Integrating Arrangements and Variations
Found in: Arrangements & Variations
Joy O., Alabama
I have the teacher training for Arrangements 1, but I’m not sure how to integrate teaching the arrangements with teaching Foundation songs. Is there a published order that we can follow? How do you manage teaching Arrangements and Variations?
Cate R., Australia
When students come back with Dreams Come True nice and solid, you might start with a variation. I start with Dreams in D, or Chinese/Egyptian Dreams (played on the black notes), and then give them something from Arrangements. Give them enough that they can complete it and not fail. It builds their trust in you as a teacher, the SM method, and themselves.
Moving your hand from C to C# gives you Chinese Dreams, 5 fingers over 5 black notes. Moving from C# to F# will give you Egyptian Dreams. I just call them the black 2s and 3s or the black 3s and 2s.
Nancy W., Texas
I put the arrangements in order of difficulty. There’s an additional training to purchase in the Teacher Workshop Series. It helped a lot.
Leeanne I., Australia
Please purchase Gordon Harvey’s teacher training series Teaching Arrangements 1 and 2. He has a suggested order, a suggested time to teach them, and how to unfold the teaching. I found them invaluable. It’s in the SM shop.
Ian B., California
I think the best place to start teaching Arrangements is just after Honey Dew, as both of the first two Arrangements are accompaniments. In addition, the “4-note” chord shape is used in several arrangements and can easily transition into Honey Dew Arr 1.