The Playground

This is the first in a series of articles designed to help you choose and care for your piano. Here at Simply Music, we’re not too precious. When it comes to your choice of instrument, many teachers will insist on beginning on a good-quality acoustic…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Nov 20, 2018
• Choose a Piano, gordon harvey, music, music education, music teacher, piano, play piano, simply music, teach piano, the playground

Let’s talk about a famous classical piece, by Beethoven, and give you a taste of how we break the melody of this song into a simple ‘Melody Diagram’ that will have you instantly remember how to play it. We’ll also show you the left hand…

• Written by SM Admin on Jul 24, 2018
• music education, musicians, neil moore, piano, piano lessons, simply music, simply music piano, the playground, tutorial

I can recall countless fond memories of growing up in a household that was filled with music. I would get home from school and my dad, who was a music educator, would have anywhere from one to ten students in our home. At that time,…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Jul 18, 2018
• Leon Moore, neil moore, simply music, the playground, Trumpet

We asked Laurie Richards some questions to gain some insight into her role here at Simply Music, what lights her up musically and some facts that make her the wonderful person she is. Laurie and her daughter, Leah, just being their fun selves. Your full…

• Written by Stephanie Iadanza on Jul 3, 2018
• Laurie Richards, learn piano, Master Teacher, Meet the Team, Music Lesson, piano, piano lessons, simply music, teach piano, the playground

Feist might be the only artist on my lists of both the saddest songs and the happiest songs ever. I’ll resist talking about the heartbreaking track “The Limit To Your Love”, because this is a series about happy songs – but we can stay with this…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on May 23, 2018
• Feist, gordon harvey, Happy Songs, sesame street musicians, simply music, the playground

If you are a music student or a beginning Simply Music student, or perhaps a curious piano teacher, we recommend you check out this video. This video is the first in a mini video series called ‘How it Works’. This first video offers an overview…

• Written by SM Admin on May 2, 2018
• learn piano, music lessons, neil moore, piano, simply music, teach piano, the playground

Mark S. Meritt continues our series on songwriting, discussing some guiding principles and idea-generating approaches he uses. Legendary musical theatre composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim noted some fundamental principles that guide his work, the primary one being Content Dictates Form. He also said that his…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Apr 18, 2018
• coaching, simply music, singer-songwriter, songwriting, the playground

I have spent my lifetime learning and exposing myself to the arts on all levels (paintings, music, dance – any way I could really). Being exposed to so much variety was a greater gift than I knew at the time. I didn’t know how lucky I…

• Written by Stephanie Iadanza on Apr 4, 2018
• Artists, Famous Artists, music, music education, Paintings, piano, pianos in art, simply music, stephanie iadanza, the playground

You might think musical skills are the province of some especially gifted breed of person, but nothing could be further from the truth. Every human being, without exception, is deeply and naturally musical! Neil explains how that musicality manifests itself in our everyday lives, and…

• Written by SM Admin on Mar 28, 2018
• music, music education, musical, neil moore, piano, simply music, the playground

Previously, I talked about the benefit of making the most of simple activities and valuing the journey as much as the goal. But how? As a Simply Music student, your teacher will be regularly on your case about keeping your Playlist alive. Of course, you…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Mar 21, 2018
• coaching, gordon harvey, improvisation, learn piano, music, music education, performance, piano, Simple Things, simply music, the playground