About The Method
Trial Lesson
I have a parent inquiring about lessons and asking to do one trial lesson. I think having her do the 4-song workshop or a 3-month trial is a better idea. What do you think? I would say “Yes” and just do a free introductory session…
Webinar Series: 07/27/2017 – Piano – Claiming Territory
In this webinar Neil talks about one of the three critical foundational conversations – Claiming Territory, and answers some common questions from teachers about establishing and regaining territory in lessons. Topics include: Where Most Studio Issues Originate (00:08) Understanding ‘Claiming Territory’ & Boundaries (05:22) Allowing…
Sparse information in Reference books
At the beginning of Foundation 4, Lead Me to Light and Lullaby have so much less on the reference notes. How do you introduce these pages to students? Given what you’ve learned so far in presenting SM, I’d firstly like to hear your thoughts on…
Slow learning pace
I have a 7-year-old student who is painfully slow. She took 4 weeks to learn Dreams Come True. I understand it will take as long as it takes, but having been a frustrated, bored young piano student myself, I just don’t want that to set…
Students who struggle with remembering hand positions
Some of my students struggle with hand positions (remembering where to put their hands) and others have no problem with it. I’m usually pretty good at self-diagnosis but not this time. What is this? For many of my students, the ones who practice consistently have…
Gaining confidence in Free Introductory Sessions
I have an FIS tonight for a potential adult student. As a long-time traditional teacher, I have struggled with these a bit, realizing that in the past I was selling my own skill as a performer and teacher, and nearly always had students start with…
Student picks up songs quickly
A delightful young adult with autism had his second lesson with me tonight. He loves patterns, numbers, and music, so of course Simply Music i?s a great fit. After playing Night Storm for him once, I told him “This song is all about 2’s. May…
Curriculum Pacing in a School Setting – Neil Moore
I’ve been teaching Simply Music in an R-13 school the last three years and my students don’t get anywhere near the progress expected from the SM program. Most are getting though around 2 levels a year. This is obviously falling very short of the 4…
Improving teaching over time
One thing I love about starting a new group is a chance for me to “do it better”. To put more emphasis on things I might have glossed over previously. I have a couple of adult beginning classes and I am using keypads more than…
Reference to number of unused pianos – Neil Moore
One of our educators in the UK had a question that he posted in the Intranet Forum: “I’m starting up a Simply Music studio in the UK and am about to do my first introductory Session next week. There is a reference to a study…