improvisation
Billy At The Footy Improvisation Idea
I love to use Billy at the Footy as an improvisation accompaniment. I do as Neil suggests, throwing in the V chord at the end when we intend to repeat the 12-bar cycle. I do it a little differently to Neil, so I hope it’s…
The Triangle Game
I wanted to share a game I created, (quite by accident, actually) that is extremely easy to make, well-loved by students and quite versatile. I was wanting to make a grab bag for students as they were working on transposition – i.e. pull a chord…
Teaching older students with prior experience
I currently have 21 students ranging from the age of 6 to 67 with varying degrees of existing piano playing ability. In particular, I have a 65-year-old lady who has had extensive traditional experience and composes her own music. In spite of this, she insisted…
Traditional Students Learning Comp & Improv
I am a newly licensed SM teacher. I have been teaching traditionally for over 30 years. I am very excited to start teaching the SM method and especially the comp and improv program to my students that are switching over to SM. That was my…
Unfolding Comp/Improv, Arrangements, Accompaniment
I’m wondering about how to bring in Composition/Improvisation, Accompaniments, and Arrangements 1 for my students? I’m a pretty new teacher and my most advanced students are starting Amazing Grace in Foundation 1. When do I start to introduce these other programs? How much of each…
Experienced Student with Beginners?
Got a call from someone who has a masters in Composition, knows how to read sheet music, knows chords, and is looking especially for improvisational freedom in playing. She feels she composes in her head, not her hands, and she wants to get more “in…
Pace of Learning–Reading Rhythm & Notes
I need some help in responding to some concerns from a couple of student’s parents (who have been talking to each other, by the way)! These 2 students have had approximately 145 lessons. One student is right on target according to the curriculum overview, and…
Just a Typical Teenager?
I just finished a lesson. It was traumatic! While it’s soooo fresh in my mind: I have a mum and her 2 daughters – 14 and 10.They all started as a group of 3 a year ago – the 14 year was leaving the others…
Improv Ideas
So I’ve come up with a number of my own improv ideas, poured over Sheri Reingold’s Games presentation/handout as I’d mentioned, and also reviewed all Simpedia items after searching on “improv.” Still, obviously I recently shared an improv idea — the “talking melody” — that…
Student Requests to Play Other Songs
I have a student who has just started F2, had done 4 arrangements. She is learning a few other instruments as well. She is a fast learner, able to play the new songs hands together immediately after I show her. She has asked me to…