Curriculum
Oh Canada
Has anyone adapted Oh Canada for Simply Music students? (Level 2). Debbie, I have had two students do Oh Canada. I found it in a book entitled “The Great Canadian Song Book”. The one student has an uncle who is Canadian and teaches piano. It…
Music in college after Simply Music
I had a parent of a fifth grader ask me today what happens after the foundation levels, and whether there are any piano competitions in Simply Music, and whether/how any study might count for college credit. I promised to check in with more experienced…
Advanced Boogie Woogie pieces
I have several advanced students ( Level 8 and up )looking for showy boogie woogie pieces. Can anyone suggest titles, composers and sources? Well, if you want really challenging, try Bumble Boogie by Jack Fina! There is an old publishing company called Leeds. You can…
Circle of 5ths
Hello fellow teachers, How and when do you incorporate the circle of fifths in your lessons? I am open to any and all suggestions! Jessica, The circle of 5ths is usually introduced later on in the foundation program, in conjunction with Jazz and Acc Level…
Chord Question
Could anyone tell me what a maj9 chord is? Also a 6/9? Let’s just use C for both and please tell me exactly which notes would be played. Thanks! A true Cmaj9 is CEGBD. Maj9 adds the maj7 interval (B in this case) and the…
Advice needed on Reading Program
Dear Fellow Teachers, One of my parents just texted me to say her oldest boy (14) wants to quit lessons. She said she would like both boys (younger one is 12) to stay until they are “reading notes proficiently”, and asked “What will it take…
A White and Blue Christmas
I’m thinking about ordering the White and Blue Christmas book for a group that is now through the reading process, and I’m wondering if anyone who has the book can give me some information about the pieces. My students want to play Christmas songs with…
Student without a life coach
I have a blind, autistic adult student who lives in a group home and goes home on weekends. She plays the piano every day and up until about a month ago, I assumed that someone was with her when she practiced, that there was someone…
Sibling Rivalry
I have two brothers, 2 years apart. The older one has been in lessons longer & is in L. 6. The younger just getting ready to graduate from L. 3. The problem is that everything the younger one learns has already been done before &…
Reading projects in the Development levels
I am about to start teaching level 10 to a group for the first time. (I taught up through level 10 in a private lesson to an adult woman who already had piano experience, so this was a completely different experience.) I am curious how…