About The Method

For easier reference, here is my FIS PowerPoint presentation… Since so many people are asking for this, I’m going to go ahead and post a downloadable version of my FIS PowerPoint presentation here. There are a few caveats you should be aware of: 1) This…

• Last updated 1 month ago
• first introductory session, FIS, FIS handouts, FIS transcribed, free information session, free introductory session, Free Introductory Sessions, info session, information session, intro session, introductory session, leading a FIS, online FIS, PowerPoint, presentation, presenting FIS, recorded FIS, recording FIS, Simply Music information packets, SIS, transcribed FIS

This past month, I started making a point of assigning students to both LISTEN to the audio tracks and practice playing along with audio tracks HANDS SEPARATELY. Specifically, I’ve started directing students to try playing one hand alone with the audio tracks on a routine…

• Last updated 2 months ago
• audio, audio materials, audio recording, Audio recordings, audio SHMs, BH, both hands, control the events, controlling the events, coordinating LH and RH, CTE, external speaker, external speakers, hands together, humming, humming along, humming while playing, listening to audio recordings, listening to the audio recordings, multiple thought processes, playing along with audio, playing with audio tracks, RH/LH, separate hands, SH, singing, singing along, singing while playing, singing while playing struggle, single thought process, single thought processes, speaking instructions out loud, STP, trouble with hands together, using audio recordings, using audio tracks, using the audio recordings to learn songs

I have a 10 yr old girl student at level one – we’re coming up to Fur Elise and she wanted to learn to play piano so she could play Harry Potters theme. She has now with the help of internet video and her mother…

• Last updated 2 months ago
• accompaniment, chords, developing generative skills, generative, generative learning, generative students, generative tools, Harry Potter, Hedwig's Theme, learning the melody, melody, playing-based, playing-based strategies, playing-based tools, self generating, self generative, self-generate, self-generation, simplified melody, teaching melody

I have a class of 5 middle-schoolers who love music, and are trying to do every musical activity available to them. They are in Level 3. A couple of them are in the school band (actually an orchestra), and a couple of them are joining…

• Last updated 2 months ago
• expectation, expectations, high school, high school jazz band, managing expectations, middle school, outside materials, outside music, outside pieces, outside reading pieces, outside sheet music, parent expectation, parental expectations, pieces outside the program, playing-based, playing-based arrangements, playing-based strategies, playing-based tools, public school, public schools, reading expectations, reading outside Simply Music, school, school band, school jazz band, school music, school orchestra, songs outside the repertoire, talking about expectations, teaching outside music

Chariots of Fire seems to be a theme song at the Olympics and not too difficult. It is a good time to introduce this piece to students while it is popular. Has anyone heard any other theme songs at the Olympics? I wonder if you…

• Last updated 2 months ago
• Chariots of Fire, Gordon Harvey, Olympic, Olympics, Playground, The Playground, tutorial

Hi everyone. I’ve had two students request to learn the Happy Birthday song. Any suggestions…SM method? I briefly came up with one but wondering if anyone else has a tried and true version to share? So easy and fun. I do not tell them what…

• Last updated 3 months ago
• cross pollinating, cross pollination, cross-pollinate, Happy Birthday, Minuet in G, Minuet in G Level 2, Minuet in G LH, Minuet patterns, playing-based, playing-based arrangements

This week I was asked the question, “How far does the Simply Music program take students, in comparison to AMEB (Australian Music Examination Board) or Trinity standards?” Does anyone know the answer to the question? As a new teacher, I actually didn’t know, and I…

• Last updated 3 months ago
• achievement, AMEB, Ballade, Fur Elise, Fur Elise B section, Fur Elise C section, getting results, results, standard of musicianship

Just wanted to share with you a happy Simply Music experience. I have been teaching SM for about 3 years now. This year I entered 2 of my students in the Toowoomba Eisteddfod. Unfortunately, the piano section has preset boundaries as to what can be…

• Last updated 4 months ago
• AMEB, Australian Music Examinations Board, Ballade, competitions, concerts, eisteddfods, exams, Fur Elise, Gordon Harvey, medley, Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, Michigan School Vocal Music Association, Minuet in G, MSBOA, MSVMA, Neil Moore, Ode to Joy, playing-based

The recent flux of accreditations (in Perth alone) has brought to my attention the fact that my year of being “licensed” is drawing to a close and I’d best get a move on with recording students. This I’ve done, and wow have I learned a…

• Last updated 6 months ago
• accreditation, certification, record students, recording, recording comp and improv, recording pieces, recording students, status, student recordings, teacher certification, teacher certification requirements, teacher status

EMBODIED MUSIC COGNITION Has anyone else heard of this fascinating new field of research related to Embodied Cognition Psychology? I am finding the topic extremely groundbreaking, especially related to -Simply Music’s unique multi-layered approach, -the importance of teaching in groups, -and now the challenges of…

• Last updated 6 months ago
• benefits of online lessons, Dalcroze, distance lessons, embodied cognition psychology, embodied music cognition, entrainment, Fragmenting-Layering, gateway, groups, InterPlay, layer, layering, learning online, learning via webcam, movement, music & movement, music therapy, online, online learning, online lessons, shared lessons, Simply Music Gateway, teaching online, using a webcam to teach, videoconference software