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Pedaling Dark Blue
Advice for pedal use on Dark Blue? Just keep it down, or use your ear to know when to clear it? Or open to player’s interpretation? Every time the LH plays is a good time to pedal on Dark Blue. Have you purchased the “Using…
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…
The importance of the learning strategies
After learning Ode to Joy, mom said her son wasn’t able to “get it” with the counting, so she tapped his hand when he was supposed to change the LH chord so he was able to learn the hands together. This week he only practiced…
Struggles with Alma Mater Blues
I need suggestions about an 11-year-old girl in a shared lesson with another 11-year-old. They both benefit from the shared setting (both were private until 2 months ago). She practices more since being in the shared situation, and the other student (a boy) is learning…
Ode to Joy original rhythm vs long notes
In Ode to Joy, does anyone ever teach the original rhythm rather than holding the long notes? Several of my children have already learned to play it the original way and we all listen to the original song quite frequently. I’m trying to figure out…
License Agreement question regarding photos
I know that it is against our license agreement to have video of us teaching. A parent asked me yesterday to take a photo of my hand on the D minor chord in Honey Dew, and I told her it’s against my license agreement. I…
Recital pieces for early levels
If the majority of your students are in Foundation 1 and Foundation 2 and that’s basically all the songs they know, what do you have them play for recital so that there isn’t a ton of repetition? Especially because everyone wants to play the blues.…
CAGE chord question
I have a student who is asking regarding the CAGE chord: why is it called a IV and V chord when it’s not really in the position of IV and V? Maybe say they’re extensions of IV and V., Different shapes for the RH, but…
Playing songs at the correct tempo
One of my adult students is in a valley (or plateau) because even though she can do Alma Mater Blues very well super slowly, she is impatient with herself and she said “I will NEVER be able to play it as quickly as Neil Moore…
Jackson Blues LH
I have a class of students who have had 5 lessons. Today we were reviewing Jackson Blues and I was demonstrating something. One student stopped me and asked a question I’ve never been asked before. She said “Do your middle 3 fingers (left hand) give…