Musicality, Pedaling, Technique
Pedaling Bertini Study in Cm (Development 11)
After the student can play the Bertini Study in C minor in Development Level 11 smoothly, how much pedaling would you suggest? Every three RH notes, light pedaling? RH seems nice without pedaling. But the LH chords sound a bit dry without some pedaling support.…
Lack of expressive instructions in classical pieces
I’m wondering why there are no expression, dynamic, or tempo indications in the written music, particularly on classical pieces. It seems to me that especially by the Development levels, wouldn’t that be important for students and to be faithful to what the composer intended? I…
Fur Elise 3+3 fingering
One of my Foundation 2 students was wondering re: Fur Elise if she could use just the RH (no LH) for the 3+3 (after the 9 E’s). She said she feels that may be simpler or easier. She did not argue as such, she was…
Helping Students Sing on Key
Can you please give ideas for helping students learn to sing on pitch? My student is seven years old and in Level 2. She loves to sing, and her singing is very off pitch. Are there ways that I can help her? Are there other resources you…
Getting Students to Sing in Class
I found a way that seems to be working fairly well to get students to sing in class. I have added another topic to my checklist of songs, pedaling, etc. to teach them. I call it Instrument Balance. I start by asking them what they…
Difficulty in forming chords with young students
I just started Simply Music with my 6-year-old son. 5 steps of sound and making a chord was extremely difficult for him. I have taught a couple of young students before, but my previous method didn’t have them playing chords for a year or more.…
Addressing hand/arm and sitting positions
Regarding hand and arm and sitting position at the piano with beginners, do you focus on this at the start at all, and does anyone have any interesting ways of approaching this the Simply Music way? Depending on the age I wait a while. Some…
Difficulty in playing finger 5 on chords
I have a student struggling to play all three notes of the triad evenly. She is playing fingers 1 and 3, but neglecting to push down finger 5 consistently. Any tips on how to work with her on this? See if she can rotate the…
Fingering with large hand span
To any with a very large hand span: what advice do you have for a young adult whose hands are so large that playing a chord with fingers 1, 3, 5 is as uncomfortable as playing C, E, E with those fingers would be for…
Fur Elise C section, LH fingering
Is there a significant advantage to using fingers 321 beginning with the 3 as opposed to beginning the first count with finger 1 (132132132) in the left hand of Fur Elise in Foundation Level 7? I just tried it. I find 321321 easier, particularly at…