Foundation Songs

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…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• Star Spangled Banner, students resisting songs, teaching ideas, teaching SSB backwards

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…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• Australian Fair, chords for national anthems, Star Spangled Banner

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…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• diagram, Minuet in G Level 2, Neil Moore

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…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• Laurie Richards, level 2, light blue, light blue rhythm, teaching the long one

I have a young girl who is not quite 7 years old. She is in the second week of level 2 and I introduced the 2nd section of Alma Mater Blues to her this week. She went through 99% of Level 1 like a champ.…

• Last updated 9 years ago
• alma mater blues 2nd section, claiming territory, level 2, relationship conversation, student resisting songs, working with parents

sreingold  Do you have any questions regarding how to teach Level One? Ruth3(Aus) Do you use Arrangements during level 1? sreingold  Yes, Ruth, I do. I start teaching arrangement earlier than many I think. I see no reason not to usually, unless people are struggling or just not…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• chat, teaching level 1

One of my 9-year-old students just completed Foundation 1, and his sister has asked him to play in her wedding next month. He is very excited and has several weeks to learn something, or he is content to play one of the F1 pieces he…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• medley, Ode to Joy, wedding

I’ve noticed a consistent problem with a number of students, beginning with Night Storm. Whenever there’s a song that requires either the thumb or pinky to move out and in, with the opposite finger to play a stationary note, students have trouble playing the stationary…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• coordinating LH and RH, Finger 1 & 5 movement, Gordon Harvey, single thought process

I realized this week that I have more than one student that’s been struggling to get Jackson and/or Alma Mater Blues smooth and even. I’ve tried the leaving early technique, dialing the speed way down, separating the hands. I’ve also tried doing the Jackson Variation…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• blues, getting an even rhythm, leaving early

I want to share a technique I have been employing on Ode to Joy in Level One that has been working well. I find it takes away a little of the learning when an adult recognizes the tune mid-way into the learning. So I have…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• Ode to Joy, practice pad, teaching