Curriculum
Siblings learning at different paces
I have a group of home schooled students. Three are siblings. The oldest one catches on much quicker, and the youngest one struggles, especially with blues pieces. There is one other student in that group from a different family. If they were all different families,…
Knowing where to look while playing
I welcome ideas and strategies for helping students “know where to look” when playing, especially if they are playing accompaniments. Some are struggling while trying to look at their left hand and right hand while following the page. I’ve suggested practicing each hand with eyes…
Improv duet ideas
Improv duet ideas (student/teacher): 3-note improv with any blues song (G-A-Bb, G-Bb-C, C-Eb-F). Choose any of these combinations for the student to improv on while you play a blues song. 5/5, 1 on A with Night Storm Accompaniment arrangement 5/5, 1 on C with Dreams…
When to introduce Reading Rhythm
What’s the latest you would introduce Reading Rhythm? It’s hard to say, but typically I introduce it in Level 4. That being said, there have been times that I wait as long as possible–even into Level 7. I’ve done that when I have strong readers…
Jazz Clues: Here to Stay
Jazz Clue 1: Is it supposed to sound so awful to our ears when we play the one and five with the B and F in Here to Stay? In measure 7, the chord is B minor and the right hand is playing an F,…
Billy at the Footy question
In “Billy at the Footy”, on the TTM demonstration, it seems the RH chord is played just ahead of the first LH note. Did I miss this in the other TTM videos? Is it a variation, or supposed to be played this way? It’s from…
When to start Accompaniment 2
When is too early to incorporate Accompaniment 2? I have a student (my lead student) who has just finished Accompaniment 1. He has done a phenomenal job with it and has loved the challenge of the final Danny Boy. We have also done some Accompaniment…
Difficulty with Minuet in G LH patterns
One of my adult students is very dedicated and his playlist is in good shape overall, except he has quite a hard time with Minuet in G, especially the LH finger patterns. I have asked him to think about how to define those patterns in…
Blues & Improv question
In project 7C of Blues & Improv, students work towards inventing phrases spontaneously. With the invention part (when students start to vary the rhythm in each measure), is it expected that students play the 4 notes in the same order each measure and only vary…
Omitting components of the program
I’m just curious to know if anyone ever omits a part of the program if a student doesn’t like it. I have an older senior that doesn’t like accompaniment, wouldn’t sing for himself or know anyone else that would. He hasn’t been using the audio…