Attache
Piano Week 01: ii-V-I shells
Transition ii–V–I shell voicings from isolated drills into real-time accompaniment in C, with one key transfer as a stretch goal.
Daily Schedule 4 / 7
Weekly Focus
The objective for Q1 is to develop a strong baseline in playing ii-V-I shell voicings.
This week, our primary goal is to transition this concept from isolated drills into real-time accompaniment with a manageable ramp. You will know you’ve succeeded if you can play the core loop in steady time in one key, then transfer it once to one nearby key as a stretch.
Repertoire & Chord Map
Our primary working key will be C major, using Fly Me to the Moon as the main application piece. Misty will serve as our secondary song to apply the concepts once mastered.
The core form to practice is a 37-bar ABC structure. Prioritize clean shell movement and time over full-form complexity.
The minimum map loop you need to practice and memorize is: This chord map shows the full song form, but for Week 1 your practical focus is only Section A.
Your daily task is to play this loop in time in C, first as 8-bar chunks. If that feels stable, do one transfer pass in F.
Musical Constraints
“Constraints breed creativity.” Keep your focus narrow to make real progress.
Keep your left hand extremely simple and steady, while your right hand prioritizes voice leading and phrasing over note count. The end goal of every session is to produce 30 to 60 seconds of actual, cohesive music, rather than just running through exercises.
Supplementary Listening & Ear Training (Required)
Link this listening directly to this week’s theme “Baseline + ii-V-I shells” so ear work supports your keyboard work.
Weekly listening pick:
- Fly Me to the Moon — Frank Sinatra
Why this track now: It highlights clear functional cadences and phrase endings, which matches Week 1’s goals.
Ear tasks (10–15 min, at least 3 sessions this week):
- Listen once without the instrument and name the key center by ear (major/minor/modal). Then verify the key at piano.
- Find one cadence or arrival point, then play: root + shell ii-V-I (or closest functional equivalent) in that key.
- Lift a short 4–8 bar fragment by ear, play it slowly, and record ~30s so you can compare your hearing vs. the recording.
Extra challenge (optional): transpose your lifted fragment to the weekly priority ladder when possible (F → Eb → G → Bb → C).
End-of-Week Reflection
Take a moment to review your progress with shell voicings. Did hands-separate to hands-together sequencing make transitions more reliable? Pinpoint where groove still falls apart with metronome on 2 and 4, and identify one specific section (not the whole song) to stabilize next week.