Curriculum
Dog Variation
I came up with a lovely soulful variation or arrangement, perhaps, on ‘Dog’ by using a zigzag LH. I’ll try to describe it. With sentence one of dog, the LH would play C (one octave below middle C) with the first note of the sentence,…
Alma Mater Blues 2nd Section
I have a young girl who is not quite 7 years old. She is in the second week of level 2 and I introduced the 2nd section of Alma Mater Blues to her this week. She went through 99% of Level 1 like a champ.…
Chat – Teaching Level 1
sreingold Do you have any questions regarding how to teach Level One? Ruth3(Aus) Do you use Arrangements during level 1? sreingold Yes, Ruth, I do. I start teaching arrangement earlier than many I think. I see no reason not to usually, unless people are struggling or just not…
Level 1 Wedding Style Pieces?
One of my 9-year-old students just completed Foundation 1, and his sister has asked him to play in her wedding next month. He is very excited and has several weeks to learn something, or he is content to play one of the F1 pieces he…
Left Hand Issues
I’ve noticed a consistent problem with a number of students, beginning with Night Storm. Whenever there’s a song that requires either the thumb or pinky to move out and in, with the opposite finger to play a stationary note, students have trouble playing the stationary…
Getting the Blues Even—Jackson Blues and Leaving Early
I realized this week that I have more than one student that’s been struggling to get Jackson and/or Alma Mater Blues smooth and even. I’ve tried the leaving early technique, dialing the speed way down, separating the hands. I’ve also tried doing the Jackson Variation…
Teaching Ode to Joy
I want to share a technique I have been employing on Ode to Joy in Level One that has been working well. I find it takes away a little of the learning when an adult recognizes the tune mid-way into the learning. So I have…
Ode to Joy Melody Question
Can someone explain why Neil has changed the melody of Ode to Joy (beginning w a half note E instead of two repeated E’s) and leaving off the quicker notes at the endings! I understand it might be for rhythmic ease, but if students want…
New Variation to Night Storm
I call mistakes that work out well “happy accidents”. And this was a big one created by a brand new 8-year-old student of mine while rehearsing her recital piece, Night Storm, during class. She calls the piece I.N.C. (Introduction, Night Storm, Conclusion) and gave me…
Honey Dew Book/Video differences
I notice that the written notes are different from what is shown on the SHM video, in that the written reference includes a Dm chord, as well as the repeat symbol. I’m just wondering why the two don’t match up. I can see that some…