Playing-Based Methodology
Ideas to Teach Happy Birthday
Hi everyone. I’ve had two students request to learn the Happy Birthday song. Any suggestions…SM method? I briefly came up with one but wondering if anyone else has a tried and true version to share? So easy and fun. I do not tell them what…
- Last updated 2 weeks ago
- cross pollinating, cross pollination, cross-pollinate, Happy Birthday, Minuet in G, Minuet in G Level 2, Minuet in G LH, Minuet patterns, playing-based, playing-based arrangements
Competitions and Exams
Just wanted to share with you a happy Simply Music experience. I have been teaching SM for about 3 years now. This year I entered 2 of my students in the Toowoomba Eisteddfod. Unfortunately, the piano section has preset boundaries as to what can be…
- Last updated 1 month ago
- AMEB, Australian Music Examinations Board, Ballade, competitions, concerts, eisteddfods, exams, Fur Elise, Gordon Harvey, medley, Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, Michigan School Vocal Music Association, Minuet in G, MSBOA, MSVMA, Neil Moore, Ode to Joy, playing-based
Embodied Music Cognition
EMBODIED MUSIC COGNITION Has anyone else heard of this fascinating new field of research related to Embodied Cognition Psychology? I am finding the topic extremely groundbreaking, especially related to -Simply Music’s unique multi-layered approach, -the importance of teaching in groups, -and now the challenges of…
- Last updated 4 months ago
- benefits of online lessons, Dalcroze, distance lessons, embodied cognition psychology, embodied music cognition, entrainment, Fragmenting-Layering, gateway, groups, InterPlay, layer, layering, learning online, learning via webcam, movement, music & movement, music therapy, online, online learning, online lessons, shared lessons, Simply Music Gateway, teaching online, using a webcam to teach, videoconference software
Playing-Based Benefits
What are some top reasons that you think playing based is a useful approach? One for me: It helps the student see the piece holistically – understanding through patterns the form of a piece. (The ‘puzzle pieces’ as it were.) My favorite is just that…
- Last updated 5 months ago
- applying PB strategies to music, benefits, communicating benefits, confidence as a student, expressive playing, freedom, identifying patterns, Laurie Richards, LAWOL, learning a new way of learning, learning a way of learning, learning by doing, learning strategies, learning tools, learning tools and strategies, memorization, memorizing, memorizing harder pieces, memorizing pieces, memorizing reading pieces, memorizing songs, notation, number of songs on playlist, patterns, PB, playing, playing fluently, playing with expression, playing without looking at hands, playing-based, playing-based strategies, playing-based tools, playing-based while reading, Playlist, playlist size, rate of learning, reading, reading-based, remember, remembering, remembering patterns, size of playlist, speed of learning, using playing-based tools while reading
Note Names on Keys
A student has note names taped to the piano keys. What do I do? Have you ever seen an instance where this was necessary? I donât want them to get used to that. I always say it’s cheating and it makes the process 10 times…
- Last updated 10 months ago
- geography of keyboard, key, key names, key naming, keyboard geography, keyboards, Laurie Richards, learning note names, names taped on keys, names written on keys, naming keys, naming notes, naming the keys, note names, note naming, piano keys, stickers, stickers on keys, writing names on keys, writing note names on keys
Layering
In the TTMs Notes for Foundation Level 5 song In My Eyes (5.1), there is a reference to “Fragmenting-Layering” in 5.1.2. I know what fragmenting is, but layering in this context is confusing to me. đ¤ In the TTM video Neil does say something about…
- Last updated 11 months ago
- applying PB strategies to music, FL5, Foundation 5, foundation level 5, fragmenting, Fragmenting-Layering, fragments, In My Eyes, layer, layering, learning strategies, learning tools, learning tools and strategies, Level 5, library, playing-based strategies, shapes, single thought process, single thought processes, STP, strategies, tool, tools, tools and strategies
Locking in Church Song
In Church Song, Level 7, one of the learning strategies is “Locking”. Could I get a clearer definition of what the locking strategy involves? Here’s the definition: Locking: A learning strategy where the hands essentially lock their âshapeâ into place, but move from one position…
- Last updated 11 months ago
- applying PB strategies to music, Church Song, FL7, foundation level 7, glossary, hand position, hand positioning, hand positions, learning strategies, learning tools, learning tools and strategies, Level 7, library, locking, Neil Moore, Neilâs compositions, playing-based strategies, position, positioning, positions, shapes, strategies, tool, tools, tools and strategies
Mapping Strategy
Could someone explain the “mapping” strategy? I’ve noticed it a few times in the TTM, but I’d like to make sure I understand it completely. Here is an official definition: Observing any section or piece of music as a series of shapes, and assembling those…
Practice and Retiring as Repertoire Grows
Two questions: 1) How do practice requirements change through the foundation levels? Level one is 15-20 minutes, but as their repertoire grows, it would seem they need more time to keep everything alive and also with the addition of multiple streams and songs getting more complicated. 2)…
- Last updated 1 year ago
- at home practice, best practices, dropping songs off playlist, encouraging practice, enhancing practice, extra practice time, frequency of practice, how to practice, keeping playlist alive, keeping playlists, keeping the playlist alive, Laurie Richards, managing playlist, managing practice, managing practice time, managing the playlist, managing time, number of songs on playlist, Play it Forward, Playlist, playlist management, playlist size, practic, practice, practice frequency, practice guidelines, practice habits, practice ideas, practice time, practicing, practicing guidelines, repertoire, repertoire review, retiring pieces, retiring songs, size of playlist, time at piano, time management, time on the piano
Learning to Play By Ear
A parent asked me tonight “when will my daughter be able to hear a song, and just know how to play it with all the chords and in the right key?” I was unsure how to answer this, so of course I told the truth,…
- Last updated 1 year ago
- Accompanimentâ, chord, chord structure, chord theory, chords, communication, different facets of musicianship, ear training, expectation, expectations, FIS, four goals, free introductory session, goals, Gordon Harvey, Laurie Richards, managing expectations, matching pitch, musicianship, parent expectation, parental expectations, perfect pitch, pitch, play-by-ear, playing by ear, playing by ear method, playing chords, relative pitch, SM goals, standard of musicianship, talking about expectations