The Playground
The Simply Music blog
Simply Music Teacher – Laurie Richards
Laurie Richards and Simply Music were a perfect match from the beginning. From the moment that she spoke with Neil Moore about teaching the program, Laurie has grasped the bigger picture to the point where she has contributed to the Simply Music curriculum itself, not…
Simply Music Student – Vanessa Silva
Vanessa Silva has immersed herself in music with admirable enthusiasm. A multi-instrumentalist, she tackles everything with gusto and a great attitude of fun and open-mindedness. You can see how her she has injected her own personality into the diverse styles of her compositions. See Vanessa…
Simply Music Teacher – Elizabeth Gaikwad
The community of Simply Music Teachers is as varied as it is extensive. Recently we’ve been able to draw from that fantastic resource to improve and enrich the program. Some of our teachers have been able to use their performing, educational or teaching experience to…
Simply Music Student – Peter Amstalden
If your feet aren’t tapping and your jaw hasn’t dropped when you hear Peter Amstalden play a rag, you just weren’t listening. To hear this self-effacing fourteen-year-old play is as inspiring as it is to hear him speak about his experience as a music student.…
Simply Music Teacher – Elliette Boumeester
Since her beginnings as a Simply Music student, Eliette Boumeester has grown and expanded her musical horizons in multiple directions, including becoming a singer-songwriter and one of the youngest ever Simply Music Teachers, much of it happening under the cloud of serious illness. She tells…
Simply Music Student – Bradley Hughes
Bradley is a Simply Music student who has acquired music as a life-long companion. He is a musician, a composer, an accompanist and an arranger – all by age 16. Bradley is also a very respectful, imaginative and dedicated student. Bradley began simply music lessons…
Simply Music Teacher – Ray Nelson
Ray Nelson is a great example of getting back what you give. As a pioneer of Simply Music in the Midwest, as a highly successful teacher, as a mentor to the community of teachers he helped grow, as a Senior Teacher Trainer, and now starting…
Simply Music Students – Khamis and Alam Buol
I would like to introduce you to Khamis and Alam Buol, two talented and hardworking students I have had the privilege of teaching for the past eighteen months. They are aged 13 and 11 and are refugees from the Sudan. When we met, they had…
Simply Music Teacher – Bernadette Ashby
“Bernie, you can do it. You can climb this mountain.” Bernadette Ashby has had plenty of people repeat those words to her, but when you give yourself enough mountains to climb, you develop plenty of supporters. Bernie has never let apparent limitations stop her from…
Simply Music Student – Jenna
Every week it’s the same. This little girl greets me with a warm hug and then proceeds to feel everything on my body from head to toe. And I let her. “I’m wearing a green shirt and black boots. Here’s a heart charm on my…
