About The Method

Hello dear teachers, Recently I have been experimenting with my shared lessons (of 2-3 students). I wanted to share some of my findings. I have been asking students to grasp the patterns behind pieces away from the piano. I ask them to buddy up with…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• coaches, group lessons, patterns, shared lessons, studio set up

Well, I went and did it! I started two groups two weeks ago! and it’s just as Neil said: Energizing. Here’s how I did it: There is a local private school in my area. I asked if I could send out 800 flyers to their…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• getting started, group lessons, marketing, shared lessons

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 12 years ago
• Laurie Richards, prospective teachers, Robin Keehn, teachers observing lessons

For those of you that teach groups, do you ever find that students are uncomfortable or embarrassed to touch each others’ hands?  I’m thinking in particular of a 13 yr-old boy that may be in a group with three 16-yr-olds (all beginners). I think it…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• teens, touching hands

I’m a new teacher, so your experience would be very helpful. I have a new 16-year-old girl who worked quickly to catch up to her two friends so that she could join their shared lesson. I gave her private lessons and I believe she truly…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• abilities, arrangements, group lessons, Honey Dew, Long Term Relationship, practice, relationship conversation, relationship graph, shared lessons

I am a new teacher. I teach a small group of 5. Today we put Dreams hands together. I felt that I needed at least 2-3 minutes individual time with each student to help “control the events” on the piano as they put it together.…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• Dreams Come True, group, group lessons, hands together, keypads, Laurie Richards, practice pads, shared lessons

When you have students unfold the patterns on their (printed) keyboards, do you also have them put both hands together first on their keyboard? I have tried this but found that I can’t watch them all and so don’t know if they are doing it…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• both hands, controlling the events, group lessons, hands together, observatory learning, patterns, practice pads, private lessons, shared lessons

Anyone ever run into this problem of an experienced player who doesn’t fit into a group because of how much more quickly he’s going through curriculum. He’s had 5 lessons, he’s at the middle of level 3, through the accomp. book, processed most of accompaniment…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• accompaniment, advanced players, arrangements, comp and improv, lesson scheduling, rates, teacher responsibility, trust the method

How do you go about teaching arrangements to a group of 5? They don’t have SHMs, so do you mostly have them learn through watching. But how do you process it into their fingers at the lesson? Do you have them each take a turn…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• arrangements, Dreams Come True, group lessons, key pads, practice pads, shared lessons, speaking instructions out loud

I’ve been teaching Simply Music for almost a year, and I now have students entering level 4.  My studio space is small so my class size ranges from one to three students. Throughout the past year I have been having increasing difficultly with time management…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• accompaniment, arrangements, curriculum order list, Laurie Richards, lessons, life coach, method coach, Playlist, time management