Accompaniment

I am wondering if anyone here has experience with high school jazz bands. One of my student’s parents emailed me telling me her daughter wanted to try out. She is a very talented student, quick learner, hard worker, etc. But she has only just finished…

• Last updated 4 years ago
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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
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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

Please help me with what to say to this parent. Her son, age 7, doesn’t like Honey Dew and came back not liking Amazing Grace. “He doesn’t like the accompaniment ones”, mom said. I asked her, “Why do you think that is?” Mom admitted she…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• Accompaniment‏, accompaniment structure diagram, importance of accompaniment, importance of chords, Laurie Richards, playing along with audio, student dislikes songs

I’m still young in the SM teacher world and I have students in levels 1, 2, and 3 right now. My question is, when do I start students on Accompaniment, and then when do I start them on Reading Rhythm? Should I start Accompaniment in…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• Accompaniment‏, Amazing Grace, fitting it all in, introducing streams, managing streams, pedaling, reading, Star Spangled Banner

Any suggestions on how to approach Amazing Grace being religiously offensive to a family? They are Jewish. AG is such a key component of the program, especially in Accompaniment 1. The mother of my new student is fine with him playing it, but politely insisted…

• Last updated 6 years ago
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As I begin to go deeper into the Accompaniment Variations, I wonder if you have recommendations for which songs to use for each generally, either within the SM program or outside. Have you found anything that works better than others? I have nearly finished Accompaniment…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• Accompaniment‏, accompaniment variations, fake books, Laurie Richards

Ratio question: I’m going to give my most basic explanation for a long-term excellent mum who told me the other day she doesn’t get ratios. I promised I’d get back to her. “This is an accompaniment BH strategy that ensures the basic time signature for…

• Last updated 6 years ago
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I’m confused on Accompaniment Variations 23 & 24. Do they only apply to second inversion chords? Neil uses Amazing Grace as an example, so would all the chords be in second inversion through the song, or only the first chord? I couldn’t tell if he’s…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• 2nd inversions, Acc Var, Accompaniment‏, accompaniment variations, AV, inversions, Laurie Richards, Playlist

I really like the Chord Drill program! One question, though: when the add9 chord is inverted, wouldn’t the 9th be on the bottom? Is that not a particularly desirable voicing, because you jump to the 3rd of the chord? Is this because the 6th chords…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• +9 chords, add9 chords, Chord Drill, chord inversions, inversions, voicing chords