traditional lessons

I want to share something I’ve been reflecting on as a teacher — not as a criticism of traditional classical training, but as an explanation of why I choose to teach the way I do. Traditional classical music education has given the world incredible discipline,…

• Last updated 3 months ago
• active listening, asking why, benefits, casual performance, classical, classically trained, cognitive understanding, communicating benefits, comparing traditional to Simply Music, competing methods, confidence as a student, creativity, developing creativity, different facets of musicianship, engage, enjoying the process, informal performance, keeping children engaged, keeping students engaged, listen, listening, method, method comparisons, methodology, methods, music as a lifelong companion, musicianship, natural musicianship, other methods, performance, performing, performing in front of others, playing-based, public performances, reading-based, SM vs traditional, tradition lessons, traditional, traditional background, traditional experience, traditional lessons, traditional studio, traditionally trained, training, training students, trust the method, trust the process, trusting the method, trusting the process, trusting the program, well rounded musician

I’m really interested in everyone’s perspective. Multiple studies over decades report that roughly 50–70% of musicians (including pianists) experience playing-related musculoskeletal pain or injury during their training or careers. Given that traditional piano pedagogy relies heavily on standardised posture rules, prescribed hand positions, and visual…

• Last updated 3 months ago
• addressing poor technique, classical, classically trained, comparing traditional to Simply Music, competing methods, hand position, hand positioning, hand positions, hurt, hurts, injuries, injury, method, method comparisons, methodology, methods, other methods, pain, painful, pedagogy, poor technique, posture, SM vs traditional, technique, technique questions, traditional, traditional background, traditional experience, traditional lessons, traditional student, traditional students, traditional students to SM, traditional studio, traditional teacher, traditional teachers

Yesterday, an amazing 16 year old boy looking for a piano teacher came by my studio to talk with me. Although he had traditional lessons in the past, he has been his own teacher for the last several years but feels the need for some…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• accompaniment, advanced students, Gordon Harvey, jazz, prior experience, reading, technique, traditional lessons

A friend from church has talked with me a couple of times about her 15-year-old daughter who has been taking traditional piano lessons for 6 years. She doesn’t want to take from her teacher anymore because the teacher wants her to play only classical. She…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• arrangements, friends, learning a new way of learning, omitting pieces from the program, prior experience, starting at the beginning, traditional lessons, variations

I have a student whose grandmother has the whole family concerned about the position wrists are held while playing. While I have often reminded students to lower shoulders, or alter the wrist position to try to increase their comfort, I haven’t really noticed anything obvious…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• how to play, technique, traditional lessons, what to play, wrist position

I have an advanced student who is 9 years old and has been playing for about 4-5 years in a traditional method. Reading is fair, but he has been playing by ear for years, and his overall ability and absorption rate is staggering. I’m starting…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• Accompaniment‏, advanced student, arrangements, prior experience, traditional lessons, transitioning students

I need some help in responding to some concerns from a couple of student’s parents (who have been talking to each other, by the way)! These 2 students have had approximately 145 lessons. One student is right on target according to the curriculum overview, and…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• accompaniment, generative learning, improvisation, musicianship, pace, Playlist, reading program, shared lessons, sight reading, Time for More Music, traditional lessons

I would like to get some thoughts on a situation that just occurred…. a parent called me today to inquire about lessons. Her daughter has had about 5 years of traditional lessons, but quit about a year ago. Her sight-reading skills are very weak. Her…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• claiming territory, following the curriculum, prior experience, teenagers, traditional lessons, trusting the method

I had an adult come for a FIS today. He was very eager to start piano and has never had piano lessons or played any kind of instrument before. He said that he felt it would be something fun to do and that he saw…

• Last updated 9 years ago
• adult lessons, comparing traditional to Simply Music, other methods, traditional lessons, traditional vs. Simply Music

I recently spoke with a mother who is considering SM for her daughter. She is more comfortable with the traditional approach. I would like to hear from previous traditional teachers and why you switched to SM. She wants to know why she should go this…

• Last updated 9 years ago
• comparing traditional to Simply Music, talking about Simply Music, traditional lessons