position
When to Teach Happy Birthday
Question: I have just signed on a Special Needs student. She is 9 years old. Her favorite song is Happy Birthday. Mum said they play that every day! I know we normally teach this at the end of Foundation Level 1 but I would like…
Piano Hand Posture
I have a new adult student in her late 50s who started with me last week. She was given a lovely digital piano from her husband for Christmas and given subsequent traditional lessons with the piano salesman which didn’t work out for her although her…
Squidgies Position Change
I’m learning to play Squidgies Boogie in level 4. I’m having a hard time understanding how to transition between the IV and I chords because I think “IV” ends on the very C that “I” should start with. I don’t see Neil’s hands do this…
Locking in Church Song
In Church Song, Level 7, one of the learning strategies is “Locking”. Could I get a clearer definition of what the locking strategy involves? Here’s the definition: Locking: A learning strategy where the hands essentially lock their ‘shape’ into place, but move from one position…
Stool for Young Students
Those of you who teach very young children (age 5-6), do you use a special kind of stool for them that is different from what older students or adults use? I have 2 piano stools, the one I use for very little children is a…
Masters of the Rhythm Positions & Fingering
It seems to me that it would be a nice idea to encourage students to do their MOR keyboard exercises 1) in all sorts of different 5/5 positions and 2) feeling free to start on whatever finger they like each time. In addition to the…