Summary: <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Happy Halloween! No matter what you choose to do with this holiday, there is no denying that a lot of music we hear this time of year tends to have a more creepy, spooky spin on it and it seems like that’s what I enjoy talking about on the podcast.To listen to this blog post click here:Last year I talked about how young children tend to respond to music in a minor key. <a href="http://www.pianoparentpodcast.com/066-2/">Episode 066</a> was about the powerful effect music can have on our emotions.I also interviewed Marcia Vahl (like wall), president of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association, in <a href="http://www.pianoparentpodcast.com/067-2/">episode 067</a>. On the episode, Marcia talked about the three forms of minor scales. I encourage you to go back and listen to both those episodes.In the past I’ve also talked to you about how I encourage my students to get SMART with their music. (<a href="http://www.pianoparentpodcast.com/036/">Episodes 036</a> and<a href="http://www.pianoparentpodcast.com/039/"> 039</a>). Once they learn a piece, they are free to get creative with it. They can change the Style, Melody, Articulations, Rhythm, or Tempo. <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Today, I thought it would be fun to talk about changing the style of a piece from a major key to a minor key. I’ll be using samples from my favorite piano method: <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://pianoadventures.com/">Piano Adventures by Randall and Nancy Faber.</a>Without getting into all the details of music theory, the basic principle of switching a major song to a minor key is to simply lower the third and sixth notes within the scale.In the key of C major, C is called Tonic or Number 1. D is 2, E is 3 and so on. Therefore, to lower the third and sixth notes in the key of C major, move E and A down to E-flat and A-flat. It really is that simple!Firefly from <a href="https://pianoadventures.com/publications/piano-adventures-level-1-lesson-book-2nd-edition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lesson Book 1 </a>If you change all the E’s to E-flat this becomes quite a lonely Firefly.When the Saints Go Marching In from <a href="https://pianoadventures.com/publications/piano-adventures-level-2a-lesson-book-2nd-edition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lesson Book 2A </a>This tune is written in the key of G major so students will need to move all the B’s down to B-flat. Now it sounds like those saints are marching in the rain on a gloomy day.Jumpin’ Jazz Cat from <a href="https://pianoadventures.com/publications/piano-adventures-level-2b-lesson-book-2nd-edition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lesson Book 2B </a>To make this Jazzy Cat a little more mellow, change all the E’s and A’s to flats. This will be a bit tricky but it is a great workout for your fingers and your brain!.formkit-form[data-uid="a632c81889"] *{font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;box-sizing:border-box;}.formkit-form[data-uid="a632c81889"] legend{border:none;font-size:inherit;margin-bottom:10px;padding:0;position:relative;display:table;}.formkit-form[data-uid="a632c81889"] fieldset{border:0;padding:0.01em 0 0 0;margin:0;min-width:0;}.formkit-form[data-uid="a632c81889"] body:not(:-moz-handler-blocked) fieldset{display:table-cell;}.formkit-form[data-uid="a632c81889"] p{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;}.formkit-form[data-uid="a632c81889"][data-format="modal"]{display:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid="a632c81889"][data-format="slide in"]{display:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid="a632c81889"] .formkit-input,.formkit-form[data-uid="a632c81889"] .formkit-select,.formkit-form[data-uid="a632c81889"] .formkit-checkboxes{width:100%;}.formkit-form[data-uid="a632c81889"] .formkit-button,.
