About The Method

How would you answer this question from a parent? “Why does the way we learn 7th chords only have 3 notes? To make a F#m7, isn’t that an A chord?” I’m very comfortable with the practical application of the voicing idea between the notes over both…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• 7th chords, accomp, Accompaniment‏, accompaniment 1, accompaniment program, chord diagrams, chord inversions, chord strategies, chord structure, chord theory, chord voicings, chords, defending accompaniment, extended chords, forming chords, identifying chords, inheriting chords, Laurie Richards, learning chords, playing chords, playing-based, playing-based strategies, playing-based tools, root chords, shortcuts, theory, trick, tricks, voicing chords

In this webinar, Laurie discusses some tips for managing several different streams in the curriculum and answers teacher questions. Topics include: Introduction & Purpose (0:05) When to Teach Variations & Arrangements (1:05) Expected Level of Mastery (07:25) Planning Your Training (11:03) Teacher Questions: Comp &…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• arrangements, fitting in all the streams, lesson planning, multiple streams, repertoire review, song order, student mastery, time management, training time, variations

The Introductory Session has always been a successful marketing tool for Simply Music teachers. However, we live in a different world now than when the FIS was first created. We now have the opportunity to share how learning with the Simply Music method can equip…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• communicating benefits, FIS, introductory session, music education role, relevance of music

I have an adult, private student who came to me already reading. She is near the end of Foundation Level 6, has completed Reading Rhythm and Reading Notes, and is working her way through Read n Play. I’m realizing I’ve procrastinated on introducing Time for…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• big picture, Laurie Richards, playing-based strategies, Robin Keehn, simplicity of TFMM, tfmm, Time for More Music, value of TFMM

In many SM pieces, learning by the playing-based strategies, I very quickly see chords. For example, Dark Blue starts with an A flat chord plus G. Lullaby has C, F, and G chords all over the right hand part. It’s almost like my brain sorts…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• Accompaniment‏, chords, discovering chords, Laurie Richards, seeing chords in songs, seeing songs chordally

I taught a student yesterday who had trouble understanding half-steps (introduced in order to learn Bishop Street Blues). She successfully learned the chords just by learning their geography, but I’d like to return to the concept from another angle. Any suggestions? You know how the…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• bishop street blues, foundation 1, half steps, Laurie Richards, teaching half steps

When do you record your students’ playing? I’m at a point where I should be able to become certified, but I haven’t been good at doing the student recordings because I feel like it’s unfair to them to take up their class time with recording…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• recording students, student recordings, teacher certification, teacher certification requirements

I have a very talented student who has a keyboard and he learns songs from the tutorials on the keyboard, i.e. Fur Elise. The version he has learned is more difficult than the Fur Elise in Foundation 2. I’m afraid he won’t want to learn…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• cross pollination, Foundation 2 Fur Elise, Fur Elise, learning strategies, playing-based, playing-based tools

Separating the “what to do” from the “how to do” – on a basic level, I see this as separating patterns of pitch from rhythm. But I know there is a better analogy for understanding this concept. Anyone have any insight? What to do: what…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• how to do, how to play, what to do, what to play

I’m still going through my TTMs so I can start doing FIS’s but I’m running into an issue I’m not quite sure how to solve: The FIS requires playing the testimonial video, but our TV is in the living room and I’m going to be…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• FIS, free information session, free introductory session, testimonial video