Foundation Songs
Blues Riffs
The blues riff of Light Blue that was taught in one of the recent Playground newsletters was FANTASTIC! I’m sorry I can’t find it again and I forget who taught it, but thanks! I’ve been playing it for my students and they love it. Where…
Accompaniment and Amazing Grace in Level 2
I am trying to figure out what to do with the Amazing Grace in Level 2. I have started the Accompaniment program with many of my groups at the end of Level 1 or towards the beginning of Level 2. I think this is a…
Level 8 – Food for Thought
I have taught Level 8 to dozens of students over the past six years or so. I recall that the first time I was surprised by some of the songs–thinking they were not as challenging (at first glance) as I expected them to be. I…
Teaching Level 8
I believe someone was mentioning Level 8 in some prior comments, so I thought I would add my 2 cents about teaching this level. Level 8 is always very interesting to teach! I had a student just this week tell me that she was going…
Level 8, D-Part
I was wondering if anybody else has had difficulty memorizing D-Part? I can play the hands separate from memory, but to put them together and do it from memory I can only do it using my ear rather than really knowing what I’m doing. I…
Shoo-Fly is it Blues?
I’ve just done Shoo-Fly, and in the video Neil says it’s a blues song. I can’t figure out how it is Blues. So far I’ve learnt that Blues fits the I IV V pattern sometimes with a few variances. I can’t see any 12-bar blues pattern with…
Level 5 Using the Music Book
I have been keeping students’ music books for each level so they don’t ‘read’ their music, as suggested. Now I am teaching level 5 to people who can read. In the TTM for level 5 it suggests to show the student the music book to…
Overall Strategy for Teaching Level 5 Pieces
In the first song in Level 5, Neil uses the written music to teach the song. Is this the standard? In my experience, students are usually just beginning the reading rhythm program when they are learning ‘In My Eyes’, so even though the music may…
Tips for Preparing and Teaching Level 4
I’ve heard a bit about how much harder Level 4 is. As I’m moving into that now with my students, could you share experiences of how Level 4 did or did not work well for you, and how to avoid pitfalls. In a nutshell –…
Fragmenting and Level 4
OK, I know I had this same issue on Greensleeves in Level 3. And, I’ll be the first to say that it has become one of mine and my students favorites, and did come easy once it was learned. The LEARNING is what is killing…