Curriculum
Outside accompaniment pieces
I’ve recently started my first group with the Accompaniment program, and they’re eager to work on some outside projects. At what point do you introduce any accompaniment pieces outside of the curriculum and how do you select them? This particular group is made up of…
Thick Fingers
Has anyone got some tips for students whose fingers are so thick that they get stuck between the black notes, e.g. the IV chord of Bishop Street Blues? It is not an uncommon issue, and as you said, the reality of the situation is that…
Jazz: rhythm on audio for Solace of the Wind
In Jazz Clues, the second song in the collection, Solace of the Wind, seems to be the only piece where the lead instrument plays a very different rhythm from the written score. I would appreciate any tips for teaching this one. Regarding the rhythm, eighth…
Question about maj9 and min9 chords
I have some accompaniment questions. Can anyone please tell me how to play a maj9 and a min9 and tell me if they include the tonic or not? I believe they both include the 7th note, 2nd, 3rd and 5th notes of the scale. A…
How to help students figure out fingering
I have a student who is working on Beethoven’s Bagatelle #4, opus 119. Is there a better way to finger any of it, especially the 3rd line, than what I’ve written in? Thank you so much for any advice! https://www.facebook.com/ThePianoCoach/videos/10156490360581959/ Thanks Neil, this is really helpful…
Student unable to identify notes on staff
I have an extremely dedicated mom (5 years of lessons, with all 3 of her kids) who is concerned that her oldest, who just celebrated his 200th lesson last week, does not recognize note names very quickly. I am wondering if there are any suggestions…
Using lesson to de-stress
I wanted to share a teaching experience I had a few weeks ago. One of my adult students, Julie, is a delightful person and so excited about learning piano and LOVES Simply Music. A few weeks ago her classmates couldn’t make it to class so…
Accompaniment 1 – “Whisper”
Question from the accompaniment program: Starting with the major 7th chords, there are parts of three songs that the teacher videos refer to as worksheets. “Danny Boy” and “On My Way Back” are already introduced in the accompaniment program so it’s easy to transfer to…
Lullaby and Ode to Joy – simplified melody lines
Neil Moore, can you answer a question? Why do you leave off a melody note in Lullaby? A lot of my adults are adding it in because they (and me) have heard it that way. Seems like this could easily be added in at the end,…
Scale fingering – blues and diatonic
I’m wondering if someone can help me figure out scale fingerings, both with the scales for Blues and Improv (specifically Eb), and traditional v. SM fingering for the diatonic scales. I understand the concept of NO34 (naturally occurring 3s and 4s), but it doesn’t always…