Curriculum

For the Blues & Improvisation stream, I have an adult student asking if she can locate IV chords as a whole step down from finger 5 instead of a half step up from finger 3. She feels it’s easier because she’s already needing to think…

• Last updated 9 years ago
• blues, blues & improv, blues & improvisation, chords, finding blues chords, identifying IV chord

Let’s share ideas…what are some fun duet ideas you have used with your students? Last week I had one student play a nice chord progression (like Canon in C chords) and the other student improvised. Not as smooth as when I play with them, but…

• Last updated 9 years ago
• Australian Waterfall, blues, duets, improvisation, Laurie Richards

I have heard several teachers talk about doing 4-6 week workshops (or whatever time frame fits). I would love to do something like that for folks in my church. A small workshop is not too much to commit to, yet they can gain so much…

• Last updated 9 years ago
• Laurie Richards, Neil Moore, workshop SHMs, workshop training, Workshops

I’m wondering about the solo arrangements with Jazz Clue 2 applied to these songs or any lead sheet. do we typically play the melodies as written or up an octave higher? At times it feels like the LH 7ths are too low or overlap with…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• jazz, jazz clue 2, jazz melody, jazz solo arrangements, Robin Keehn

If the agreement that we (as teachers) signed says we can’t teach other methods in addition to Simply Music, does that mean we can’t use other music books (not Simply Music) to teach the same method? I have a student who is almost ready to…

• Last updated 9 years ago
• Laurie Richards, license, Neil Moore, outside materials, reading

I’m wondering when to start Accompaniment Variations? I’ve always started it after Accompaniment 1, but in the curriculum overview it says Level 3. So maybe sooner? Mid Accompaniment 1? I try not to overlap programs, particularly the reading programs, because it introduces multi-thought processes. This…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• Accompaniment‏, curriculum, variations, when to introduce variations

In Jazz Clues, the second song in the collection, Solace of the Wind, seems to be the only piece in which the lead instrument plays a very different rhythm from the written score. I think the horn player came in on the second or third…

• Last updated 9 years ago
• dropping in, jazz, jazz rhythm, Laurie Richards, Neil Moore

I seem to be having increasing numbers of students struggling to put Night Storm together in the correct order between the lesson at which I teach it and the next lesson. I’ve had people coming back who play the whole first section 2 times and…

• Last updated 1 year ago
• Night Storm, trouble with hands together

Hello Everyone, Could someone please tell me the list of songs in the “Songs for Christmas” book? I have found lists for “Songs for Everyone”, but not the Christmas book. Hi Barbara, The songs in the Songs For Christmas Book are: Jingle Bells Silent Night…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• song list, Songs for Christmas

I am late in getting Christmas songs going this year, but I am under way at last. The 14 carols are great to play along with in CFG chords and a minor song. I am adding an improvisation component for those who now find CFG chords…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• accompaniment, Christmas songs, Elizabeth Gaikwad, improvising Christmas songs, Songs for Christmas