The G major arpeggio presented as a practice drill or warm up where keyboard & piano players can play-a-long & accompany a backingtrack. Beginner level arpeggios involve single octave playing & letter names of notes appear in noteheads. The backing tracks are available both on the PlentyMusic website and the PlentyMusicCo YouTube channel. Access them on a mobile phone, tablet or desktop to improve your music practice routines. The accompaniment tracks have a range of tempo from 48 to 144 beats per minute (bpm) Be aware that there is a four in a bar feel to playing of these piano exercises. A good starting point is 60bpm. Improve music practice and make progress with PlentyMusic pdf #sheetmusic & mp3 accompaniment downloads. Playing arpeggios is simply a way of playing chords. Chords are usually played as part of a chord progression. For this exercise suggested fingering is in place beneath the notes. Each arpeggio is to be played twice with a 3 beat gap between each playing. This is indicated by the sound of a woodblock. The key signature for G is used in the sheet music score. Do make sure that breathing is relaxed before, during and after playing the exercises. Arpeggios feature in much keyboard music from classical times through to the popular music of the 20th and 21st centuries. All music performers need to have a knowledge of chords/arpeggios, their structures and their compositional contexts. The chords in this exercise are presented in root position, (GBD) first (BDG) and second inversion (DGB) formats. A wood block sound provides the introductory beats for the ensemble playing of each arpeggio.exercise. The playing sequence for arpeggios is as follows: Right hand one octave X 2 Left hand one octave X 2 Right and left hands together one octave in similar motion X 2 Root position chord arpeggios are followed by first inversions and then second inversions. Do keep to the specified fingering although a possible option for the root position left hand arpeggio has been given. Remember that in a sitting position the level of the keyboard should be 72.5cms above floor level. At the beginner level the arpeggios should be played evenly & smoothly (legato). Understand that there will be additional challenges from PlentyMusic as to how arpeggios and chords can be played particularly in the context of playing chord sequences. How to manage stretching the hand is an aspect of arpeggio playing that needs to be considered. There are techniques for this which will be demonstrated in a PlentyMusic video later in the year. Please feedback to PlentyMusic on any additional warmups or practice drills required or changes that need to be made to those currently in place. Look out for the PlentyMusic videos later in the year with some practical tips on the playing the piano & keyboard. Always make music practice both challenging and interesting. When playing arpeggios aim to keep a lightness in the hands particularly when they are played at fast tempi. The arpeggios played at 132bpm and 144bpm are really in place as extension tasks and really are not in the boundaries of the beginner player but you never know?. Always remember that if you cannot play something at a slow tempo then you are unlikely to be able to play it at a fast tempo. Use a mobile phone, tablet or desktop to provide the backing tracks needed to enjoy scale practice as an ensemble activity. When playing along to the backing tracks do always be aware of the beat, pulse and tempo. Whilst there are many ways in which musical notes can be articulated in the early stages of playing arpeggios a legato touch should remain the focus. There are other challenges coming soon as players make progress and improve. When playing arpeggios and chords as in most other music performance contexts fingers need to remain close to the keys. The weight of the arm & hand should be imagined to be being released or even flow out through the finger tips. If you print the sheet music score available from the website and you are able to read music printing 2 pages onto one sheet of A4 is suggested. Why practice arpeggios Playing arpeggios helps players to understand chords in all their forms and variants. Chords can at times be perceived as being overwhelmingly complex and challenging to get your musical head around but rest assured when explained and understood particularly in a playing context they do make sense. A knowledge of chords is essential in music from the performance, arranging and compositional point of view. It is very reassuring that the more that one learns about chords the simpler they become. There are four types of chord (major, minor, diminished and augmented) and matters become even challenging when additional notes are added. For the moment focus on the set tasks. Arpeggio practice does help in improving keyboard technique. Security in playing arpeggios assists/ means that the fingers get used to being in the right place at the right time. Playing arpeggios in all their formats will help in preparing keyboard players for more difficult pieces If you play a keyboard standing up ensure that you at a comfortable level with the weight of the hands going downwards. Images of keyboard players playing with their hands above shoulder height does not suggest or encourage good technique. Playing arpeggios encourages the development of a secure and controlled technique in playing. Playing arpeggios is particularly helpful in managing stretches in keyboard playing.
