Other Methods

I got a call from a mom today. Her son (11 years old) is getting teased by his peers at school for not learning ‘real’ piano. I will spend time with him and his family to highlight the differences of the method architecture, explain the…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• communication, playing-based, SM vs traditional, traditional

I met someone who would like for me to teach her 6-year-old daughter, and she really likes the SM method now that she heard about it. But she already (a couple of weeks ago) had enrolled her daughter in a brief 6-week “group” piano class…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• prior experience, reading, traditional

  I had a parent of a fifth grader ask me today what happens after the foundation levels, and whether there are any piano competitions in Simply Music, and whether/how any study might count for college credit. I promised to check in with more experienced…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• classically trained, college, music major, Robin Keehn

For those of you who may be in a simialr position to me, here is a copy of a personal letter I sent to my existing students: “True to the policy of _______ Studio, I am always thinking about how I can best help my…

• Last updated 9 years ago
• traditional, traditional teachers, transitioning to SM

In response to the following question: “I am finding that my students have a knowledge of singles, doubles and quads in their traditional form of Ta, Te-te and tigger-tigger (or any variation of these). The schools seem to teach this in their music classes. I…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• Neil Moore, rhythm, traditional, vocalizing

Yesterday, an amazing 16 year old boy looking for a piano teacher came by my studio to talk with me. Although he had traditional lessons in the past, he has been his own teacher for the last several years but feels the need for some…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• accompaniment, advanced students, Gordon Harvey, jazz, prior experience, reading, technique, traditional lessons

I have a student whose grandmother has the whole family concerned about the position wrists are held while playing. While I have often reminded students to lower shoulders, or alter the wrist position to try to increase their comfort, I haven’t really noticed anything obvious…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• how to play, technique, traditional lessons, what to play, wrist position

In response to the following question: I am finding that my students have a knowledge of singles, doubles and quads in their traditional form of Ta, Te-te and tigger-tigger (or any variation of these). The schools seem to teach this in their music classes. I…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• Neil Moore, rhythm, traditional, vocalizing

A piano teacher in my city has contacted me because he’s interested in teaching this method. He first called me a few weeks ago to ask about my experience as a teacher which is quite common but he called last week wanting to sit in…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• Laurie Richards, prospective teachers, Robin Keehn, teachers observing lessons

This is probably a moot point because this student has all but decided to quit, but I’ll ask anyhow. Here’s the background: 17 year old student, who was my most advanced of traditional students when I transferred my studio over to Simply Music. He has…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• Accompaniment‏, bored student, claiming territory, practicing, quitting, student with previous experience, teen students, traditional student