One of my new students (a 16 year old, very disciplined at practicing, and he and his Dad both love SM so far, he is on Jackson Blues) just told me today that he is also learning some extra songs (songs he likes and knows from movies, etc.) from YouTube clips that show you which notes to play and with which finger numbers, etc. NOT with music score but just note letter names etc. ... he is…
Online self-study piano courses and YouTube instructional videos are here to stay. There are populations of people who can benefit from those, who otherwise would not have the opportunity to, or choose to, learn with a teacher. We as educators are still a vital resource for everyone else; however we must learn to embrace the benefits of self-study programs while clearly communicating the benefits of what we offer with Simply Music lessons. Topics include: Introduction: Technological Transformations (00:05) Technology in…
Most people who inquire for lessons with me are not wanting the traditional approach, but this past week two mothers came to me who seem to want the best of both worlds - their child learns tons of songs and enjoys playing and has fun with it, but also learns notes not too far down the road (just a few months). I told them that I cannot do this, for the whole learning process and musicianship…
I got a call from a mom today. Her son (11 years old) is getting teased by his peers at school for not learning 'real' piano. I will spend time with him and his family to highlight the differences of the method architecture, explain the big picture, and show him the graph from the "A World Where Everyone Plays" to try to make him feel proud of what he's achieved (mid level 4). Maybe I should…
I met someone who would like for me to teach her 6-year-old daughter, and she really likes the SM method now that she heard about it. But she already (a couple of weeks ago) had enrolled her daughter in a brief 6-week “group” piano class in some kind of traditional style lessons for children, that involves some simple form of reading notes. Apparently, her daughter likes it but also likes what I showed her about SM.…
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 teachers and talk to him. This student is just starting Level 6 (the furthest I’ve taught.) He is one of several of my students going to a challenging private school. I think…
For those of you who may be in a simialr position to me, here is a copy of a personal letter I sent to my existing students: "True to the policy of _______ Studio, I am always thinking about how I can best help my students become Musicmakers. I have recently come upon a new piano teaching method that I believe will more thoroughly and effectively enable my students to make music throughout the rest of…
In response to the following question: "I am finding that my students have a knowledge of singles, doubles and quads in their traditional form of Ta, Te-te and tigger-tigger (or any variation of these). The schools seem to teach this in their music classes. I have built on this, and asked the students what they are most comfortable saying, and we have continued to use the traditional vocalizations, so as not to confuse them. Is this…
Yesterday, an amazing 16 year old boy looking for a piano teacher came by my studio to talk with me. Although he had traditional lessons in the past, he has been his own teacher for the last several years but feels the need for some professional input and coaching now and again. Clearly, he wasn't a prospective Simply Music student. To his credit, he is completely absorbed in Chopin and the classics, has learned all his…
I have a student whose grandmother has the whole family concerned about the position wrists are held while playing. While I have often reminded students to lower shoulders, or alter the wrist position to try to increase their comfort, I haven't really noticed anything obvious there. Can anyone advise me? I have never had this as an issue as both student and teacher. I rarely mention anything about the position of wrists, or…
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