Thelma's Tap Notes: A Step-By-Step Guide To Teaching Tap: Children's Edition

After taking tap while growing up then not tapping for about 8 years and coming back to try to teach it, I was struggling with figuring out how to structure classes and build exercises that would prepare students to progress. Then I found this book, and it was exactly the answer I was looking for. The breakdown of the exercises is easy to follow and the progressions from one level to the next are easy to see and understand. I especially love the music suggestions and the extra tips about proper technique. Lots of little things I had forgotten after years away from tap. I can't wait to start using the exercises with my students over the summer and next year. I highly recommend this book to other tap teachers looking for tips and ideas to structure their classes. Thank you Thelma for creating this amazing book!!

I don't know if it's only my copy of the book, but pages 86-98 are out of sequence. The pages skip from page 87 to page 99; pages 88 to 98 are inserted between page 104 and page 105. This is an unacceptable error, especially in light of the $66.92 price tag on this paperback book. The content of the book is top-notch, but if all copies of the book are like this one, the publisher did a shoddy job.

Fantastic resource! I attended a workshop by Thelma Goldberg, and her warm, outgoing personality exudes through much of this book as well! Clever combinations and a great outline for different age-levels for tap.

Title: Thelma's Tap Notes. A Sttep-by-Step Guide ToTeaching Tap: Children's EditionAuthor: Thelma GoldbergPublisher: Thelma Goldberg 2013Theme: Non-Fiction. Instructional Manual for teaching tap dance to children ages 6-12.Guding Principles: Release, Relax, Rhythmic Progressions and Full Bodie Rhythm-Making (TM)Review by Eve CostarelliThis is my first official book review! My dear friend, Thelma Goldberg, sent me a copy of her newly self-published book Thelma's Tap Notes. A Step-by-Step Guide to Teaching Tap: Children's Edition. This is a beautifully laid out manual and I love the catchy and useful sticky note style highlights throughout the book (I also received an accompanying sticky “Tap Notes” pad-which made it very easy for me to jot down my own notes as I went along the book.) Right from the very beginning, Thelma lays out exactly what her approach is to teaching tap to children ages 6-12 and she methodically breaks down her methods level-by-level.I appreciate how Thelma refers to herself as a student as well as a teacher. I have had the pleasure of taking classes with Thelma, so I know first hand what a dedicated and enthusiastic student she is. I also have seen a number of her studios productions over the years and can equally say she is a committed, passionate teacher, choreographer and leader. Because of this, I can say that Thelma is deeply rooted and she never stops growing!Thelma's Tap Notes is guided by four principles: Release, Relax, Rhythmic Progressions and Full Bodied Rhythm-Making (TM). In the first part of the book, Levels, each age group: 6 & 7, 7 & 8, 8 & 9, 9-11, 10-12 is broken down into goals, review, musical rhythms, class outline, next step, combos, choreography ideas and improvisation activities. The second part of the book, Series, brings in more tap series needed for the growing dancer: Rudiment Series (courtesy of the Condos Brothers)-basically the ABC's of tap dance; Double Heel Series-to execute clear and specific single sound movements; Shuffle Series-to get loose and increase crispness of sound; Slap and Flap Series-do I hear a challenge??; Paddle and Roll Series-a very advanced series needed for really good technique; Spank Series-to embody the principle of release; and Time Step Series-a series that spans classical steps through present day creations. Thelma gets into the nitty-gritty needed to develop dancers feet, musicality and expression.The closing of the manual brings in various tap dancers biographies, tying the deep seated tradition of jazz tap to its modernity. Thelma has created not only a clear, accessible teacher's guide but a great reference manual for avid students and seasoned teachers. To note, I too am a children's dance teacher (flamenco, tap and yoga), and I found that this guide will be a great addition to my practices of teaching-especially in helping me to lay down my own step-by-step approach. Bravo Thelma! Encore!Thelma adds: I invite you and others to send me questions and comments so that I can continue to clarify my method in a way that helps other teachers understand my suggestions. Video support will be coming slowly to the website [...] to demonstrate the 'series' exercises that are at the core of my approach.

This book is an amazing manual for the tap dance teacher! I would strongly recommend it. The author (Thelma) is a master teacher, and she has constructed a one-of-a-kind curriculum for learning tap dance. Not to be missed!!!

What a find. I’ve been teaching for many years at the intermediate and advanced levels. My students are all usually 10 and up. Teaching a class of 6-year-olds really tested my patience and I needed some guidance. This book has been an awesome tool for that beginner class and for getting back to basics with my other classes. Packed with material. Clear and concise.