Gordon Harvey
Left Hand Issues
I’ve noticed a consistent problem with a number of students, beginning with Night Storm. Whenever there’s a song that requires either the thumb or pinky to move out and in, with the opposite finger to play a stationary note, students have trouble playing the stationary…
Getting the Alma Mater Blues Rhythm
I’ve noticed that a number of my students have trouble getting the rhythm right in Alma Mater Blues. The left and right hands are properly coordinated but the RH is played evenly rather than with a swinging feeling when the hands are played together. However,…
Foundation vs. Development Levels 1-18
Can someone describe (in general terms) how “development” (levels 10 – 18) differs from foundation (levels 1 – 9)? Student Home Materials Levels 10 through 18 consist simply of books of music (notation). There is no outside support via videos or audio recordings, etc. At…
Defining Thoughtlessness in Playing
I’m still grappling with how to define thoughtlessness to the student. To my way of thinking, and I’m not sure I’m right, if you can play a song without thinking about the elements in it, but can’t start in the middle or remember what the…
Duet Questions—Unhappy Parent
Can I open a discussion about duets in general and how playing in public in a duet in approached? This is a response I sent to a parent who was not happy a student played a duet and not a solo at a Christmas Sing-a-long.…
Advanced Students – Beginning Projects
I have two students who play very well (at about grade 5 AMEB level) and can read music reasonably well whom I have recently converted to Simply Music. They have had about 5 years experience with traditional lessons. I am currently taking them through foundation…
Taking on Advanced Students
Yesterday, an amazing 16 year old boy looking for a piano teacher came by my studio to talk with me. Although he had traditional lessons in the past, he has been his own teacher for the last several years but feels the need for some…
Managing Appropriate Progress
I have been in this situation many times – i.e. students who are only marginally behind my own playing ability. Sometimes I’ve kind of fudged it by avoiding playing the entire piece, if it isn’t sounding smooth yet but I can still teach chunks of…
Dropping Songs off the Playlist
I am wishing to discuss whether or not teachers begin to drop songs from the playlist when it has begun to get over 40 songs. As I have not gone past the Reading Program (rhythm and notes ) I’m not sure which songs are really…
Mastery of Tools–Keypad
I have a question re: the Keypad (KP) skill and how it relates to multi-sensory learning. It seems that multi-sensory learning would mean using all your senses. The keypad separates out the senses and excludes sound. I believe it works, but It seems counter-intuitive. Therefore…