Simpedia

Kevin M., California

I have read in the past some teachers were having trouble getting their students to watch the video. Other students will routinely say that they are watching the video, but actually they are fibbing. Not learning how to use the videos properly, or not using them at all, really hurt the students’ progress, especially when we get into the later levels. So I like to get it taken care of right away.

One thing I always do, when I am teaching Night Storm, is not teach the LH for the tailpiece. I ask students to get that from the video and come back and play the piece (with the LH from the video) the following week. When they come to the lesson, if they can’t play it, then I know there is an issue to address. I don’t move on until I have taken care of it.  I will still send them home to learn it from the video, and I will have them call me in two days, and play the song into my machine, if there is a problem I will call them and coach them. I don’t give them the answer though; I make them get it from the video. I do the same type of thing with Amazing Grace. I teach Bishop St Blues and Amazing Grace in the same lesson. I have them learn Amazing Grace from the video (it’s so easy because they already know Honey Dew), then work with them in class on Bishop St.

This has worked out well for me.  I don’t have any students who are not watching the video, because I test them like this all the time. I find they move faster, and I get more time to listen to their Playlists, work on musicality, answer questions, and work on the Arrangements.