work evident in this grade of your portfolio. Once complete and verified you can then enter your work to receive your School Music Performance Award.

Teacher Verification

Once all the sections of this grade are showing as complete, then please ask your teacher if they will verify the specified technical exercises and performances. You need your teacher to confirm that they have witnessed you perform the specified exercises and performances and that the level of performance is consistent with the level of work evident in this grade of your portfolio. Once complete and verified you can then enter your work to receive your School Music Performance Award.

School Music Performance Awards

By completing each of the Technical Exercises, Performances and Knowledge& Understanding sections of this unit of the course, you will be able to receive a nationally recognised qualification for your hard work and achievement. Once each of these sections of the unit are shown as complete, you should ask your teacher if they believe you are ready to have your worked verified, or whether you need to improve some of the submissions.

To qualify for a pass you need to be aiming for scores consistently above 65%, and you can receive a pass with merit for scoring above 75% and a pass with distinction for scores above 85%. When ready ask your teacher to witness you playing the specified technical exercises and performances. Once complete you can enter to receive your School Music Performance Award.

Debut Grade Keyboard Lessons

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Keyboard Intro Lesson

An introduction to the keyboard and how to use Gigajam's lessons and software. If you are new to Gigajam or to the keyboard, start here.

Lesson TV show

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Lesson 1: Keyboard orientation

This lesson starts by explaining the layout of the keyboard. You will then learn how to form chords with your right hand. By the end of the lesson you will have learned how to play the chords of A and G. You will use these chords with a variety of rhythms using whole, half and quarter notes.

Lesson TV show Lesson booklet Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 2: Introducing scales

This lesson introduces the scales of A and G. You will be shown how to play scales with the correct fingering technique.

Lesson TV show Lesson booklet
UWLQ Entry Level Award In School Music Performance (Debut) (QCF) Ofqual No. 601/0304/8 ?

Technical Exercises

Performance

Knowledge & Understanding

Teacher Verification

Grade One Keyboard Lessons

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 3: Developing scales and triads

You will develop the skills learned in lessons 1 and 2 to build triads and scales for the chords of C and D. You will learn to play with you left hand. The lesson will introduce you to the bass clef.

Lesson TV show Lesson booklet

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 4: Developing two hand coordination

You will use both hands together and develop greater control of finger and hand coordination. You will play chords with your left hand whilst playing scales with your right hand. This will help you to develop the skills needed to be able to play melodies over chords. You will be introduced to eighth notes.

Lesson TV show Lesson booklet
UWLQ Level 1 Award In School Music Performance (Grade 1) (QCF) Ofqual No. 601/0300/0 ?

Technical Exercises

Performance

Knowledge & Understanding

Teacher Verification

Grade Two Keyboard Lessons

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 5: Introducing inversions

In this lesson you will learn about chord inversions. This will help to increase your understanding of the chords you have learned so far. You will develop a greater control of the keyboard and be able to play chord progressions with economy of movement.

Lesson TV show Lesson booklet

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 6: Chord and scale syllabus

Here we review all material learned so far and end the first part of our study of major chords and scales. We use the knowledge and skills we have developed to learn to play all natural major chords and scales by specifically adding the chords of F, E, and B to our library.

Lesson TV show Lesson booklet

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 7: Introducing minor triads

In this introductory lesson to minor chords, we study the differences between minor and major whilst learning how to play A minor as right and left hand triads and arpeggios with a variety of rhythms.

Lesson TV show Lesson booklet
UWLQ Level 1 Award In School Music Performance (Grade 2) (QCF) Ofqual No. 601/0302/4 ?

Technical Exercises

Performance

Knowledge & Understanding

Teacher Verification

Grade Three Keyboard Lessons

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 8: Introducing minor scales

Here we introduce the minor scale for A and then learn how to transfer the knowledge gained to create minor scales for all natural notes.

Lesson TV show Lesson booklet

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 9: Develop minor triads

Lesson 9 takes the knowledge acquired in lesson 8 and uses it to develop the formation of minor triads. By the end of this lesson you will be able to play all major and minor triads and scales with both hands on all natural notes.

Lesson TV show Lesson booklet

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 10: Performing a song

Learn how to play with a professional band, whilst reading a keyboard chart. This lesson focuses on reading and navigating a musical score. When you've finished this lesson you'll be performing at grade three standard.

Lesson TV show Lesson booklet
UWLQ Level 1 Award In School Music Performance (Grade 3) (QCF) Ofqual No. 601/0303/6 ?

Technical Exercises

Performance

Knowledge & Understanding

Teacher Verification

Grade Four Keyboard Lessons

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 11: Introducing rests

This lesson begins our study of rhythm incorporating rests. We will begin to study their appearance, note values and how they are played to create and enhance rhythms. At the end of this lesson you will be able to play a variety of rhythms incorporating quarter notes rests.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 12: Introducing melody

In this lesson we will introduce the concept of melody and begin to play simple melody lines using quarter notes. The use of melody will require you to develop greater two-hand co-ordination and we will also build upon rhythm by incorporating rests. We will also include a brief introduction to the use of keys and keys signatures to develop your theory and reading skills.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 13: Developing rests

Lesson 13 builds upon the skill developed in Lesson 11, except here we introduce eighth note rests. As a result, you will develop greater skill in being able to understand, read and play rhythm.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 14: Developing melody

Here we are going to build upon our introduction to melody in lesson 12 and move the ideas on by incorporating more rhythm and more reading, by specifically incorporating a variety of rests into the exercises. Lesson 12 uses major scales. In this lesson we shall look at minor scales for our melodies.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 15: Introducing triad arpeggios

In this lesson we are going to look at how to play different arpeggio patterns using triads. This will develop strong two hand co-ordination and also the technical ability with which to play melodies.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 16: Developing triad arpeggios

This lesson builds on the use of arpeggios and brings in the use of eighth notes. The focus is on strong co-ordination, timekeeping, fluency and remembering the triad shapes and notes.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 17: Introducing dotted notes

This part of the course is attempting to develop your reading and musical knowledge to a level that will provide a great deal of the foundation skills essential to becoming a proficient musician. In this lesson you will learn anmd understand the role of Dots in music, how they appear, how they are used and how you read them, play them and understand their value in terms of note lengths.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 18: Developing dotted notes

Having introduced the concepts of dots in the previous lesson we now progress through a series of sophisticated rhythm exercises, utilising many different combinations of note vales including dotted notes and rests. The exercises focus on developing these newly acquired skills, along with using melody.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 19: Introducing power chords

Here we are preparing for the performance piece and need to be able to understand and play power chords. The application of the skills learned through this level will come strongly into play when developing power chords and there is a strong use of two hand co-ordination in the exercises.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 20: Performing a song

Continue to learn how to play with a professional band, whilst reading a keyboard chart. This lesson focuses on reading and navigating a musical score. When you've finished this lesson you'll be performing at grade four standard.

Lesson
UWLQ Level 2 Certificate In School Music Performance (Grade 4) (QCF) Ofqual No. 601/0359/0 ?

Technical Exercises

Performance

Knowledge & Understanding

Teacher Verification

Grade Five Keyboard Lessons

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 21: Introducing intervals

In this lesson there is a close look at intervals. You will learn to play melodic intervals and thirds throughout the lesson. The 16 exercises take you through a step by step approach to ensure that you have both an understanding of intervals and also the ability to play them with both hands using a variety of scales.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 22: Developing intervals

Lesson 22 builds upon the knowledge and skills introduced in Lesson 21 and moves on to introduce harmonic intervals. In this lesson there are 14 exercises which will help you develop your understanding and physical ability to play intervals comfortably. You will also be able to transfer the skill using a variety of scales.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 23: Minor thirds

As we take stock of the new information introduced at the beginning of level 3 we consolidate and develop intervals by introducing minor thirds. The 17 exercises ensure that you are comfortable playing minor thirds and are able to transfer the skill using a variety of scales.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 24: Developing intervals

Building directly upon the skills developed in Lesson 23 you will learn to be able to play minor thirds as harmonic intervals. You have 14 exercises that will help you develop your performance of the scales and rhythms whilst further improving hand coordination.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 25: Introducing ties

This lesson turns to the development of your rhythmic playing with the introduction of ties. By the end of Lesson 25 you will understand what ties are, what they look like and how they affect a note and the rhythm it creates. You will also develop ways if reading ties effectively. Over the lesson’s 10 exercises you will have a good opportunity to practise playing ties in both melody and chords.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 26: Developing ties

Building directly on from Lesson 25 this lesson develops ties by introducing eighths notes into the rhythms. The lesson will combine dots and ties to help develop your understanding of the creation of rhythm using different notation and help your reading. Lesson 26 contains 10 exercises focused on developing the new skills you are learning.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 27: Introducing triplets

Lesson 27 is focused entirely on developing the rhythmic side of your playing with the introduction of triplets. You will understand how triplet eighth notes divide the beat and be able to count and play triplet eighth notes

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 28: Extending arpeggios

This lesson introduces the idea of using broken chords and open voicing to develop your sound as well as helping you create fluency in your playing. This builds upon many elements introduced through the course but specifically develops your ability to play arpeggios with great effect with both hands.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 29: Creating a keyboard part

This lesson is very practical and shows some of the steps you could take to create a keyboard part. Building upon the use of a 12 bar progression you will develop your keyboard playing using a variety of developed skills and different rhythms.

Lesson

SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Lesson 30: Performing a song

Continue to learn how to play with a professional band, whilst reading a keyboard chart. This lesson focuses on reading and navigating a musical score. When you've finished this lesson you'll be performing at grade five standard.

Lesson
UWLQ Level 2 Certificate In School Music Performance (Grade 5) (QCF) Ofqual No. 601/0309/7 ?

Technical Exercises

Performance

Knowledge & Understanding

Teacher Verification