Lesson 10: Review and First Performance
- Play three different beginner pieces from start to finish.
- Listen to your recording and name one strength and one small next step.
Let someone hear what you can play.
Record three pieces you enjoy, one at a time.
Play: three pieces from Book 1
Choose one piece from each group, then use the warm-up below before recording.
For tone and breath
- Go Tell Aunt Rhody
- Long notes and stepwise lines.
For tonguing and meter
- Old MacDonald
- Short, repeated notes.
For expression
- Amazing Grace
- A flowing 3/4 hymn.
- Lightly Row
- Shape its long-note phrases.
Warm-up before recording
The C major scale from Lesson 5 plus a long-tone arch.
The F major scale on your alto staff from Lesson 5 plus a long-tone arch.
Breathe between bars as needed; choose a speed that keeps every note clear.
How to record yourself
Use a phone; count yourself in and keep playing through small mistakes to the end.
Listen, choose, try again
Listen once for each question:
- Tone: do the held notes stay clear?
- Pulse: does the beat keep moving through the tricky places?
- Shape: can you hear where each phrase ends?
Name one thing you liked, then choose one short passage to improve before another take.
When three complete recordings keep a steady beat and clear held notes, celebrate your first programme and continue to Early Beginner.
More help: preparing to perform.