African Piano Tutor – Pianoforte Tutor Beginners Level 1
Author: Gyebi – Tweneboah Kwasi
ISMN 979– 0– 9008043–3–4
DOI:10.38159/npub.eb2021501
Published: 24th May, 2021.
Music is an integral part of African society and the life of an African revolves around music. Musical instrument play is part and parcel of African music. Thus, learning a musical instrument is part of the African culture. The piano although not African in origin, has been adopted in Africa through globalization and glocalization. This book introduces the learner to piano playing using African rhythm as its theme. It introduces the learner to basic rhythms and basic finger positions to play the simple pieces that are in the book. This book is a result of the author’s many years of teaching piano to beginners. The author hopes that this book forms a foundation for students to learn African rhythms and to love African music for further progression.
Gyebi-Tweneboah Kwasi is a native of Bonwire, Ashanti Region, Ghana. He had his early introduction to music through his father, Maxwell Tweneboah Kodua who was an organist and a guitarist at an early age. In primary school at St. Georges International School, Kumasi, he had the opportunity to learn how to play the piano from Kwame Asare Bediako (John K.). In the same school, he was also introduced to trumpet play. Due to his love for music, he joined New Creation, a contemporary gospel band group as a lead guitarist. It was at this stage that his musical talent blossomed. He had his secondary school education at Kumasi Academy. There, he was the choirmaster and organist of the school. He was also the president of Gospel Waves which was a contemporary gospel group in the Scripture Union.
After secondary school, he had the opportunity to attend the University of Education, Winneba where he studied for his Bachelor of Education, Music. His major instrument when he was studying at Winneba was the piano. During and after school he worked with a lot of institutions that taught beginners how to play the piano. He has also worked with Manieson Christian Academy, The Piano Lab, and J.B. Music Academy in South Africa. In all these institutions, he was a piano Instructor.
He is currently a freelance piano instructor and a sound engineer.
UNIT 1
Staff/ Stave Notation – 1
Types of Staffs/Staves – 1
The Treble Staff – 1
The Bass Staff – 3
UNIT 2
Rhythmic Notation – 5
Extension of musical notes – 5
Dotted Notes – 5
Time Signatures – 6
Types of Time Signatures – 6
Simple Time Signature – 6
Compound Time Signature – 6
UNIT 3
Key Signatures – 8
Sharp Keys – 8
Flat Keys – 9
Scale – 9
C-Major Scale – 9
UNIT 4
Musical Samples – 11
Lets Start – 11
C D – 11
Childs Play -12
Play Time – 12
Okai – 13
Lets Move – 13
Simple Movement – 14
Twinkle, Twinkle -14
Left Play – 15
Turkson – 15
Lenamanhla – 15
Petse – 16
Frog – 16
London Bridge – 17
Elvis – 17
Simple – 17
Abusua – 17
Yaa – 18
Ojuku – 18
Abrante Pa – 19
Kofi Broke Man – 19
Onyame Tumfo – 20
Nsafoa – 20
Malaika – 21 Bimbo- 21
Back to School – 22
Kente- 22
The Beach – 23
Lathitha – 23
Traffic – 24
Gladys – 24
Kwadwo Tweneboah – 25
Odo Nsa -25
Paulina – 26
Ntombi – 27
Xolo – 27
Daily Work – 28
Amapolica – 29
Matsha – 30
Thando – 31
Yiza – 32
Walito – 33
Asanda – 33
Umnqusho – 34
Ataa – 34
Kacinci – 34
Bonwire Abrante – 35
Khosi Mponco – 35
T. K. – 36
Amen – 36
God Have Mercy – 36
Uncuncwana – 37
Ukugxotha – 37
Daa Na’Se – 38
Pete Pete – 38
CONCLUSION – 39