Reading
Scale journey / Value of TFMM
I’m working through Touch of Jazz. Neil mentions using the scale journey to process the notes. Can someone remind me where the scale journey is introduced? Time for More Music? Accompaniment 2? Scale journey is first introduced in TFMM, then expanded on in Accompaniment 2.…
Using music books starting in Level 7
Do your students who are Level 7 and above use the music books often to help them learn the pieces? They see Neil has the music book open in the videos, and Neil also approves that for rhythm tracking in the teacher training videos. I…
Knowing where to look while playing
I welcome ideas and strategies for helping students “know where to look” when playing, especially if they are playing accompaniments. Some are struggling while trying to look at their left hand and right hand while following the page. I’ve suggested practicing each hand with eyes…
When to introduce Reading Rhythm
What’s the latest you would introduce Reading Rhythm? It’s hard to say, but typically I introduce it in Level 4. That being said, there have been times that I wait as long as possible–even into Level 7. I’ve done that when I have strong readers…
Parents anxious to start reading
I’ve lost a few students recently (starting Level 3) because the parents are taking them to a traditional teacher to learn to read notes, even though the kids were doing well and I told them that we were moving toward note reading soon. They compared…
Webinar Series: 08/15/2017 – Piano – Maximizing Success with the Reading Program
In this webinar Neil describes how the the Simply Music Reading Program was developed and shares insights into getting the best results from this part of the Curriculum. Topics include: Evolution of the Simply Music Reading Program (00:00) Critical Readiness Elements for Students (10:17) Creating…
Questions about Reading Rhythm
I am starting Reading Rhythm for the first time, and just want to make sure I understand how the TTM and Reference materials fit together. It appears that the Reference materials and MOR audios begin with Project 8 of the TTM. Is that correct? Do…
Time for More Music: August
I’m wondering how long it takes for other teachers who have taught TFMM August in a private lesson? I have been teaching this piece to a student and it seems to be taking forever. We made a commitment a few months ago that we would…
Continuing Reading Rhythm projects
I have just finished Reading Rhythm. It felt to me like it wasn’t quite finished and I have a couple of questions: 1. The read, transcribe, and play exercises that we introduce during ties, should this be an ongoing thing even after they have finished…
Pauly’s Patter tied notes
In Pauly’s Patter, measure 20, is there a reason why the third chord (on the beat of +3) is written as a tie instead of a quarter note, like the chords before and after it? It would seem that within a measure, it would simplify…
