You could start with listening to Russian music and working out what makes it sound Russian…..wonderful orchestral examples…russian folk songs   …play the folk song melody with one hand…work out chords…..write a lead sheet…select a really easy russian piece, write a lead sheet then look at what the LH is doing and play that.

I have a…[Read more]

Oh I forgot to say … if you play keyboard, give them two- three notes on their instrument and they do a  improv over your chords….ties in with the chord patterns using 1 1V V …,listening for the change of chord, feeling the rhythm that you are generating so they do something which is sympathetic etc

Planning is the key and that means writing out each week’s lesson plan.

When I did group lessons many years ago..

.just looked for my lesson books to send you a copy but know as i have decided not to be a hoarder I have thrown them out!!!!

I sort of divided the time into

singing…start with well known songs…..always fall back on baby…[Read more]

I would simply refer them to a YouTube video tutorial.  It’s easier for them to rewind as needed.  Plus, you have other things to do.

Hey @christinemulhall, it’s titled “Firth of Fifth” and is the piano intro to the song recorded by the band Genesis on their 1973 album Selling England By the Pound. It was composed and played by keyboardist Tony Banks. I get a kick out of the fact that a young person today is enthusiastic about a progressive rock song from the 70’s!

I learned…[Read more]

I had thought about moving to group lessons and having 3 students for an hour, and breaking it up 20/20/20. I have a keyboard and a piano, along with an IPad. My thought was to have 20 minutes individually with a student, then 20 minutes of theory, either written or a game on the Ipad, and 20 minutes of something else…..which I’m not sure of.…[Read more]

Great piece of music! Where did you get this version from?

Thanks, Christine