WHAT THIS IS

AND WHAT IT IS NOT

In The Eras Setlist Challenge, I invite you to join me and others as we take on each song in Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Setlist as a musical quest, a puzzle, to unravel and understand, to play through on the piano enough to be able to play along with Taylor (or others) in a way that feels comfortable for you (it can be simple and sparse, or you can rock out to your heart's content.

You and your piano have a daily date!
If you usually learn songs by reading notation or looking up the chord chart, I challenge you to start out on each song with nothing but you, your piano, and the recording of the song.

See what you can find out about the song this way (more details later on this.).  

If this is new to you, still try it!  Every day, I will provide Chord Clues and also a Song Study video later in the day which will deconstruct the chords of the song. 

Also, this is a challenge for everyone at whatever musical level you may be, or whatever your goals are.  And so, you are encouraged, in this and in your musical journey always, to set about on your own path for where you are and where you want to go.  An example:  if you are new to chords on piano, a good goal may be to add inversions each day after the root position chords feel conquered 

Creatively, if you are a songwriter, you could challenge yourself to write a snippet of a song, or even a full song, each day, sparked by the chords or the lyrics of the daily song.

Or if you want to practice making catchy melodies, you could make up a new riff each day for the chord progression in the song.  Something quick and fun!

What will NOT happen in this challenge is that I just give you chord charts or sheet music, and then show you how to play the songs as you parrot what I'm playing.   

Here's why...

WHAT THIS IS FOR

This Challenge, and everything I teach, is designed to help you grow in your musicianship through chord fluency, musical understanding, exploration and creativity, all on the piano, as we play our way through the Eras Setlist. 

Both the Challenge and any materials I send your way use the basic music number system to explore the chord progressions and keys of the songs.   In order to get you more familiar with the number system we are using*, and how keys and chords are made and function, I am offering a chord prep class on Monday Night, July 31st to anyone who wants to come (or streaming later). 

And then we start our first song on August 1st-MISS AMERICANA AND THE HEARTBREAK PRINCE.

(See below for full, color-coded calendar!)

 *Nope, no Roman Numerals!

WHO THIS IS FOR

Anyone who wants to join!  Musicians of all levels, and Teachers, too!

If you want to grow in your chord fluency, musical understanding, creativity and most of all, thinking in NUMBERS when you make music, this will help you get there!

If you are new to playing chords on piano, good news!  Taylor Swift's songs are mostly in the most piano keys (like C, G, D, etc.), and there RARELY are there any chord extensions (like 13ths, or even 7ths!).

When the few songs written in "harder" keys occur (There are 2 in F#, 3 in Ab), it may take more time for you to get comfortable with.  

But it doesn't hurt to jump in the deep end and see what you can do!  

(BTW--my sources have revealed, instagram that is, that she has changed the key to the songs in Ab down to G in the Live Eras Show. Fun Fact!).

WHO THIS IS NOT FOR:  Non-Swifties, or anyone looking for complicated and challenging progressions or extended chords (No Bbm7b5s occur, nothing but major and minor chords!).   

HOW IT WORKS

 DAILY PLAN

It is so important to plan summer days or they just slip away!  (JK, this is my favorite feeling, and my favorite season because of it!).

Yet, to offer an academic opportunity, one must present the daily agenda.

Here's how I see it!

Imagine a clock. 

But a 24-hour clock.

Here I made this to show you.

Trippy, right?

Okay, here it is more detailed with important things like when classes happen and when daily videos come your way. (obviously other activities will occur in your day, too, and you can do what you want, this is just what to expect from me!):

• Wake Up & Listen to the daily Taylor song as you TINKER* around on the piano and see what you can pick out on your own --- any bits of melody (or all of it), riffs, the bass line, and the chords. (You'll know the key from the Calendar of Songs below). 
  If you can't get all of that worked out, it's okay because... 
• At 9:00 AM (NYC Time), I will post some CHORD CLUES to help!  Some examples: 1) how many chords are in the song, 2) if the song is entirely a chord loop, and 3) if there are any chords borrowed (chords outside of the diatonic scale--but this is REALLY rare for her songs). MIND YOU--I don't think you will need these clues for long, the more you do this!   
• At 3:00 PM (NYC Time) each day, I will post the daily SONG STUDY & SPARK Video.  In this video, I will show you the way I charted the song, (and you can check what you came up with) and give you some examples of piano patterns that would work for the particular sections of the song, and at different levels of ability.    Finally, I'll share a daily song spark--an idea to create something with (or you may have your own idea.  YAY!).
• You can chord-along with Taylor!  Your Friends, Family, Your BCF. (Best Cat Forever).  Sing and Play. Think about the song, what it means to you.  (I'm serious!). Whatever you like.  Make your own song. Your chord prowess grows!
• Sleep and dream your wild dreams.
  
  *I use the word "tinker" as it is a very different from what we are used to doing on the piano -- "practicing productively".  Tinkering is more experimental.  Although, the act of tinkering itself is a very productive way to practice your musical mind!
  
  

CALENDAR OF SONGS

We will spend each day on one song from Taylor's Setlist, from top to bottom!

Take a look!  I mean, this is awesome, right?