Curriculum

How do you go about teaching arrangements to a group of 5? They don’t have SHMs, so do you mostly have them learn through watching. But how do you process it into their fingers at the lesson? Do you have them each take a turn…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• arrangements, Dreams Come True, group lessons, key pads, practice pads, shared lessons, speaking instructions out loud

How does one handle choice of accompaniments in a group? Do they all learn the same ones at the same time or can you have a few going at the same time? How much choice do you give the students over which accompaniment to learn…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• accompaniment, eye of the needle, flexibility, group lessons, Neil Moore, quantity vs. quality, shared lessons

At what point do you starting allowing students within a group to be working on different accompaniment projects from each other, i.e., one’s they’ve chosen for themselves and that not everyone is required to learn? How do you manage the process of students working on…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• accompaniment, inheriting, projects

How do you move a student up to a class in a higher level if that class has already started a special program that the student you want to move is not ready for? For instance, I have a student who needs, wants and can…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• accompaniment, moving students, speed of learning, students to higher level

As I was making a set of cards for today’s lesson the thought occurred to me that others might like to try some of the ideas I have used so far to help with working together in group lessons. So feel free to give these a go and…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• accompaniment, chords, group lessons, ideas, tips

I am a new SM teacher willing to travel to a neighboring town to teach four students from three families. The decision was a simple one, since those families would not have signed up had they all had to drive out to my location. I…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• comp and improv, group lessons, shared lessons, split classes, young children

I have a mom and her 12 yr old son sharing a lesson.  I notice she progresses quite a bit slower than him. They are up to Fur Elise in Level 1.  It took her quite awhile to get Family Dreams relatively smooth and Bishop…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• accompaniment, arrangements, Family Dreams, group lessons, prior experience, shared lessons

I am moving for the first time into Time for More Music. So I’m at a point where I will soon be able to tell students that it’s okay to retire certain pieces from their repertoire. Although I’ve seen recommendations about when one might choose to…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• Gordon Harvey, keeping songs alive, Laurie Richards, Playlist, reading notes, reading rhythm, retiring pieces, Time for More Music, transposing

I have a final lesson for a student tomorrow who is quitting lessons. I am at a loss for what to do during this lesson. Do I do business as usual? Try to fill up the time with answering questions that he has? I really…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• celebration, last lesson, listing learning tools and strategies

I just got off the phone with an adult that started learning traditionally and wants to try out SM.  I let her know the various genres we teach, and she let me know she is not crazy about jazz or blues.  I have had another…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• Accompaniment‏, arrangements, blues and jazz, classical, classical music, genres, potential, Robin Keehn, student focus, unlocking potential