Arrangements & Variations
A Case of the Blues in Level 4
I have two students, both in Level 4, who have a bad case of the blues….a definite valley syndrome. Neither of them want to mark their playlist, let alone keep all their earlier songs alive. Both moms are very supportive Simply Music moms but they’re struggling…
Advanced Players in Groups
Anyone ever run into this problem of an experienced player who doesn’t fit into a group because of how much more quickly he’s going through curriculum. He’s had 5 lessons, he’s at the middle of level 3, through the accomp. book, processed most of accompaniment…
Teaching Arrangements to Groups
How do you go about teaching arrangements to a group of 5? They don’t have SHMs, so do you mostly have them learn through watching. But how do you process it into their fingers at the lesson? Do you have them each take a turn…
Moving Students to Higher Level
How do you move a student up to a class in a higher level if that class has already started a special program that the student you want to move is not ready for? For instance, I have a student who needs, wants and can…
Mother and Son Sharing Lessons
I have a mom and her 12 yr old son sharing a lesson. I notice she progresses quite a bit slower than him. They are up to Fur Elise in Level 1. It took her quite awhile to get Family Dreams relatively smooth and Bishop…
Retiring Pieces from Repertoire
I am moving for the first time into Time for More Music. So I’m at a point where I will soon be able to tell students that it’s okay to retire certain pieces from their repertoire. Although I’ve seen recommendations about when one might choose to…
Composition & Improvisation
I recently reviewed the Composition & Improvisation training materials for a second time now. I’m very clear that the point here is not to be very formal and structured about giving assignments in the same way as with the other tracks of the program. However,…
Remembering Arrangements
One of my frustrations is that most students seem to forget the arrangements, sometimes after working hard to learn them. Naturally it’s from lack of practice, but the arrangements are easier to forget since they’re not written down. Adults especially have trouble even remembering them…
Playing the Arrangements as Duets
Dreams Arrangement 1 This is the version of Dreams which is in the Accompaniment style, and consists of chords in the RH and single notes in the LH. Your students can either sing Dreams Come True with it, or do a duet and have another…
Learning Arrangements
Any ideas for me on how to learn arrangements quicker, better, easier? Auditory learning solely is not my forte. Do not give up on learning from the audio recordings. No you are not the only one that has found the audio tapes a slower means…