Arrangements & Variations

A couple of weeks ago there was quite a bit of discussion here about teaching older students. This may have been addressed, but I had a conversation with a dear teacher last week about how strict we all seem to be about requiring that everyone…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• remembering arrangements, Robin Keehn, seniors

I am just covering my bases/honesty here – I just had a student inform me via email that she only enjoys learning the video-supported material and wonders if I can teach her only this, or if I know a teacher who teaches only the SHM…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• adult students, claiming territory, complete curriculum, foundation, Laurie Richards

I am wondering if some of us use the words “composition” and “improvisation” interchangeably. My understanding is that only if it is written it is a composition. Is this correct? So when teachers email about “composition” with pre-reading students, do they actually mean “improvisation” or…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• arranging, composition, definition, improvisation, jazz, jazz program

I’m trying to figure out what these two variations are and where I can learn about them. I’ve seen Blues Medley (V turnaround) listed by other teachers as an official SM variation. I assume this comes from the Lvl. 2 TTP when Neil teaches the…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• arrangement, billy at the footy, blues turnaround, FL3, Foundation 3, Level 3, medley, playlist management, Shakin’ Bishop, variations

Gordon H (Aus)  Today we’re moving into some more specific strategies for the arrangements pieces. In arrangements, more of the “when & how” is left up to the teacher than in other parts of SM. It’s easy, when we’re given such clear, step-by-step instructions for the…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• arrangements, chat, Gordon Harvey, strategies

If you are a newly licensed teacher, you received specific instruction on your Licensing session on how and when to introduce Arrangements, Composition and Improvisation and Accompaniment.  All of the information is also available via an audio recording in the Teacher Reference Library. I realize…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• Accompaniment‏, comp and improv, playlist management, Robin Keehn, when to start arrangements, when to teach

I’ve seen a number of related thoughts on this in Simpedia but I was curious to hear what the general consensus was: Better to introduce variations and arrangements as early as possible in order to keep students familiar with the idea that the program is not only about…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• direction from Simply Music, Laurie Richards, order, order of arrangements, order of teaching arrangements, self-generation, song order, when to introduce arrangements, when to introduce variations

I am having trouble staying ahead of some students and have been advised by several wise teachers to use lots of arrangements to slow the pace down a bit. The problem for many students seems to be lack of any support materials.  Many have expressed…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• adults and arrangements, arrangements

I have a question about teaching arrangements. I find that the students love the sound of the arrangements and the idea of the arrangements, but are not always able to retain how they are played after the lesson. Since Neil recommends that there be little or no notes…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• arrangements, brains and patterns, dosage of arrangements, Laurie Richards, memory issues, Neil Moore, not writing down notes for arrangements, retaining arrangements, self-generation, unfolding arrangements in class

I think I have just realized that not all arrangements will ever get done – is that right? Most are hard, or if I shouldn’t use the work hard, they are at a much higher level than the foundation songs. If we’re only giving small…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• arrangements, dosage of arrangements, order of arrangements, teaching timeframe