Practicing & Playlists

In the left hand of Night Storm and Jackson Blues, some of my students leave the little finger down while playing the thumb notes correctly. They seem to focus so hard on getting the thumb movements that the little pinky sits resting! Do others have…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• controlling the events, holding finger 5, left hand, Neil Moore, Night Storm

I have a couple of five year old students (they’ll be 6 in a few months) who are having difficulties grasping the concept of half-steps & whole steps, therefore Bishop Street Blues is not progressing much either. We have worked on these things in lessons for…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• bishop street blues, Laurie Richards, level 1, teaching half and whole steps

Under the subject of “claiming territory” are we to ask that students don’t try to sound out songs from the audio recordings? I have had a few students who have assured me they are not watching the video ahead of time but are trying to…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• claiming territory, listening to audio recordings, permission, using the audio recordings to learn songs, using the audio recordings to move ahead

I have a tablet in my studio as a tool to help me deal with excuses/struggles that students sometimes come back with in regards to their homework being incomplete. When a student comes to lessons, and I ask them to play their home work, and…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• re-teaching songs, using the SHM videos, working with parents on how to practice

I have read the posting “Joanne Jones Tools and Strategies List” in Simpedia  “About Teaching and Learning” and appreciate the overall listing of the “Lego pieces” that can be pulled out of our” arsenal”. However, I am still curious if anyone has ever compiled a…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• learning strategies, learning tools, Learning tools form

I’ve been teaching Simply Music for about 9 months. I started with teaching only private lessons, then I have added 2 shared lessons with 2 students in each. By fall I hope to feel comfortable enough to add groups of 3 & 4.  But I…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• controlling the events, playing slowly, practicing slowly

I’m still grappling with how to define thoughtlessness to the student. To my way of thinking, and I’m not sure I’m right, if you can play a song without thinking about the elements in it, but can’t start in the middle or remember what the…

• Last updated 11 years ago
• cross pollination, Gordon Harvey, Laurie Richards, learning tools, memorizing, strategies, thoughtlessness

This is my first official post as a “teaching” licensed teacher!! Yeah! It’s nice to be able to jump in and ask pertinent questions. I’ve learned so much from all of you. I know it is a judgement call on how much information to unfold…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• Chinese Dreams, DCT, Dreams, Dreams Come True, how fast to move, learning pace, level 1, listening to the audio recordings, Night Storm, Night Storm inc, NS, rhythm, unfolding material

I have a student that has a difficult time keeping a beat. She is 6, has been with me since September is almost through Level 1. Week to week she can follow through with my corrections and suggestions for her songs but then loses them…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• listening to audio recordings, playing too fast, rhythm difficulty

How important is it to play the upper level songs by memory? I have found the songs beginning in Level 8 to be more difficult to remember. Even with Canon in D (Level 7) many students have a hard time remembering, even though it’s very…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• keeping songs alive, memorizing harder pieces, upper levels