The Simply Music curriculum unfolds over a period of six to ten years or more, depending on various factors - the age of the student, the time students invest in practicing, whether or not they have had prior experience etc. Most beginning students spend their first three to five years participating in the Simply Music Foundation Program, where they are taught the 'base-tools' that are at the heart of the Simply Music method. In years five through ten, students progress into Simply Music's Development Program, which advances their musicianship, broadens their knowledge and experience and more fully rounds out their entire music learning experience. Listed below is a brief description of the earlier levels, as well as excerpts from some of the music that students play during this time.
|
Foundation Program - Levels 1 through 3
|
This phase of the Simply Music Program unfolds over the student's first year or two of lessons. During this time they build a repertoire of around 30 great-sounding pieces (in addition to composition, improvisation, arrangements and accompaniments) and are immersed in the rudiments of our playing-based language. This involves learning how to distill music into an array of unique, copyrighted concepts that unfold directly on to the keyboard.
|
Level 1
|
These pieces are typical of what students are playing, from beginning to end with both hands together, within their first 10 to 15 lessons. On average, students build a repertoire of 6 to 15 complete pieces within this time. Here is a sample of a small selection.
|
 'Dreams Come True'
|
'Night Storm'
|
'Für Elise'
|
'Alma Mater Blues'
|
Level 2
|
As students progress, they continue to build on the foundation established in Level 1, and add another dozen or so pieces to their repertoire. Throughout the Simply Music program, students routinely learn a broad array of varied and more comprehensive arrangements of pieces learned in earlier levels. Students also develop the ability to play 'accompaniments', where they learn to provide piano backing for vocalists and choirs.
|
'Amazing Grace' (vocal with piano accompaniment)
|
'Ode To Joy'
|
'Light Blue'
|
'Alma Mater Blues' (developed)
|
Level 3
|
By the end of Level 3, students will have built a repertoire of contemporary, gospel, blues and jazz style pieces as well as a broad selection of arrangements and accompaniments. Composition and improvisation projects have also been a regular part of the learning experience. Even so, the focus has been on 'learning a way of learning', building a body of base-tools that allow students to progress into more advanced levels, and developing a comprehensive foundation of musicianship. Here is a sample of some of the Level 3 pieces.
|
'Greensleeves'
|
'Tear For A Friend'
|
'Minuet in G'
|
'Family Tree' (blues piano with vocal accompaniment)
|
Click here to go to Foundation Program - Levels 4 through 6
|
