Curriculum

I personally have experienced the power of a casual question, like “Did you write any music this week?” Last week one of my students casually asked me, “Are we going to have any songs for Halloween?” When I started looking for songs, I didn’t come…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• changing lyrics, Chester, chester chills out, creating lyrics, Dog, Dreams in Dm, dreams on d, Dreams variation on d, Halloween, lyrics, making lyrics, making up lyrics, Night Storm, She'll Be Comin, writing lyrics

Here’s a contribution from one of my 67-year-old students (sung to the tune of “Chester Chills Out”): Walking in the forest on a stormy night. Could not see the moon or stars. Oh, what a fright! Everywhere I looked I saw a scary sight. Then…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• changing lyrics, Chester, chester chills out, creating lyrics, Halloween, lyrics

I had a question today from a student beginning “Reading Notes”. He was working with the playlist as intervals. He wanted to know what you would call a sharped or flattened note. I told him that it would be the same interval as the natural…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• billy at the footy, flats, Gordon Harvey, half steps, intervallic, intervallic reading, intervals, major 7, major 7ths, major intervals, major vs. minor, major vs. minor intervals, minor intervals, Playlist as Intervals, question, Questioners, second, sharps, sharps and flats, teaching half and whole steps, teaching half steps, whole steps

I have an adult husband and wife team who are in upper SM levels and reading fairly well. I would love to find a book of duets of pieces that might be familiar to them. They love classical music and are in their early 70’s.…

• Last updated 1 year ago
• classical, classical music, Classical Pieces, Duet Ideas, duets, foundation duets, Foundation Duets and Variations, outside materials, outside music, outside pieces, outside reading pieces, outside repertoire, outside sheet music, pieces outside the program, reading outside Simply Music, songs outside the repertoire, teaching outside music

I have been through the library of ECL posts on the topic of duets and gleaned the following ideas: Honey Dew with Melody on top Jackson Blues (or any other blues song) with blues scale improv on top Amazing Grace with melody on top Chester…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• Amazing Grace, Australian Waterfall, blues, blues scale, Chester, chester chills out, Christmas, Christmas Carols, Christmas songs, Duet Ideas, duets, fluff pie, foundation duets, Honey Dew, honey dew melody, Jackson Blues, Jingle Bell Blues, Jingle Bells, melody for Amazing Grace, melody for Honey Dew, songs for children, Tear for a Friend

As I am getting students ready for the end of year recital I thought I would share this simple level one idea with you for a duet. While one student plays Chester in the normal position, another student can play Jackson Blues with changes on…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• blues, Chester, chester chills out, Duet Ideas, duets, foundation duets, Jackson Blues

I’ve been trying a few of Kristin Fairfield’s song writing tips lately. I tried to do the group chord progression where I ask my students to give me 4 random chords. I actually forgot to limit it to all whites or all blacks but anyway,…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• chords, composition, composition projects, compositions, flash cards, group

I am very interested for myself and my students to create medleys. Inspired by Laurie Richards amazing SM Levels 1 through 4 medley. I’m wondering if there are special things to know besides what I already know. What I already know is that one can…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• changing keys, creating medleys, key, Laurie Richards, medley

I have increased my own composing recently using the “Family of Chords” that Miss Murphy sent awhile back. I have found it really helpful to make songs I could sing (contemporary), blues/jazz, hymns, and accompaniments. I am now wondering about ideas to help me make…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• Canon in D, chords, classical, classical music, Classical Pieces, composition, composition projects, Family of Chords

Hi all,

Had a very bright little 7 year-old boy start lessons this summer. After learning Dreams and Dreams 2 he came back the next week with “Chinese Dreams.” He played the entire song on black keys—10 fingers over 10 notes, but all black keys, ranging…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• Chinese Dreams, Dreams, Dreams Come True, simply music song variations, variation, variations