The Modern Musician Show with Colin Thomson

048: Teaching Improv and How to Play "Cool" Music with Jerald Simon of Music Motivation

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First and foremost, Jerald is a husband to his beautiful wife, Zanny, and a father to his wonderful children. Jerald Simon is the founder and president of Music Motivation® (musicmotivation.com). He is a composer, author, poet, and Music Mentor™/piano teacher (primarily focusing his piano teaching on music theory, improvisation, composition, and arranging). Jerald loves music, teaching, speaking, performing, playing sports, exercising, reading, writing poetry and self help books, and spending time with his wife, Zanny, and their children.

 

Jerald created musicmotivation.com as a resource for piano teachers, piano students, and parents of piano students. He is the author/poet of "The As If Principle" (222 motivational poems), and the book "Perceptions, Parables, and Pointers.” He is also the author of 20 music books from the Music Motivation® Series™ (over 200 original piano solos between the books) including the popular series: Cool Songs for Cool Kids™ (pre-primer, primer level, and volumes 1, 2, and 3) and Cool Songs that Rock™ (books 1 and 2) which all feature original piano music Jerald has composed primarily with teenage boys in mind. He has also recorded and produced several albums and singles of original music as well as hymn arrangements. In 2014, Jerald started a "Cool Songs" annual subscription on his website where he produces and releases one new "Cool Song" for the piano every week with minus tracks (accompaniment parts), the PDF download, MP3 downloads, and a video tutorial where he teaches the "Cool Song" and music theory the fun way.

 
Jerald also presents to various music schools, groups, and associations throughout the country doing workshops, music camps, master classes, concerts and firesides to inspire and motivate teens, adults, music students and teachers. He enjoys teaching piano students about music theory, improvisation, and composition. He refers to himself as a Music Mentor™ and encourages music students to get motivated by music and to motivate others through music of their own. CLICK HERE for a message from Jerald Simon to piano students (something all piano teachers, parents of piano students, and piano students should read)!

 

Key Take Aways:
  • It's so important that students learn theory the fun/practical way
  • Involve students in as many aspects of music-making as possible
  • Involve technology as much as you can, because students are comfortable with it, and it actually makes music come alive more for them
  • Help students take ownership of their music, through teaching improv, composition, etc
  • At the end of the day, it's not about us or our studios, it's about the students, and them connecting with music
  • We need to work on bridging the gap between repertoire/songs and theory
  • It's important to discuss goals with students, so that you both understand where they're heading, and you can do anything you can to help them get there

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    Recommended Books:

    "The Savvy Musician" by David Cutler

    "The Indy Band Survival Guide" by Randy Chertkow

    "The Greatest Salesman in the World" by Og Mandino

     

    Learn more about Jerald Simon:

    MusicMotivation.com

    FaceBook

    YouTube

    Twitter

    Pinterest

    Instagram

     

     

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    If you would like to be considered for featured artist, email music submissions [email protected]

     

     

    Shownotes: modernmusician.co/048

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    The Modern Musician Show with Colin ThomsonBy Colin Thomson interviews musicians and entertainers like Bryan Callen and Bobby Owsinski , to get advice on what musicians should be doing today. Tim Ferriss, Seth Godin, and Justin Timberlake should also come on the show, as well as Taylor Swift, Justin