Teaching half-steps
Found in: Playing-Based Methodology
Amy L., California
I taught a student yesterday who had trouble understanding half-steps (introduced in order to learn Bishop Street Blues). She successfully learned the chords just by learning their geography, but I’d like to return to the concept from another angle. Any suggestions?
Mark M., New York
You know how the white keys are longer than the black ones, coming all the way out toward us, while the black ones end further away from us? So ignore the whole chunk closest to us, where the white keys are all right next to each other. You’re left with a bunch of black and white stripes that are all right next to each other. A half-step is whatever’s next door. It’s that simple.
Laurie Richards, Nebraska
I do the same – back of the keys, it’s much easier to get a visual.