About The Method

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 8 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 8 years ago
• FIS, free information session, free introductory session, testimonial video

I’m hoping to find some advice and encouragement. For several months, I have felt bogged down in studio management (mostly involving recruiting and keeping students since my finances are very restricted at the moment). In the process of trying to fill vacancies and keep my…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• long-term relationship with teaching, marketing, personal growth, retention, running your studio, student retention, teacher valley

After learning Ode to Joy, mom said her son wasn’t able to “get it” with the counting, so she tapped his hand when he was supposed to change the LH chord so he was able to learn the hands together. This week he only practiced…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• counting Ode to Joy, diagrams, F1, foundation 1, learning strategies, learning tools, Ode, Ode to Joy, playing-based tools, self-generation

I am just going to start to get the word out about teaching Simply Music, and then I will have an introductory session. My question is, what if people call and want to know how much it costs? Do you tell them the cost, or…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• answering questions about fees, FIS, free information session, free introductory session, sharing fees up front, stating tuition over the phone

I’m having an FIS tomorrow with a few parents and they asked if they should bring their potential students with them. I said yes, but I’m wondering what you all do. I thought it would be good for the kids to hear, but maybe it…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• FIS, free information session, free introductory session, Robin Keehn, students attending FIS

One of my students is on the verge of “outgrowing” me as a SM teacher. I was honest with her mom about it to set the stage in case I need to “graduate” her daughter to another, more advanced teacher. The mom home schools her…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• advanced students, having your own teacher, staying ahead of students

I need some advice and feedback regarding one of my adult students who is at the start of Foundation 3. His playlist is pretty solid but he sometimes has difficulty remembering the patterns of the old songs though he can play them fine. I have…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• diagrams, Laurie Richards, learning clues, muscle memory, patterns, playing-based strategies, remembering patterns

I have a student whose mom is a fourth grade teacher, and she made a comment last night that I didn’t quite know how to respond to. In referring to the white board on which I had written the notes, including assignments from Foundation Level…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• breadth vs depth, cross pollination, depth vs. breadth in knowledge, Laurie Richards, multiple streams, playing-based, SM big picture

Teach a very small portion of something without revealing what it’s leading to. This works great with Arrangements, e.g. Soapy Dreams (Dreams #2): I teach just the LH chord shape and ask students to try it in different locations on the piano. Once everyone’s got…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• arrangements, C&I, comp & improv, Laurie Richards, preparatory learning, single thought processes, small doses, Soapy Dreams