Students with Prior Experience
Advice for Student who Already Reads Rhythm
I have an adult student that can already read some (childhood traditional lessons) that I recently started in Reading Rhythm. She is having trouble playing 5SS on the first few pages of the MOR book. She is only playing one finger because she says that’s…
Playing Traditional Music
I have an adult student who had her first lesson today. She has traditional background. She was wondering if it was OK to still play her traditional music while learning SM. I suggested she not play them at least the first 2 or 3 weeks,…
More on Teaching Adults with Traditional Experience
Teachers, what do you suggest for adults who learned years ago (traditional) and want to resurrect their playing? I want to help them get going, but if they don’t want to learn SM what then? For me, its Simply Music or nothing. I only offer…
Knowing a Student’s Background
Hello, I am a new S/M teacher and learner. I have learned through level 3, although I have just ordered level 4 and rhythm. I am having difficulty in the following way: I have a new student, an old student, and a middle aged student.…
Student with Advanced Composition Skills
I am a new teacher; I started my first lessons this month. I have a student, 15 years old, who has been composing his own music for quite some time. I know I have plenty to teach him in other areas, but I have no idea…
Chat – Transitioning Traditional Students
Musicmaker: I am Cindy Bettinger, who, along with Karen Tucker, reside in Charleston Illinois. I switched all my students over to SM in the fall of ’03 and the winter of 04. Did anyone here start out teaching traditionally? Helen P (AUS) No. I was trained…
Articulating our Abilities – Thoughts from Neil Moore
Recently, a trainee teacher wrote to me expressing concern about a prospective student who had a pre-existing ability to play at a level that was, in some respects, beyond their own. The teacher was also concerned about the fact that were the student to progress…
Assessing Experience; Lesson Content Ideas
I have a student who will be starting with 8 years experience, not a great reader, usually reads just enough to figure out a piece and then just plays it from memory. I need to know how to excel an advanced student. Does one still…
Advanced Students and SHM
I love very advanced students and seem to be acquiring more of them as I go along. They are fun because of the pace we move and how many extra projects can be explored and accomplished. This type of student, however, will typically fly through…
Advanced Student in Groups
I have just had a call from an adult student with 10 years traditional background as a child, who, since seeing more advanced students playing at the my first recent piano concert, she is eager to get ahead and move faster with the program, feeling…