Young Students

Maybe this is a funny question, but what do other teachers do about swear words in sheet music? I just printed the sheet music for Some Nights by Fun for a student to start learning in January, but I’m hesitant to give a 9-year-old sheet…

• Last updated 2 months ago
• appropriate lyrics, clean version, curse, curse words, curses, inappropriate lyrics, inappropriate music, outside sheet music, sheet music, swear, swear words, swears, teaching young children, teaching young students, vulgar, vulgarity, young students

I’m starting a small 5/6 yr old group. I’m thinking of having it be 20 min instead of my normal 25-30. Any thoughts? I would have it be the regular time but tell the parents there may be some weeks that will be done early…

• Last updated 7 months ago
• 15 minute lessons, adapting for young students, adjusting lesson time, duration of class, duration of lesson, length of class, length of lesson, lesson, lesson duration, lesson length, lesson pacing, lesson time, lesson time frame, lesson times, shortening lessons, starting younger students, teaching very young students, teaching young children, teaching young students, young children, young students

Those of you who teach very young children (age 5-6), do you use a special kind of stool for them that is different from what older students or adults use? I have 2 piano stools, the one I use for very little children is a…

• Last updated 1 year ago
• adapting for young students, arm positions, bench, bench positions, feet, foot, foot rest, foot stool, piano bench, piano foot stool, piano stool, position, positioning, positions, posture, seat, seating, sitting, sitting positions, step for foot, stool, teaching very young students, teaching young children, teaching young students, young children, young students

How would my expert teachers out there manage a student who was absolutely adamant that they should only have 1 NEW song to practice each week. Regardless of if they get it easy or not; how can I correct this limiting belief in their psychology…

• Last updated 1 year ago
• claiming territory, coachabilty, coachable, communication, different facets of musicianship, introducing streams, learning pace, limitations, managing streams, multiple project management, multiple projects, multiple songs, multiple streams, normal progress, pace, pace of learning, pace of teaching, practice, progress, rate of progress, reclaiming territory, requirements, Robin Keehn, slow pace, slow progress, speed of learning, speed of progress, streams, student progress, students progressing differently, students speed of progress, teaching streams, too much homework

Is there any such thing as readiness in the Simply Music process? I am teaching a very bright little girl who is 6, but she is struggling even with the five fingers over five notes after 6 lessons. She can play the right hand of…

• Last updated 1 year ago
• adapting for young students, BH, both hands, communication, control the events, controlling the events, CTE, dose, doses, getting student to slow down, hands together, HT, it takes as long as it takes, learning slowly, moving slowly, multiple thought processes, Ode to Joy, Ode to Joy BH, patience with slow learners, playing slowly, playing-based, practicing slowly, putting hands together in Ode to Joy, readiness, ready, separate hands, SH, single thought process, single thought processes, slow learner, slow pace, slow progress, slowing down, small doses, small hands, smaller dose, smaller doses, starting younger students, STP, struggle, struggling, teaching very young students, teaching young children, teaching young students, trouble with hands together, young children, young students, younger siblings

I’m a new SM teacher and have started one class with two students which is going really well so far. I have run into some people with younger aged kids than what I originally thought was a good age to start teaching. I had always…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• adapting for young students, Laurie Richards, teaching young children, teaching young students, young children

I start students at age 7. Only one younger student who has started has worked out for me. So what do I say to a parent who asks me for a reason why I start at 7? I don’t want to be negative. I would…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• attention span, fine motor, starting younger students, teaching young students, young students

Is there a SM encouraged/endorsed Early Childhood Music & Movement program? If not, what are some favorites as lead-ins to SM? Music Rhapsody is our endorsed program. It beautifully integrates pieces from Simply Music throughout to lead seamlessly to Simply Music. It was designed by…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• early childhood, movement, music & movement, Music Rhapsody, Neil Moore, Robin Keehn

A mom asked me how to start her 20-month-old on the path to learning music. Do you have any suggestions for this mom? I can think of some obvious things at the keyboard, with rhythms, listening to music, and children’s videos. Thank you for any…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• babies, early childhood, infants, Lynn Kleiner, Music Rhapsody, Neil Moore, toddlers