variations
Remembering Arrangements & Variations
Knowing that variations and arrangements are primarily memory exercises and secondarily exposure to different performance techniques and only after these things pieces for the repertoire, and if students forget them, it’s on some level “okay” in a way that is not true of Foundation pieces,…
Variations – Fluff Pie and The Pipes
Here are a couple of variations that are technically a bit challenging but might be fun for students who are really up to it. Variation on The Pipes from Level 3 Play a grace note (1/2 step below the main tone) before every RH note…
Chester’s Samba Rhythm
I have an adult student who is having a difficult time internalizing the beat and feel of Chester’s Samba. I teach her via Skype (actually ooVoo), so I’m not able to help her by physically tapping on her shoulder or anything like that. Also, since…
Chester Chills Out – Grace Notes
I’ve been having some of my students add grace notes to the “top bottom” part of Chester Chills Out. In other words, in C position, instead of just playing G-C, I have them play grace note F# before the G. In the other positions, the…
Skipping/Omitting Pieces in the Simply Music Program

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…
Managing Appropriate Progress
I have been in this situation many times – i.e. students who are only marginally behind my own playing ability. Sometimes I’ve kind of fudged it by avoiding playing the entire piece, if it isn’t sounding smooth yet but I can still teach chunks of…
Variations & Arrangements – Taking Notes
I have a questions about writing notes for Variations/Arrangements. I understand clearly from all my training materials that there are no support materials for this, and I am not to let them write down notes or clues for how the songs went. So, I am…
Need Large Class Tips
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…
Working with Various Levels in Class
Has anyone had students in the same class, in the same foundation level, but doing different variations, arrangements, etc? I am just thinking that no matter how equally you relate the information, some students (in the same class) will want something extra. Does anyone do…
Students Processing and/or Resisting our Approach to Reading
I have an adult male student, 35, in the middle of Level 3 (Shared Lesson with one other adult), more than half way through Accompaniment 1, and with many Variations and Arrangements on his Playlist, who has a very hard time keeping his Playlist alive.…