About The Method

I have a question on how to explain depth vs. breadth to my students. I want to encourage them to practice all of the streams every week, even if I don’t necessarily have time to cover it in class, but I want to explain why…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• analogies, depth vs. breadth in knowledge

I’m still grappling with how to define thoughtlessness to the student. To my way of thinking, and I’m not sure I’m right, if you can play a song without thinking about the elements in it, but can’t start in the middle or remember what the…

• Last updated 11 years ago
• cross pollination, Gordon Harvey, Laurie Richards, learning tools, memorizing, strategies, thoughtlessness

As a means of helping my students remember where to put their hands, for the start of each song, I play a game that works really well. With their printed keyboards on their laps, I say a particular song and they put their hands on…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• practice pad, starting positions

We all know that Simply Music can be taught to blind and deaf students, but I recently found out that it can also be taught by a teacher who can’t speak! Let me explain. Two weeks ago, I underwent a surgery on my vocal chords,…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• Teaching Without a Voice

I am just covering my bases/honesty here – I just had a student inform me via email that she only enjoys learning the video-supported material and wonders if I can teach her only this or if I know a teacher who teaches only the SHM…

• Last updated 11 years ago
• adult students, arrangements, claiming territory, complete curriculum, foundation, Laurie Richards

This is my first official post as a “teaching” licensed teacher!! Yeah! It’s nice to be able to jump in and ask pertinent questions. I’ve learned so much from all of you. I know it is a judgement call on how much information to unfold…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• Chinese Dreams, DCT, Dreams, Dreams Come True, how fast to move, learning pace, level 1, listening to the audio recordings, Night Storm, Night Storm inc, NS, rhythm, unfolding material

Can I open a discussion about duets in general and how playing in public in a duet in approached? This is a response I sent to a parent who was not happy a student played a duet and not a solo at a Christmas Sing-a-long.…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• claiming territory, coaches, duets, Gordon Harvey, letting students go, playing duet at recital, unhappy parent

I have several diagrams from the Reference materials that I can’t explain and have just skipped over when teaching. Some are covered in teacher training tapes but many are not. I always just assumed they were self-explanatory and I was just dense, but now I…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• learning tools and strategies, understanding diagrams, utilizing forums, utilizing Simpedia

Yesterday I did an FIS for a student that has had 2 years of traditional lessons. She is a cousin of my student that also has had 2 years of lessons, all SM! The Mom wants to switch her daughter to me because she is…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• four goals, Free Introductory Sessions, group lessons, learning a new way of learning, previous experience, shared lessons, traditional students to SM

I have started teaching another 6 week session at our community center here. The first one I taught went amazingly well. Everyone got it and I am now teaching lessons to 2 of my previous students from that class. So, I just started another one.…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• Dreams Come True, Laurie Richards, learning a new way of learning, patterns, playing-based, tools, traditional students to SM, workshop