Other Methods

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…

• Last updated 3 weeks ago
• base tools, developing generative skills, generative, generative learning, generative students, generative tools, importance of playlist, learning clues, learning tools, learning tools and strategies, managing playlist, managing the playlist, mastery of tools, outside materials, outside music, outside pieces, outside repertoire, PB, pieces outside the program, playing-based, playing-based strategies, playing-based tools, Playlist, playlist management, reference clues, self generating, self generative, self-generate, self-generation, songs outside the repertoire, students teaching, students teaching each other, teaching, teaching clues, teaching outside music, teaching students to coach, tools, tools and strategies, YouTube

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…

• Last updated 2 years ago
• benefits of online lessons, learning online, self study, self study programs, ssp, tdp, teacher directed programs, technology, YouTube

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…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• comparing traditional to Simply Music, confidence as a teacher, Laurie Richards, SM vs traditional

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…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• communication, playing-based, SM vs traditional, traditional

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…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• prior experience, reading, traditional

  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…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• classically trained, college, music major, Robin Keehn

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…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• traditional, traditional teachers, transitioning to SM

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…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• Neil Moore, rhythm, traditional, vocalizing

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…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• accompaniment, advanced students, Gordon Harvey, jazz, prior experience, reading, technique, traditional lessons

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…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• how to play, technique, traditional lessons, what to play, wrist position