If these 3 words strike fear into your very soul… then you’re not alone! Improvising, chording and composing with piano students is something that many piano teachers avoid simply because it feels like uncharted territory. Teaching without a book can seem difficult… until now!
During this podcast, we’re chatting with Karen Gibson and she’s here to discuss how she dove right in and added improv, chording and composing to piano lessons with all of her students. She’ll share why she decided to add this aspect to her teaching, and how she went about adding improv and composing to lessons with all ages of students. Karen also gives her top 3 tips for getting started with improvising with your piano students and discusses the difference it has made to her piano teaching studio (she currently teaches over 50 students).
Set Your Piano Students Free
Adding improv, chording and composing to your piano lessons can be a freeing experience for both you and your piano student. Not only do they help your piano students to really connect with their lessons, but it also provides some great “teachable moments” in terms of piano theory, technique and building the muscle memory they need for more difficult repertoire down the road. Popular music is really becoming… well.. popular! And for your piano students to approach this in an authentic and efficient way, learning to teach chording and improv is a must.
If you’d like to download this podcast, or our previous 10 Podcast Episodes, to your iPod or smart phone find us in the iTunes store by searching “Teach Piano Today”.
If you love the idea of composing with your piano students and truly giving them a feeling of ownership and connection to their music… but you really just like to have a book… then we’ve got the resource for you! The Curious Case of Muttzart and Ratmaninoff gives you 12 rock-solid composing lessons that will have your kids creating great pieces from week 1!
Kristine Morris says
I’d like to see a written transcription of these podcasts. There’s so much valuable information, but I don’t have the equipment or time for listening to podcasts.
Thanks so much!
Andrea says
Hi Kristine! We’re glad that you’re interested in the material in the podcasts 🙂 Unfortunately we don’t have the time to sit and type out the conversations – but if you follow the links in the post we’ve linked to related articles that contain some similar information that may help you. You can listen to the podcast without iTunes directly from your computer using the player embedded in this post. Maybe some great dinner-making background sounds? 🙂 Have a great week.
Sarah Ehlers says
I’m with you, Kristine…The first time I heard one of these podcasts, I thought, “Wow! It would be nice if they had a transcript of this available for download!” But then I considered that’s just one more thing they would have to add to their already busy schedules. I just wanted to chime in and let you know that I have been creating my OWN transcripts of the things I find especially helpful. As I listen, I use Word to I make a general outline and jot down important things I want to remember. Then, I organize it all later and save it to my computer. It really doesn’t take me much longer than listening to the actual podcast. I just wanted to make the suggestion in case you might like doing this yourself. 🙂
Robyn says
I’ll be listening later today but I’ve been meaning to ask….what about new beginner students? How long should they have lessons before composing and learn lead sheets? Also your book you mentioned… What level should students be to start the book?
BTW I have 2 beginner boys 5th grade and 6th grade. They are in Faber Accel Beginner. Just started in Sept. When would they be able to start playing from your music book for boys?
Thanks so much in advance.
Alice says
Same with me. I’ve listened to two of them and would like to hear the rest of them, but it’s adding one more thing to the list that already is way too long!