Studio Management
Keeping Accompaniments Alive
With regard to questions about keeping the accompaniment process alive, my approach to students who have finished the accompaniment level one book is:- 1. They have to be working on an accompaniment piece at all times 2. They get to choose the song they learn…
Keeping Accompaniment Pieces Alive
Do any other teachers have any ideas on how to keep accompaniment pieces alive and fresh on a student’s playlist? They seem to be given the least attention at home, because there’s no “tune”! I give students several suggestions: singing along if able and willing,…
Accompaniment, Boys & Singing
I have a group of six boys (three families) in a lesson, and I have been having a time getting them to sing with accompaniments during practice time at home. They’re a pretty quiet group (and two are my little brothers, which can really make…
Variations and Combinations
I’m planning my big Spring Fling and wanted to share some ideas for your students to try. I always appreciate your and your students’ ideas! I can’t tell you how much my students have enjoyed ‘Chinese’ Dreams. Several of my students have created new songs…
Tips for Preparing and Teaching Level 4
I’ve heard a bit about how much harder Level 4 is. As I’m moving into that now with my students, could you share experiences of how Level 4 did or did not work well for you, and how to avoid pitfalls. In a nutshell –…
Fragmenting and Level 4
OK, I know I had this same issue on Greensleeves in Level 3. And, I’ll be the first to say that it has become one of mine and my students favorites, and did come easy once it was learned. The LEARNING is what is killing…
Ode to Joy & Controlling the Events
Hi everyone! Can you help me? Re: C section to Ode to Joy. I’m not sure if the problem is that I am not ‘controlling the events’ even when teaching each little bit, even each sentence in the right hand as well in putting hands…
Teaching The Star Spangled Banner
I now have 6 students (all adults) who HATE playing SSB, resist practicing it and groan whenever asked to play it at lessons. These are normally very upbeat, cooperative people – they are not in a group (2 shared lessons, 2 privates). I’m starting to think…
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.…
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…