Teaching a non-curricular song using playing-based tools
Found in: Playing-Based Methodology
Heidi M., Canada
As a new teacher, I am wondering what to tell my students if they ask if they will ever be able to learn a certain song (not by accompaniment but playing the actual melody) even if it is not in the SM curriculum. Eventually they’ll have the skills to do it with the SM note reading method, right? Or the skills to turn a complex piece into something that can be easily learned through a set of simple clues like in the Foundation levels?
Specifically, one of my students has asked about “O Canada” (national anthem). She is not asking impatiently, just curious if she could learn it some time (not by accompaniment but playing melody/harmony). Is that in the curriculum? What should I tell her?
Ian L., Indiana
I think the answer is “Yes, depending on the difficulty of the piece and your motivation as a student. One of the amazing places we’re headed on this Simply Music journey is being able to learn to decipher the puzzle of written music, then take the music on the page and figure out how to learn it using the playing-based tools and strategies we’re learning now. Once you’ve done that, the piece becomes part of your repertoire just like any other piece”.
Felicity E., Australia
I would also look at teaching her the piece in the right hand. Melody can be taught using pattern and memory, and/or find a chord chart for it.