Playing-Based Benefits
Found in: About The Method, Playing-Based Methodology
Ruth P., North Carolina
What are some top reasons that you think playing based is a useful approach? One for me: It helps the student see the piece holistically – understanding through patterns the form of a piece. (The ‘puzzle pieces’ as it were.)
Rachel J., Iowa
My favorite is just that it’s fun and you get to play music right away!
Heidi M., Canada
I love how the playing based tools give confidence and help you remember the song and never forget it.
Robin T., India
Takes away all the barriers of a reading based approach
1 Student can watch the hands rather than the score
2 Student does not have to interpret notes names
3 Student does not have to interpret rhythm notation
4 Student does not have to follow expression marks
5 Student can just play
Rochelle G., California
Freedom.
Nancy N., New Hampshire
I played from notation for decades before I found Simply Music. Yes, freedom! I used to have a tiny playlist, now I have a huge one! It’s much more relaxing mentally. And students play smoothly and rhythmically from the beginning, not jerking along from note to note.
Arthur G., Maryland
I played and tried to reach from notation based music for years until I came across Simply Music and its playing based concept. It improved my skills as a pianist and a teacher.
Ruth P. North Carolina
Here’s the issue though with folks that read well – they can already play “right away”. It seems the list of reasons are somewhat different for folks with no experience and those that already read well. Know what I mean? He enjoys the accompaniment part – which is new to him – but playing pieces is pretty easy for him with notation. I’m struggling a little to justify it to myself…
Rochelle G., California
I had an adult student that could read and play beautifully. She came to Simply Music because of the creativity. Because of composition and improvisation, because of a new way to look at things. He’ll find holes in his musicianship most likely that Simply Music will fill. You have to fully trust the method yourself and the value that it brings to anyone. If you trust it and he trusts you and gives it a chance that’s all you need. If he chooses not to give it a chance, then that’s his choice. As someone famous once said, be interested in the outcome but not attached to it 🙂
Laurie Richards, Nebraska
Learning songs in the SM playing-based environment isn’t just learning a bunch of songs. It’s learning a way of learning (LAWOL). That’s a huge benefit to any student regardless of prior reading abilities. I’m a very confident reader, been playing my whole life. But since I started teaching SM, I learn pieces from written notation more quickly.
I see patterns on the keyboard I would never have thought to look for. I’ve learned new practice techniques. I’ve found most SM students find it much easier to memorize written music because of their playing-based background.
Besides that, expanding beyond reading music notation into creating arrangements, C&I, learning accompaniment etc. etc. is enough to keep any musician busy for a lifetime.
Ruth P. North Carolina
Thanks for those thoughts, Laurie. I completely agree that there is so much with all our streams!I guess I asked because I was having a little trouble articulating it to him. I agree that playing based helps one to see patterns and how the piece fits together. Initially the playing-based approach takes longer for someone who could just simply sit down and play the notation… But of course I know that it is teaching the student to look at it in a different way ..from a different perspective and to help themunderstand it more from the inside out. I do honestly think it’s a useful approach but sometimes it’s hard to articulate it to someone. I think they have to experience it to see how it benefits them and initially that can be a little bit of a tough sell. Fortunately, he It’s pretty good about trusting my leader ship. I remember once Neil said that with children, we basically tell them “do this” and they Most often will do it. I think adults sometimes need to talk about the “why” more which I think is understandable. I’m trying to articulated these benefits more clearly the longer I teach.
Original discussion started May 19, 2020