practice pads

I’ve been digging around in Simpedia but not finding quite what I was looking for.  In a chat (or phone?) transcript I found my exact question but it was never answered: Can you offer some innovative ways to unfold the lesson, besides in the hands,…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• duets, games, group lessons, improv, practice pads, round robin, shared lessons, strategies

I remember Neil brilliantly teaching a large group at a recent seminar but I didn’t take good enough notes. I have just combined kids from 3 different lessons into one group of 6 and two of the moms are balking—want more playing time and individual…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• accompaniment, arrangements, demonstrating, group lessons, keypads, large class, observatory learning, practice pads, shared lessons, variations

My groups are all starting this coming week. I have only taught shared lessons of 2 people so far. Would someone be willing to share an example of how you teach a song to a group (when the students go to the piano, when to…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• group lessons, keypads, leading groups, Playlist, practice pads

I was wondering how you all set up your groups of 5 or more. I have the chairs arranged in a horse shoe shape. Do you have the moms sitting next to their child of do you separate the kids from the parents? I was…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• coaches, group lessons, keypads, Laurie Richards, practice pads, room set up, shared lessons

I finally started teaching the continuing education workshop just last night. 14 had signed up, 11 showed up, and at least 1 of the absent people is fairly certain to join in starting next week. So I’ve got a much bigger group than what I’m…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• keypads, large groups, practice pads, shared lessons

I am a new teacher. I teach a small group of 5. Today we put Dreams hands together. I felt that I needed at least 2-3 minutes individual time with each student to help “control the events” on the piano as they put it together.…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• Dreams Come True, group, group lessons, hands together, keypads, Laurie Richards, practice pads, shared lessons

When you have students unfold the patterns on their (printed) keyboards, do you also have them put both hands together first on their keyboard? I have tried this but found that I can’t watch them all and so don’t know if they are doing it…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• both hands, controlling the events, group lessons, hands together, observatory learning, patterns, practice pads, private lessons, shared lessons

How do you go about teaching arrangements to a group of 5? They don’t have SHMs, so do you mostly have them learn through watching. But how do you process it into their fingers at the lesson? Do you have them each take a turn…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• arrangements, Dreams Come True, group lessons, key pads, practice pads, shared lessons, speaking instructions out loud

I had a conversation recently about involving coaches in the lessons and giving them instructions for what to do at home. I have a great handout that I will find and share in a follow-up email, but we are wondering how YOU engage coaches. I…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• accompaniment, coaches, Laurie Richards, parental participation, practice pads, reading notes, reading rhythm, relationship conversation, Robin Keehn, songs for children, using games, watching the videos

What are ways you involve parents to keep them active in the lesson? Sometimes I have a quiz where I ask questions and keep a tally of the score on the whiteboard. I did this last week with a private student (she started in a…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• fun in lessons, involving parents in lessons, parents, practice pads