"I try to discover who they are for them" - Rubenstein

It's all about the journey . . .

Welcome to MU 228: Piano Ensemble.  Students in this course will explore four-hand piano repertoire. Studying piano duets will enhance basic understandings of melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic interplay. The course is designed to strengthen keyboard skills, sight-reading skills, and explore the joy of constructive pianistic collaboration. Repertoire level of difficulty, as well as assigned duet partners, will be discussed in class. Source material will be drawn primarily from required online course material. Other supplemental educational material and assignments will be distributed in class. 


Take it to go!

It's all at your fingertips . . .

Practicing every day is usually not a reality. Co-curricular, extra-curricular, and regular coursework obligations consume almost every moment of the week. This online resource provides not only a basic lesson plan, but the versatility to practice at a piano / keyboard with a tablet, smartphone, or laptop. YouTube and lesson videos help keep the material engaging. Each lesson is a guidepost. Take everything at your own pace. Tray tables up, and enjoy the flight :)

Jonathan

Curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome!

    • Intro

    • MU 228 Syllabus

    • Review: Bass Clef and Treble Clef

    • Recommended List of Beginner Duet Books
  • 2

    Class Material

    • Original Piano Duets: Haydn to Stravinsky

    • Piano Ensemble Easy Repertoire

    • March, Berens

    • Dolores

    • Beethoven Primo Sonata in D (excerpt)

    • Beethoven Secondo Sonata in D (excerpt)

    • Beethoven Sonata in D (Complete)
  • 3

    Technical Exercises

    • Bartok, First Term

    • Czerny, The Young Pianist

    • Burgmüller, 25 Etudes

    • Hanon, The Virtuoso Pianist

    • Scales, Arpeggios, Cadences Book
  • 4

    Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue

    • Lang Lang performs Rhapsody in Blue

    • Rhapsody, Full Piano Score

    • Rhapsody, Primo

    • Rhapsody, Secondo

    • Rhapsody, Primo Audio

    • Rhapsody, Secondo Audio

    • Rhapsody, Full Score Audio

Volunteer Musicians for the Arts

Director, Volunteer Musicians for the Arts

Jonathan Yasuda

Jonathan founded the Volunteer Musicians for the Arts, Inc (VMA) so that he and fellow professional musicians could perform the finest classical music repertoire and make those performances widely accessible to the Boston community. As professionally trained classical soloists and chamber music performers, VMA musicians are dedicated to educating the general public through community outreach programs, and ultimately enriching Boston’s cultural fabric. Jonathan invites you to learn more about the VMA. Proceeds of this recommended VMA online introductory piano course directly benefits the VMA's Wellness & Education Program. Thank you!

Piano lessons taught me

Include a list of items to support the central theme of your page. Bulleted lists are a great way to parse information into digestible pieces.

  • Stress Management

  • Mindfulness

  • Breathing Techniques

  • Poise

  • Compassion

  • Perfect Wrong Note

Student testimonials

Student

Thank you so much for being a force of wisdom, encouragement and positive musical energy in my life . . . I feel very blessed to have taken lessons and worked with you!

Student

Thanks Jonathan for everything you did for me over the past few years.

Student

I just wanted to say thank you so much for being so understanding with how chaotic the college schedule can be. Your understanding combined with your positive, happy attitude really turned my day around today! So thank you!

Pricing