Amazing Grace
When to Teach Happy Birthday
Question: I have just signed on a Special Needs student. She is 9 years old. Her favorite song is Happy Birthday. Mum said they play that every day! I know we normally teach this at the end of Foundation Level 1 but I would like…
Greensleeves Triplets?
Transcribing question: in the score for Greensleeves, do the eighth notes in the RH have to be written in groups of 3 because of the 6/8 time signature? Rather than the groups of 4 we have been used to seeing in RR? Yes, because in…
Duet Ideas
I have been through the library of ECL posts on the topic of duets and gleaned the following ideas: Honey Dew with Melody on top Jackson Blues (or any other blues song) with blues scale improv on top Amazing Grace with melody on top Chester…
Triplets
Just wondering when do triplets get introduced in the curriculum? For some reason I did not see them in RR. Are they mentioned later in context of a specific song? I believe the first time they appear is in Blues & Improv “hickory” rhythm. But…
Where to Play Accompaniment Chords and LH
This comes up a lot with students in Accompaniment… which way to play the chords, move them up or down? For instance in Amazing Grace students tend to go up for the F and G chords. Also, should C (or any tonic root notes) be…
When to introduce Special Programs
I’m still young in the SM teacher world and I have students in levels 1, 2, and 3 right now. My question is, when do I start students on Accompaniment, and then when do I start them on Reading Rhythm? Should I start Accompaniment in…
Religious objections to Amazing Grace
Any suggestions on how to approach Amazing Grace being religiously offensive to a family? They are Jewish. AG is such a key component of the program, especially in Accompaniment 1. The mother of my new student is fine with him playing it, but politely insisted…
Arpeggiating chords instead of playing block chords
I have a student who recently quit for financial reasons, but now it seems she was unhappy about the Accompaniment part of the program because she feels the accompaniment part is too simple. She tells me now that she would rather run her fingers up…
Transposing I-IV-V
Once students are comfortable finding I-IV-V in any key, how do you go through the transposition process? Do you do one key a week, multiple keys per week? Do you use both Amazing Grace and Auld Lang Syne? Separately or at the same time? Do…
Accompaniment and Amazing Grace in Level 2
I am trying to figure out what to do with the Amazing Grace in Level 2. I have started the Accompaniment program with many of my groups at the end of Level 1 or towards the beginning of Level 2. I think this is a…