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In this video from Keyboard Techniques for Songwriters—a Berklee Online course co-written with Sarah Brindell—Bonnie Hayes discusses ways to visualize the key fields on a keyboard or piano. Think about it as shapes, she advises, instead of just memorizing notes. She demonstrates major scales, employing variations of the old W–W–H–W–W–W–H interval pattern, where a W is a whole step and an H is a half step. Hayes also encourages songwriters to recognize patterns: slopes, cliffs, plateaus, and valleys. You’ll see how major scales like C, G, D, and Eb create distinctive visual and tactile patterns, and how experimenting with shapes like 3rds, triads, and clusters can deepen your understanding of tonality.
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ABOUT BONNIE HAYES
Bonnie Hayes is the former chair of Berklee’s Songwriting department and program director of the Berklee Online Master of Arts in Songwriting program. She has more than 35 years of experience as an educator, songwriter, producer, performer, and recording artist. During her career, she has been signed to five record deals and five writing deals, and toured as a side musician with Billy Idol and Cris Williamson. She has written songs for Bonnie Raitt, Cher, Bette Midler, David Crosby, Robert Cray, Adam Ant, and Booker T. & the MG’s, and produced more than 40 records. She designed and implemented the youth program for the Blue Bear School of Music in San Francisco, and has taught piano, guitar, theory, songwriting, and composition to thousands of students at institutions throughout the US.
ABOUT SARAH BRINDELL
Sarah Brindell is a songwriter, arranger, producer, musician, and associate professor at Berklee College of Music. With touring credits around the world, she has shared the stage and recorded with many renowned artists including Norah Jones, Carole King, and Raul Midon. Her original songs can be heard on many television shows including MTV’s “Made.” She was a finalist in the Song of the Year contest as part of VH1’s Save the Music Foundation, as well as the Billboard World Song Contest. A Summa Cum Laude graduate from Boston University, she holds a Master's degree in Music Education, and teaches courses in songwriting, harmony, ear training, arranging, and stage performance.
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Keyboard Techniques for Songwriters | Piano | Songwriting | Key Fields | Bonnie Hayes | Sarah Brindell | Bonnie Raitt | Billy Idol | Cris Williamson | Cher | Norah Jones | Carole King | Berklee Online