Thanksgiving Holiday Library Hours

The Library will close at 5PM on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Piano Basics for Ages 4-8

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Age Group:

Kids, Ages 0-5, Grades K-5
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Allowed Ages: 4 to 8

Program Description

Event Details

Join accomplished pianist and teen volunteer Cary Wang to learn piano basics. Best for ages 4-8. Cary has been an avid volunteer leader of the Piano Village Foundation by hosting a quarterly Music Appreciation workshop for young kids and teaching them basic music theory. This initiative provides music education to children and youth, fostering personal growth, confidence, and community engagement through musical expression. It aims to cultivate core values and lifelong interest in the arts, integrating these with academic and leadership development. Please plan to attend all 5 session. 

Objectives over 5 Sessions of 45 Minutes:

  • Finding notes on the keyboard and staff: The first step in learning to play the piano - students must recognize notes on the musical staff and the corresponding keys on the piano
  • Learning notes and values: This introduces students to the concept of musical timing and how different notes contribute to a piece's rhythm.
  • Learning Accidentals: Accidentals add variety and expressiveness to playing.
  • Half and Whole Steps: Half and whole steps are the foundation of scales and modes.
  • Scales: Practicing scales is a routine that builds finger dexterity and hand coordination.
  • Key Signatures + Triads: Learning key signatures helps students understand the structure of music and modulations within pieces.
  • Rhythm: Rhythm training involves clapping, tapping, counting, and eventually integrating these rhythms while playing.
  • Final Performance of their favorite piece: It integrates all the skills learned into a single performance, showcasing their progress and achievements.
Cary Wang in blue shirt standing in front of bush

Cary Wang, 10th Grader at Horace Mann School and Pre-college student at Manhattan School of Music (MSM), has been invited to perform in Carnegie Hall 16 times, Vienna’s prestigious Ehrbar Hall and Mozarthaus, London Royal Albert Hall, Lincoln Center, Kaufman Center, and Yamaha Artist Piano Concert Series with Yamaha Artist Mr. Jose Ramon Mendez, etc.

Cary has won many piano competitions since the age of six. He was named as Sole Winner of the 2022-23 Music Teachers National Association Connecticut State Junior Piano Competition, the Alternate Winner of the 2023-24, and the Winner of the 2019-20 highly competitive MSM Piano Concerto Competition, the 2020 Gold Award, and the 2017 Silver Award of Piano group SinoVision the Teen’s Talent Show. Cary made his orchestral debut with the New York Concerti Sinfonietta in January 2020 at Lincoln Center. Since 2007, Cary has been invited to perform at the New Canaan Inn, Waveny Lifecare Network, twice a year to share the joy with the seniors there. He received the 2023 Presidential Service Award for his work.

Cary’s Music Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@johnwang5673

                         

Thank You for Your Support!

The Library is pleased to be able to offer free programs and events through the generous donations of patrons like you. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to the Library’s Annual Fund so we can continue to offer programs like this one.

Accessibility and Accommodations

We strive to facilitate access to information and Library services for all patrons. If you have questions about accessibility or a request for accommodation, please phone 203-594-5002, email the librarian in charge of this program (see contact info above), or email [email protected] with as much lead time as possible.

Youth Participation Guidelines

If your child is under 12 years old, an adult caregiver must remain in the Children’s Room for the duration of the program. If your child finishes a program early, or if a child becomes ill, distressed, or behaves in a manner that interferes with other participants’ enjoyment of the program, they may be released into the Children’s Room before the program’s end time. Please ensure that your child knows exactly where to find you at all times.