Neil Moore

Recently, a trainee teacher wrote to me expressing concern about a prospective student who had a pre-existing ability to play at a level that was, in some respects, beyond their own. The teacher was also concerned about the fact that were the student to progress…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• communicating where you are at, Neil Moore, students with experience, teacher abilities

I have a 6 year old who can play all song up to Ode to Joy level 1 well. We have spent 2 weeks on RH and I will not put hands together until he has the counting right. Can I move on and teach…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• introducing new projects, Neil Moore, Ode to Joy, too many projects

Has anyone ever explained the automatic claiming of territory to the students, and the need to consciously surrender? I would think that it would be helpful particularly with teenagers and adults. Claiming Territory, as I call it, is an ontological function. It operates at the…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• claiming territory, explaining claiming territory, learning by being, learning by doing, Neil Moore, ontological

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 10 years ago
• Neil Moore, rhythm, traditional, vocalizing

I have taken a few students through the Reading process, and I believe it has been very successful. I am currently working through Time For More Music and Jazz 1 with some of those students. Other students, having achieved “reading”, and having a huge repertoire,…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• claiming territory, generative, jazz, leaving after learning to read, method, Neil Moore, reading, relationship conversation, Robin Keehn, Time for More Music

I would like to add to what Neil has said about “Writing Notes” and “Managing Projects” by sharing my experiences of these issues in the hope of helping new teachers. WRITING NOTES I was a “traditional” piano teacher before becoming a Simply Music teacher. When…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• learning a way of learning, managing projects, memory muscle, Neil Moore, writing notes

With regard to the recent discussions about Practice Pads, I wish to add a word of caution. Please be careful to make sure that only a small or modest percentage of your class time is spent with individual students processing content on their individual Practice…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• group lessons, Neil Moore, observatory learning, patterns, practice pads, shared lessons, special needs, use of class time

I’m dying to move from Private Lessons and smaller, Shared Lessons, to the far more fun and efficient lesson-size of 6 to 10 students. Thus far, I have never been able to get enough people of the right type (kids/adults) to commit to being in…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• advertising, expanding shared lesson size, group lessons, Neil Moore, requirements, shared lessons

Could I have some advice on how and when to introduce the pedal correctly with my students? It’s a potentially contentious issue, but my view is that whereas traditionally the default status of the pedal is usually ‘off’, I suggest reinventing the default position as…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• Dreams Come True, Neil Moore, pedal use

How does one handle choice of accompaniments in a group? Do they all learn the same ones at the same time or can you have a few going at the same time? How much choice do you give the students over which accompaniment to learn…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• accompaniment, eye of the needle, flexibility, group lessons, Neil Moore, quantity vs. quality, shared lessons