Curriculum
Reading Rhythm help – rests
Could someone please let me know what you tell your students to do with the lines with bar lines on the right hand side of page 32 in Reading Rhythm? Introducing rest names. It’s just used for students to practice writing rests. I have them…
Transposing I-IV-V
Once students are comfortable finding I-IV-V in any key, how do you go through the transposition process? Do you do one key a week, multiple keys per week? Do you use both Amazing Grace and Auld Lang Syne? Separately or at the same time? Do…
Star-Spangled Banner substitute songs
I have a pair of siblings in Level 2 who have asked to be exempted from learning the Star-Spangled Banner for religious reasons. I suggested a compromise: they would learn the chords, but SSB would be the only Accompaniment song I do not require they…
Student struggling with rhythm
I have a 9-year-old student who just struggles with rhythm. She can’t keep a simple even beat. With a TON of work she gets it, but it doesn’t always stick. I noticed it in a pronounced way when she was with me in a larger…
Students want to move faster
I’m having some issues with some students that want to move ‘faster’. There’s a lot we’re trying to fit in during a lesson, but for some students it doesn’t feel like enough, at least according to them. Usually with these students, the playlist suffers. Just…
Starting Tune Toolkit
Would you recommend starting Tune Toolkit 1 with these students? Brother/sister, identified gifted ages 11 and 12. Both had traditional lessons prior, and are very switched on. They seem to enjoy composing, and have used arrangement ideas to create pieces. Yet I’m at a point…
Applying playing-based strategies at a generative level
Here’s an idea for applying playing-based strategies at a generative level: After a student composes a song, work together as a class to come up with a way to teach it. This might include making a diagram reference, talking about what specific playing-based tools can…
Teaching chord inversions
Some of my students want to play songs from simple fake books…usually Christian. Is it OK for me to teach them chord inversions? Also, they wanted to do Star Spangled Banner in G because it’s a better key for singing, but jumping around to play…
Fur Elise – fingering of 9 Es
How do you teach the fingering for the first three of the 9 Es, 5-5-1 vs 5-1-2 vs any other options? I see that Neil uses 5-5-1. As a child I learned 5-1-2. I’d love to hear thoughts about the pros and cons of these…
“Home” final chord
My student has a question for Neil! The last chord of Home is driving her crazy. She wants to know if you intentionally left it as a “cliff hanger” (her words!). We had an extended conversation about the possible significance (or irony) of ending with…