classical
Why Teach Simply Music
I want to share something I’ve been reflecting on as a teacher — not as a criticism of traditional classical training, but as an explanation of why I choose to teach the way I do. Traditional classical music education has given the world incredible discipline,…
- Last updated 3 months ago
- active listening, asking why, benefits, casual performance, classical, classically trained, cognitive understanding, communicating benefits, comparing traditional to Simply Music, competing methods, confidence as a student, creativity, developing creativity, different facets of musicianship, engage, enjoying the process, informal performance, keeping children engaged, keeping students engaged, listen, listening, method, method comparisons, methodology, methods, music as a lifelong companion, musicianship, natural musicianship, other methods, performance, performing, performing in front of others, playing-based, public performances, reading-based, SM vs traditional, tradition lessons, traditional, traditional background, traditional experience, traditional lessons, traditional studio, traditionally trained, training, training students, trust the method, trust the process, trusting the method, trusting the process, trusting the program, well rounded musician
Traditional Lessons and Pain/Injury
I’m really interested in everyone’s perspective. Multiple studies over decades report that roughly 50–70% of musicians (including pianists) experience playing-related musculoskeletal pain or injury during their training or careers. Given that traditional piano pedagogy relies heavily on standardised posture rules, prescribed hand positions, and visual…
- Last updated 3 months ago
- addressing poor technique, classical, classically trained, comparing traditional to Simply Music, competing methods, hand position, hand positioning, hand positions, hurt, hurts, injuries, injury, method, method comparisons, methodology, methods, other methods, pain, painful, pedagogy, poor technique, posture, SM vs traditional, technique, technique questions, traditional, traditional background, traditional experience, traditional lessons, traditional student, traditional students, traditional students to SM, traditional studio, traditional teacher, traditional teachers
Curriculum Classical Playlist
At the request of a family, I pulled together this playlist featuring all the Classical pieces students are introduced to throughout the program. Feel free to share if it is useful to you! Check it out! Have you ever wondered what Classical music pieces are…
- Last updated 4 years ago
- classical, classical music, Classical Pieces, curriculum, YouTube
Need Duet Ideas for Readers
I have an adult husband and wife team who are in upper SM levels and reading fairly well. I would love to find a book of duets of pieces that might be familiar to them. They love classical music and are in their early 70’s.…
- Last updated 1 year ago
- classical, classical music, Classical Pieces, Duet Ideas, duets, foundation duets, Foundation Duets and Variations, outside materials, outside music, outside pieces, outside reading pieces, outside repertoire, outside sheet music, pieces outside the program, reading outside Simply Music, songs outside the repertoire, teaching outside music
Classical Composition Projects
I have increased my own composing recently using the “Family of Chords” that Miss Murphy sent awhile back. I have found it really helpful to make songs I could sing (contemporary), blues/jazz, hymns, and accompaniments. I am now wondering about ideas to help me make…
- Last updated 5 years ago
- Canon in D, chords, classical, classical music, Classical Pieces, composition, composition projects, Family of Chords
Lack of expressive instructions in classical pieces
I’m wondering why there are no expression, dynamic, or tempo indications in the written music, particularly on classical pieces. It seems to me that especially by the Development levels, wouldn’t that be important for students and to be faithful to what the composer intended? I…
- Last updated 8 years ago
- classical, classical music, Development Levels, dynamics, expression, fingering, interpretation of classical pieces, Laurie Richards, musicality, ornament, Robin Keehn, tempo, urtext
Classical Stream
I just got off the phone with an adult that started learning traditionally and wants to try out SM. I let her know the various genres we teach, and she let me know she is not crazy about jazz or blues. I have had another…
- Last updated 8 years ago
- Accompaniment, arrangements, blues and jazz, classical, classical music, genres, potential, Robin Keehn, student focus, unlocking potential