Freedom Isn't Free - But it Sure is Fun!

The "Simply Music" curriculum differs from others in that students are actually encouraged to improvise and arrange the pieces in their book, plus compose their own music. I think my students are enjoying this new-found freedom. Last week, I decided my fairly new 7-year old student was ready to learn how to transpose our version of Beethoven's "Fur Elise" into a new key. When he arrived at his lesson, however, he was excited to play - yes - a new version of Fur Elise for me starting on different notes. He then proceeded to play it beautifully in the key of D minor (originally in A minor).

I was thrilled that he discovered this totally on his own. He is learning how music and the piano works to his benefit and enjoyment and it's an excellent stepping stone into music reading (theory) coming in a few months (yes, he did this with no knowledge of note-reading).

Learning to play piano is a "freeing" experience? Times have certainly changed since my first piano lessons.