Curriculum
Addressing poor technique
Coming from a traditional background, I still cringe when I see kids playing with flat fingers, stiff wrists, etc. I know we’re not supposed to focus on these issues because they tend to work themselves out with time. Please reassure me that this is true!…
Reading Rhythm for students with prior experience
I have a brother/sister shared lesson who can read music (although not confidently) and I’ve just assigned their first MOR. Next would be to ask them to take the rhythms to the keys over 5SS. Being that they can read music, would you still do…
Greensleeves position 3
Something came up while I was teaching Greensleeves today. For RH position 3, I have always said thumb is on B. I taught a student only the positions the first week, and she came back and said “No, the thumb is on A”. I wasn’t…
When to introduce pedaling
I have some students who just started level 2 who like using the pedal, but they don’t like the muddy sound of holding it down. As a result, they’ve begun developing some bad habits with it. My question is, what’s the earliest I can introduce…
When to introduce Jazz
I have noticed that The Mirron seems to be tough for students. Any advice on when to introduce this? Maybe Time for More Music should be mostly completed, I’m gathering. It looks like these Jazz pieces may unfold over an extended period of time. You’re…
Strengthening fingers
Does anyone have any students that have trouble with finger strength? I worked with this particular student on some finger and wrist stretches to get him loosened up, and am wondering if you have had any experience/suggestions for this. My youngest (6 years at the…
Learning upper level songs playing-based
Confessions here…with upper level pieces, I have often just used the music for learning them myself before teaching them, since reading is so easy for me. Thanks to Mark Meritt’s ‘words of wisdom’ this summer, I decided that I would try and learn them the…
Playing LH finger 5 in blues
In the 12 bar blues pieces (starting with Jackson Blues), I have several students who hold down finger 5 in the LH and just move the thumb up and down. Even after I’ve shown them the correction, they are not repeating the finger 5 on…
Writing extra notes for Arrangements
In the Arrangements 1 program, I have reviewed the material and it says that the content is not to be supplemented with written notes. Is this referring to the types of notes depicted in the reference section of the Foundation levels, or notes we write…
Adult student needs help with worship band
I have a prospective student who has been playing piano at church since she was 12, and she’s in her fifties now. She said several times that she was “groomed” for playing hymns at church, and she reads music, but she doesn’t play with freedom…