reading notes
Webinar Series: 08/15/2017 – Piano – Maximizing Success with the Reading Program
In this webinar Neil describes how the the Simply Music Reading Program was developed and shares insights into getting the best results from this part of the Curriculum. Topics include: Evolution of the Simply Music Reading Program (00:00) Critical Readiness Elements for Students (10:17) Creating…
Coaching students through Level 4 valley
I am seeing a pattern of students growing restless in Level 4 and at the beginning of the reading process. This is usually around two years into lessons, and seems to coincide with students entering middle school. I feel sad to see them give up…
Student does not want to learn to read
One of my best students (a 12-year-old home schooled girl who gladly plays for at least an hour every day, always has her Playlist current as well as an arrangement or her own variation to share each week) had been a bit reluctant to begin…
Reading Notes: dealing with clef symbols
I’m working through the Reading Notes program for the first time and I just introduced the Ladder and Race conversations. On page 5 of the Reference Book, the Streams page alternates between treble and bass clefs. I haven’t introduced clefs yet. Do you have students…
Reading Rhythm – dotted notes and ties
My first student is at the end of Reading Rhythm! Question: for the student, dotted notes and ties aren’t as confident as I wish they’d be. What would you do in this case (he has no trouble with rests)? Would you move on anyway to…
Reading Rhythm for students with prior experience
I have a brother/sister shared lesson who can read music (although not confidently) and I’ve just assigned their first MOR. Next would be to ask them to take the rhythms to the keys over 5SS. Being that they can read music, would you still do…
Help in confidently teaching Reading Rhythm
I need some help in teaching the Reading Rhythm course. I am beginning my second year with Simply Music and I love it. Now it’s time to start several students into RR. One student is an adult, played in the school band, and is familiar…
Accelerating reading for band student
My shy, gentle 9th-grade girl student who is about mid-way through TFMM has started high school band playing vibraphone with a drill sergeant teacher who expects her to read sophisticated and complex rhythms and notes, and she is struggling. She said “It’s all been fun…
Reading Notes: Identifying location points
I need some reading advice please. Ellen has been with me for 7 years – a hardworking teenager. Getting started in a reading piece is the issue. Once she’s off and running, she gets all the reading strategies she’s been taught in an applied way.…
Student unable to identify notes on staff
I have an extremely dedicated mom (5 years of lessons, with all 3 of her kids) who is concerned that her oldest, who just celebrated his 200th lesson last week, does not recognize note names very quickly. I am wondering if there are any suggestions…