Session 23: Repertoire Workshop II

Overview

• Phase: 5 — Performance & Independence
• Duration: 75 minutes
• Prerequisites: Completed Sessions 1-22. Three pieces polished to performance standard (Bach “Minuet in G,” “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran, “Lag Ja Gale”). Performance Rubric understood. Registration memory set up for classical, pop, and Indian setups.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

1. Polish a jazz/blues piece to performance standard with swing feel and blues expression
2. Polish a student-choice piece to performance standard in any genre
3. Apply memorization techniques: muscle memory, harmonic analysis, visualization
4. Manage performance anxiety with specific mental preparation strategies
5. Perform all 5 recital pieces in sequence with genre-appropriate expression
6. Evaluate your full 5-piece recital repertoire using the Performance Rubric

Materials Needed

• Casio CT-X9000IN keyboard (multiple tones — Grand Piano, Jazz Organ, Indian tones, Strings)
• Sustain pedal connected
• Metronome
• Registration memory: your 3 saved setups from Session 22 + 2 new setups today
• Your chosen student-choice piece (decided during Session 22 homework)
• This lesson plan open beside you

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Warm-Up & Review (10 minutes)

Quick Repertoire Check: 3 Polished Pieces (6 minutes)

Play the opening 8 bars of each of your 3 polished pieces from Session 22:

1. Bach “Minuet in G” — measures 1-8, at tempo (108-120 BPM), with dynamics
2. “Perfect” — verse opening, at 66 BPM, pp with LH arpeggio pattern
3. “Lag Ja Gale” — mukhda, at 60 BPM, with Santoor tone and meend

These should feel comfortable and expressive. If any piece has regressed since last week, note it — that piece needs extra practice time.

Swing Feel Warm-Up (4 minutes)

Prepare for the jazz piece. Play a C major scale, 2 octaves, HT, at 100 BPM with swing feel:

• Instead of even eighth notes (da-da-da-da), play long-short (daa-da, daa-da)
• Think “triplet feel” — the first eighth note gets 2/3 of the beat, the second gets 1/3
• RH plays the scale; LH plays quarter notes C(5) on each beat

Now play the C blues scale (C-Eb-F-Gb-G-Bb-C), RH only, with swing feel at 88 BPM:

• Fingering: C(1) Eb(2) F(3) Gb(4) G(1) Bb(3) C(5)
• 2 times up and down

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Theory / Harmony (10 minutes)

Memorization Techniques for Performance

You have 5 pieces to memorize for the graduation recital. Here are 3 proven techniques:

Technique 1: Muscle Memory (Physical)

Your fingers already know these pieces — you have played them dozens of times. Muscle memory is the foundation. To strengthen it:

1. Play the piece at half tempo with your eyes closed. Can your fingers find the notes without looking?
2. Start from different points in the piece (not just the beginning). Can you begin from bar 9? Bar 17?
3. Play just the LH alone from memory. Then just the RH. Most memorization failures happen in the “weaker” hand.

Test yourself: Play Bach “Minuet in G,” LH only, from memory. If you stumble, mark those bars for extra practice.

Technique 2: Harmonic Analysis (Intellectual)

Understanding the chord progression helps you recover if muscle memory fails:

1. Name the chord on each beat. For “Perfect”: G - Em - C - D (verse), C - G - C - D (pre-chorus), G - Em - C - D (chorus). If you forget a melody note, you can still land on a chord tone.
2. Identify the form. Bach Minuet: A section (8 bars) + B section (8 bars). “Perfect”: Verse - Pre-chorus - Chorus. “Lag Ja Gale”: Mukhda (theme) - Antara (bridge).
3. Notice patterns. Most pieces repeat sections. If you can play bars 1-8, and bars 9-16 use the same chord progression, you already know half the piece.

Technique 3: Visualization (Mental)

This is what professional performers do:

1. Close your eyes and “see” your hands on the keyboard playing the piece. Imagine every note.
2. “Hear” the piece in your head without touching the keyboard. Can you hear the melody from start to finish?
3. “See” the sheet music in your mind. Which page are you on? What comes next?

Visualization practice requires NO keyboard. You can do it anywhere — on the bus, before sleep, during a break. 5 minutes of visualization is worth 15 minutes of physical practice for memorization.

Performance Anxiety Management

Every performer feels nervous. The question is not “how do I eliminate anxiety?” but “how do I perform well despite it?”

Physical Strategies

• Deep breathing: Before performing, take 5 slow breaths. Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 6. This activates your parasympathetic nervous system (calms you down).
• Warm hands: Anxiety makes hands cold. Rub them together or run warm water over them before performing.
• Slow warm-up: Do NOT start by playing your hardest piece. Play a simple scale, then an easy piece, then your program.

Mental Strategies

• Focus on the music, not the audience. Think about the phrase you are playing NOW, not what the listener might think.
• Prepare for mistakes. Decide in advance: “If I play a wrong note, I will keep going without stopping.” This removes the fear of mistakes.
• Reframe anxiety as excitement. Nervousness and excitement are the same physical sensation. Tell yourself “I am excited to play” instead of “I am nervous.”

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Technique (15 minutes)

Piece 4: Jazz/Blues — “Fly Me to the Moon” (Performance Polish)

You first learned this in Session 17. Now we add full jazz expression.

Full Performance Arrangement

Key: C major (with jazz chromaticism). Tempo: quarter note = 110 BPM with swing feel. CT-X9000IN: Jazz Organ (Tone 016) or Electric Piano (Tone 005).

X:1 T:Fly Me to the Moon (Performance Arrangement) C:Bart Howard M:4/4 L:1/4 K:C V:1 clef=treble name="RH" %% A section (Fly me to the moon...) !mf!"5"c "4"B "3"A "2"G | "1"F "3"A "2"G "1"F | "2"E "1"D "2"E "3"F | "2"E4 | "4"A "3"G "2"F "1"E | "1"D "2"F "1"E "2"D | "1"C "2"D "3"E "4"F | "3"E4 | %% A' section (Fill my heart with song...) "5"c "4"B "3"A "2"G | "1"F "3"A "2"G "1"F | "2"E "1"D "2"E "3"F | "2"E2 "1"D2 | "3"A "2"G "1"F "2"G | "3"A2 "2"G2 | "3"A "2"G "1"E "2"F | !f!"1"C4 |] V:2 clef=bass name="LH" %% Shell voicings (root + 3rd + 7th) "5"A,2 "2"G,2 | "5"D,2 "2"C,2 | "5"G,2 "2"F,2 | "5"C,2 "2"B,,2 | "5"F,2 "2"E,2 | "5"B,,2 "2"A,,2 | "5"E,2 "2"D,2 | "5"A,2 "2"G,2 | A,2 G,2 | D,2 C,2 | G,2 F,2 | C,2 B,,2 | F,2 E,2 | D,2 G,2 | C,2 G,,2 | "5"C,4 |]

Performance Polish Notes

1. Swing Feel: This is the most important element. Every pair of eighth notes should be played long-short (2:1 ratio). If you play straight eighth notes, it will not sound like jazz — it will sound like a classical musician pretending.

2. Dynamics Plan: Start mf — confident, relaxed, like a lounge singer. Build to f at the final phrase (“in other words, I love you”). Jazz dynamics are more subtle than classical — the biggest dynamic is mf to f, not pp to ff.

3. Shell Voicings (LH): The LH plays shell voicings — root and 7th only. These are lean, clean, and let the RH melody shine. Do NOT play full chords in the LH — that is a pop style, not jazz.

4. Rhythmic Freedom: In jazz, you can place melody notes slightly before or after the beat. This is called “laying back” (behind the beat — relaxed) or “pushing” (ahead of the beat — urgent). Experiment. The Bach Minuet is on the beat; “Fly Me to the Moon” floats around it.

5. CT-X9000IN Tone: Jazz Organ (Tone 016) gives a classic lounge feel. Electric Piano (Tone 005) gives a smoother, Bill Evans quality. Try both — choose the one that feels right to you.

Play through now. Rate yourself using the Performance Rubric.

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Repertoire / Genre (25 minutes)

Piece 5: Student’s Choice (Performance Polish)

This is YOUR piece. You chose it during Session 22 homework. Below are performance polish notes for the most likely choices. Find your piece and follow the guidance.

If You Chose: “Clocks” by Coldplay

• Tempo: quarter note = 130 BPM (fast — the energy never drops)
• Key Feature: The RH ostinato (repeating pattern) must be absolutely even. Every note the same volume, same length. This is what makes “Clocks” iconic — mechanical precision with emotional power.
• Dynamics: Mostly mf throughout. Build slightly for the chorus. The dynamic range is narrow — the energy comes from rhythm, not volume.
• CT-X9000IN: Registration 4: Grand Piano. No layer needed. The piece has its own intensity.

If You Chose: “Kabira” (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani)

• Tempo: quarter note = 84 BPM (moderate, with groove)
• Key Feature: The rhythmic groove. “Kabira” has a driving, contemporary Bollywood feel. The LH needs a steady rhythmic pattern — not classical arpeggios but a modern pop groove.
• Dynamics: Build from mp (verse) to f (chorus — “Kabira” refrain). The chorus is anthemic.
• CT-X9000IN: Use Indian tone (Sitar or Santoor) for the intro. Switch to Grand Piano for the main body. Registration 3 or a new Registration 5.
• Meend: Use pitch bend on the decorative notes in the melody. The vocal slides are what define this song.

If You Chose: 12-Bar Blues in C

• Tempo: quarter note = 100 BPM with swing feel
• Key Feature: Swing the eighth notes. LH walks a steady bass line. RH can add improvised fills between the written melody. This is YOUR chance to show off improvisation.
• Dynamics: Blues dynamics are about feel, not volume. Play with “grit” — dig into the keys on accented notes. Slight crescendo into the turnaround (bars 11-12).
• CT-X9000IN: Jazz Organ (Tone 016). Swing rhythm accompaniment if available.

If You Chose: “Kun Faya Kun” (Rockstar)

• Tempo: quarter note = 72 BPM (slow, devotional)
• Key Feature: This is a Sufi-inspired song. The mood is meditative, not dramatic. Play with extreme gentleness — pp to mp range only.
• Dynamics: Almost entirely pp-mp. The song builds in emotional intensity through repetition, not volume. The climax is still only mf.
• CT-X9000IN: Bansuri (Tone 465) for the melody. Light reverb. Keherwa rhythm accompaniment at low volume.
• Rubato: Generous rubato. The melody follows the breath of a qawwali singer. Let phrases stretch and contract naturally.

If You Chose: Another Piece

Apply these universal performance polish steps:

1. Identify the genre. What style is this piece?
2. Plan dynamics. Where is the climax? Where is the quiet moment?
3. Choose the right CT-X9000IN tone. Does the piece benefit from a special timbre?
4. Decide on pedaling. Heavy sustain (ballad) or light (classical/fast)?
5. Practice the hardest 4 bars separately until secure, then play through the whole piece.

Play your student-choice piece now. Rate yourself using the Performance Rubric.

Full 5-Piece Run-Through (10 minutes)

Now play all 5 pieces in sequence. This is your graduation recital rehearsal:

1. Bach “Minuet in G” — Registration 1 (Grand Piano). Classical phrasing.
2. “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran — Registration 2 (Piano + Strings). Ballad feel.
3. “Lag Ja Gale” — Registration 3 (Santoor). Indian expression.
4. “Fly Me to the Moon” — Registration 4 (Jazz Organ). Swing feel.
5. Student’s Choice — Registration 5 (your setup). Your genre.

Between pieces: Pause 10-15 seconds. Take a breath. Switch your Registration. Set yourself mentally for the next genre. A recital is not just 5 pieces — it is a journey through genres.

DO NOT STOP if you make a mistake. This is recital practice — you must keep going. Every performer makes mistakes. The audience does not know the score — they will not notice unless you stop.

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Creative / Ear Training (10 minutes)

Full Recital Self-Assessment (5 minutes)

Rate all 5 pieces:

Category	Bach Minuet	Perfect	Lag Ja Gale	Fly Me to Moon	Student Choice
Notes (1-3)
Tempo (1-3)
Dynamics (1-3)
Pedaling (1-3)
Phrasing (1-3)
Recovery (1-3)
Style (1-3)
Total (/21)

Target for graduation: All 5 pieces at 15+ (Performance-Ready). If any piece is below 15, focus your practice on that piece this week.

Memorization Check (5 minutes)

For each piece, close your eyes and try to play the first 8 bars from memory:

1. Bach Minuet — from memory? Yes / Partially / No
2. “Perfect” — from memory? Yes / Partially / No
3. “Lag Ja Gale” — from memory? Yes / Partially / No
4. “Fly Me to the Moon” — from memory? Yes / Partially / No
5. Student’s Choice — from memory? Yes / Partially / No

Target for graduation: At least 3 of 5 pieces playable from memory. All 5 is ideal but not required — you may use sheet music during the recital if needed.

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Review & Homework (5 minutes)

Summary

Today you:

• Polished “Fly Me to the Moon” with swing feel, shell voicings, and jazz expression
• Polished your student-choice piece with genre-appropriate performance interpretation
• Learned 3 memorization techniques: muscle memory, harmonic analysis, visualization
• Learned performance anxiety management strategies (physical and mental)
• Rehearsed the full 5-piece graduation recital in sequence
• Self-assessed all 5 pieces using the Performance Rubric

Self-Check Questions

1. Name the 3 memorization techniques and explain one of them.
2. What is the difference between swing feel and straight eighth notes?
3. How do you manage performance anxiety using the “reframe” technique?
4. Why is it important to play all 5 pieces in sequence (not just individually)?

Practice Homework (Before Next Session)

• Full recital run-through — 20 minutes daily. Play all 5 pieces in order, no stopping. Time yourself — the full recital should take approximately 12-15 minutes.
• Weakest piece focus — 10 minutes daily. Whichever piece scored lowest on the rubric gets extra practice. Work on the lowest-scoring rubric category specifically.
• Memorization practice — 10 minutes daily. Use visualization (no keyboard needed) for 5 minutes. Then test with eyes closed at the keyboard for 5 minutes.
• Sight-reading maintenance — 10 minutes daily. Sight-read one new piece daily to keep your reading skills sharp for Session 25’s assessment.
• Total: ~50 minutes daily

Common Mistakes to Watch For

• Not doing full run-throughs: Practicing individual pieces is important but NOT sufficient. You must practice the transitions between pieces — switching tones, switching genres, switching moods. The recital is a performance, not a series of disconnected songs.
• Memorizing only the beginning: Most memory failures happen in the middle of a piece, not the start. Practice starting from the middle — bar 9, bar 17. Can you do it?
• Ignoring performance anxiety strategies: Do not wait until the graduation session to try deep breathing and visualization. Practice these techniques NOW so they feel natural when you need them.
• Same feel for all genres: If “Fly Me to the Moon” sounds just like the Bach Minuet, you are not swinging. If “Lag Ja Gale” sounds like “Perfect,” you are not using meend and Indian phrasing. Each genre has its own voice.

CT-X9000IN Tips

Registration Memory for 5-Piece Recital

Complete your registration memory setup:

1. Registration 1: Classical — Grand Piano (Tone 000). Reverb: Hall (medium).
2. Registration 2: Pop Ballad — Layer: Grand Piano + Strings (000 + 049). Reverb: Hall (large).
3. Registration 3: Indian — Santoor (Tone 459). Reverb: Room (small).
4. Registration 4: Jazz — Jazz Organ (Tone 016) or Electric Piano (Tone 005). Reverb: Room (medium).
5. Registration 5: Student Choice — Set this up based on your chosen piece.

To save a registration: Set your tone and effects, then hold STORE + press Registration number.

MIDI Recording of Your Recital

Record your full recital run-through using the CT-X9000IN’s MIDI recorder:

1. Press RECORD
2. Play all 5 pieces in sequence
3. Press STOP when finished
4. Play back to hear yourself — this is extremely valuable for self-assessment

You can also export to USB (if you have a USB drive inserted) and listen on your computer. Hearing yourself from “the audience’s perspective” reveals issues you do not notice while playing.