Neil Moore

If the agreement that we (as teachers) signed says we can’t teach other methods in addition to Simply Music, does that mean we can’t use other music books (not Simply Music) to teach the same method? I have a student who is almost ready to…

• Last updated 9 years ago
• Laurie Richards, license, Neil Moore, outside materials, reading

In Jazz Clues, the second song in the collection, Solace of the Wind, seems to be the only piece in which the lead instrument plays a very different rhythm from the written score. I think the horn player came in on the second or third…

• Last updated 9 years ago
• dropping in, jazz, jazz rhythm, Laurie Richards, Neil Moore

My piano is on its last leg. Some of the keys don’t have the same touch they used to, the sustain pedal squeaks, and the tone is a bit tinny – by the end of the day I’m glad no one is playing it. Here’s…

• Last updated 11 years ago
• digital vs acoustic, Neil Moore, teaching on digital piano

On July 13th, Laura wrote a series of questions. Neil Moore briefly responds to these. 1) Bench Height:  if I don’t have an adjustable bench, how do I deal with students who are smaller and have very bent arms to play (looks very uncomfortable). On…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• Neil Moore, pedal recording, technique

In response to the following question: “I am finding that my students have a knowledge of singles, doubles and quads in their traditional form of Ta, Te-te and tigger-tigger (or any variation of these). The schools seem to teach this in their music classes. I…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• Neil Moore, rhythm, traditional, vocalizing

Knowing the paramount importance of controlling the events when getting hands together for the first time in a piece how does one handle this in a group? Would it be adequate enough to do a demo with one student at the piano and then get…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• control the events, controlling the events, mentor groups, Neil Moore, practice pads

In response to the following statement: “… It just seems wiser to wait until students can process almost a song a week…. Seems the intention of Simply Music is to have students playing right away…” Here is a paradox, and there is more to this…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• Neil Moore, normal progress, SM goals

It’s good if students sing and play, and it is no issue whatsoever if they don’t. I request it, I encourage it, I never require it. I heard a statistic once (don’t quote me!!), that on people’s list of things they feared most, singing in…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• Accompaniment‏, managing singing, Neil Moore, singing while playing

I had a first grade student in her first shared lesson. This was her first SM music lesson, but she has had previous Suzuki lessons. She just covered her ears and refused to participate after the first instruction. I visited with her mother after the…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• claiming territory, learning difficulties, methodology, Neil Moore

What do your students call you? Last night one of my students saw me while out shopping. She got my attention to say hi to me by saying, “Karen!” Took me by surprise that a young girl, about age 11, would call me by my…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• addressing teachers, Neil Moore, Robin Keehn, title