The TopCast: The Official Music Teachers' Podcast

431: My Favourite Framework for Piano Teachers: 4 Chord Composing


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If you've ever felt unsure about how to teach chords or help your students create music from scratch, this episode is for you. Today, I’m sharing a deep dive into my all-time favourite course, 4 Chord Composing. I’ll walk you through why this framework works so well, how it connects theory and creativity, and how you can use it even if you’ve never composed a thing in your life. You’ll also hear from other teachers who’ve used this approach to transform their students' confidence and engagement.
  • Tim reflected on how most teachers weren't taught chords or lead sheets in their own lessons.
  • He explained how a chord-based approach improves sight reading, creativity, and understanding.
  • The benefits of teaching harmony through popular styles were emphasized.
  • Tim introduced his favorite course: 4 Chord Composing Course, offering a 10-week plan for introducing students to composing using just four chords.
  • He highlighted how the framework builds theory, form, and improvisation skills naturally.
  • How it simplifies teaching composition and makes learning feel intuitive.
  • The course videos show Tim teaching a real student, making the approach easy to follow.
  • Tim shared feedback from teachers who have used the course with great success and student engagement.

  • Links Mentioned
    • Four Chord Composing Course
    • Buy the course for only $49 using the coupon code CHORDS100
    • Blog: The Power of 4 Chord Composing
    • TopMusicPro Courses
    • TopMusic Competition Composition 2025

    • Today’s Sponsor
      RSL Awards is leading the next generation of creativity. We are an international Awarding Organisation, creating qualifications in music, performing arts, and creative industries subjects.
      Our vision is to help teachers and students within the creative arts sector through a range of innovative, relevant, and rewarding resources and qualifications. This includes our flagship Rockschool graded resources for piano.
      The new edition of Rockschool Piano offers a holistic approach to piano education, shaped around the needs of today’s musicians. Exploring five centuries of music, from classical to classic rock, this genre-spanning syllabus features an expansive mix of popular Hit Tunes, bespoke Rockschool Originals, and brand-new suites of technical study, all packed with class-leading technology.
      • Find out more about RSL Awards here.
      • RSL Online Shop
      • Pre-Order the New Rockschool Piano Syllabus

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        The TopCast: The Official Music Teachers' PodcastBy Tim Topham

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