How Do I Teach Pop Music if I Can't Play it Well?

Great question. And the fact that you are asking this means that you are probably a great teacher. The reason I know this is because great teachers see a need, ask if it’s a legitimate need, analyze what you are currently doing to meet that need, and then find out what you can do to meet the need.

And yes, teens have a legitimate need to play pop music. It motivates them. It makes them feel accomplished. They need to know how to play and create music that connects with their needs. Pop music does that for them. (Whether we like it or not.) And we need to know how to improvise in pop styles so that we can help them compose and play the pieces they love well.

So, I’m excited to tell you that on January 22, 2016, there is a team of great teachers that will be doing a webinar (they call it a “webshop”) to teach you how to do this. Leila Viss, Bradley Sowash, and Tim Topham will be the presenters and here is what they say about the webshop:

We will teach you step by step how to play and improvise in the pop style and lead you to the top tech tools to assist you in this creative process so that you feel well-equipped to teach and play hit tunes.

They will teach you how to play pop music that sounds good on the piano! And yes, I’ll be one of the attendees! See what else they are teaching in their Top Pop Tips “webshop.”