Foundation Songs
Pedaling Dark Blue
Advice for pedal use on Dark Blue? Just keep it down, or use your ear to know when to clear it? Or open to player’s interpretation? Every time the LH plays is a good time to pedal on Dark Blue. Have you purchased the “Using…
Incorporating duets into lessons
I would appreciate advice about incorporating duets into lessons. Do you sit at the bench together? I have two pianos, a keyboard, and a guitar in my studio, so i have the option of using another instrument. I do duets at every lesson the same…
Student learned more advanced Fur Elise already
I have a very talented student who has a keyboard and he learns songs from the tutorials on the keyboard, i.e. Fur Elise. The version he has learned is more difficult than the Fur Elise in Foundation 2. I’m afraid he won’t want to learn…
Level 7 valley
I have a student who has been on level 7 for 14 months and still has one more song to go. These things happen to me too. Especially if we have lots of other stuff going on, and if their practice routine isn’t stellar. I…
Religious objections to Amazing Grace
Any suggestions on how to approach Amazing Grace being religiously offensive to a family? They are Jewish. AG is such a key component of the program, especially in Accompaniment 1. The mother of my new student is fine with him playing it, but politely insisted…
Struggles with Alma Mater Blues
I need suggestions about an 11-year-old girl in a shared lesson with another 11-year-old. They both benefit from the shared setting (both were private until 2 months ago). She practices more since being in the shared situation, and the other student (a boy) is learning…
Bishop Street chords: identifying and playing with small hands
I’m trying to figure out the I, IV, V chords in Bishop Street Blues. I know how to play it, but what are these chords? What makes it a I, IV, and V? Are the inverted/suspended/diminished chords? I wouldn’t explain it to my students at…
Ode to Joy original rhythm vs long notes
In Ode to Joy, does anyone ever teach the original rhythm rather than holding the long notes? Several of my children have already learned to play it the original way and we all listen to the original song quite frequently. I’m trying to figure out…
Squidgies Boogie chord order
I need some advice on where I can find the altered order of the chords in the 12-bar blues for Squidgies Boogie (Foundation 4). In the teacher training video, Neil said the altered chord order is found in the teacher notes, but I cannot find…
Full version of Bach Minuet in G
Is the full version of Bach’s Minuet in G part of the SM program? How do I get the sheet music for it? I’ve been down a confusing rabbit trail trying to find it online. Yes, it is – In Development 13. There is a…