Composition & Improvisation

Showing 61 - 70 of 83 results in Composition & Improvisation

Teaching Foundation Levels and Streams

I recently received materials on Accompaniment, Accompaniment variations and Reading Rhythm, and found all of them very good. Actually, my adult (recent retiree) was so excited when with CFG set she could play several familiar Christmas songs almost at once, “Can you believe it, the…

Year-round Lyric Writing

I personally have experienced the power of a casual question, like “Did you write any music this week?” Last week one of my students casually asked me, “Are we going to have any songs for Halloween?” When I started looking for songs, I didn’t come…

Capitalizing on Self-generative Opportunities

I was looking forward to trying out the alternate lyrics (Star Spangled Banner) in lessons this week, because I had so much fun singing them. To my surprise it fell rather flat. One of the adult students found the lyrics amusing, and would have enjoyed…

The Triangle Game

I wanted to share a game I created, (quite by accident, actually) that is extremely easy to make, well-loved by students and quite versatile. I was wanting to make a grab bag for students as they were working on transposition – i.e. pull a chord…

Traditional Students Learning Comp & Improv


I am a newly licensed SM teacher. I have been teaching traditionally for over 30 years. I am very excited to start teaching the SM method and especially the comp and improv program to my students that are switching over to SM. That was my…

Student with Advanced Composition Skills

I am a new teacher; I started my first lessons this month. I have a student, 15 years old, who has been composing his own music for quite some time. I know I have plenty to teach him in other areas, but I have no idea…

Advanced Student in Groups

I have just had a call from an adult student with 10 years traditional background as a child, who, since seeing more advanced students playing at the my first recent piano concert, she is eager to get ahead and move faster with the program, feeling…

Unfolding Comp/Improv, Arrangements, Accompaniment

I’m wondering about how to bring in Composition/Improvisation, Accompaniments, and Arrangements 1 for my students? I’m a pretty new teacher and my most advanced students are starting Amazing Grace in Foundation 1. When do I start to introduce these other programs? How much of each…

Experienced Student with Beginners?

Got a call from someone who has a masters in Composition, knows how to read sheet music, knows chords, and is looking especially for improvisational freedom in playing. She feels she composes in her head, not her hands, and she wants to get more “in…

After-School Programs

I have been approached about teaching students in an afterschool program. Does anyone else teach in such a program? I am concerned that the parents would not be there during the lesson. I am looking for any suggestions. I did it in the fall and…