Foundation Songs
Lead Me to Light Rhythm
On the TTM video, Neil tells us to have the students count out sentences 1-3 of Lead Me To Light, “1-2-3-4.” When I first learned this song, I thought, “That doesn’t seem right,” but did it that way anyhow. Now I’m going back through, preparing…
Billy at the Footy Turn Around – Ending
I have taught Billy at the Footy numerous times already and am finally getting around to asking about this. In the reference book the last line of this song is shown as V IV I V, however I don’t find the V used anywhere—in the…
Billy At The Footy Improvisation Idea
I love to use Billy at the Footy as an improvisation accompaniment. I do as Neil suggests, throwing in the V chord at the end when we intend to repeat the 12-bar cycle. I do it a little differently to Neil, so I hope it’s…
Walking with Billy Fingering
My right hand naturally wants to use fingers 1, 3, and 5 rather than the suggested 1, 2, and 5. Is the specified fingering always crucial, or can students discover what feels right for them in instances such as this? My thinking is similar to…
Using the Diagram for Sleeping
This diagram represents the basic hand positions (BH) for the first section of the song. Put the page down flat and look over the page as though you are looking directly down onto the keyboard. Top Line: LH fingers 1 and 5. RH fingers 1…
Ode to Joy & Controlling the Events
Hi everyone! Can you help me? Re: C section to Ode to Joy. I’m not sure if the problem is that I am not ‘controlling the events’ even when teaching each little bit, even each sentence in the right hand as well in putting hands…
Teaching The Star Spangled Banner
I now have 6 students (all adults) who HATE playing SSB, resist practicing it and groan whenever asked to play it at lessons. These are normally very upbeat, cooperative people – they are not in a group (2 shared lessons, 2 privates). I’m starting to think…
Advanced Australian Fair or Star Spangled Banner?
Just started 2 students with Star Spangled Banner and they mentioned it would be great if it were Advanced Australia Fair instead. I am wondering when do you (mainly Australian teachers) normally introduce Advanced Australia Fair? I noted the scores is in the music reference…
Minuet in G Diagram
I am having trouble decoding the diagram for the piece ‘Minuet in G’ from TP2 Level 2, Song 2.7. The diagram relates to the RH of measures 5, 6 and 7. The pattern begins with finger 4, ascends to finger 5, then descends from fingers…
Teaching Light Blue
I was wondering, does anyone else have trouble teaching Light Blue? This seems to be a really hard song to teach. I can play it just fine myself, but I am struggling to explain it to my 9 and 11 year olds. Especially the “long…