The Playground
The Simply Music blog
Wishing you a HAPPY PIANO DAY, every day!
Piano lovers, it’s that special International Piano Day time of year again! We have celebrated Piano Day in many ways in the past with shared lists of unusual pianos, collections of all things piano and more. This year, to commemorate our favorite mechanical friend, we…
Teaching the Blues Scale & Improvisation – A Video from Neil Moore
Were you ever wowed by the wizardry of a blues musician? Really, anyone can achieve an authentic blues sound with a few basic tools. Using some very simple tools Blues can be taught to entry-level students with great success. One of these tools, the principle…
You & Your Instrument: Acoustic Pianos
In the first article in this series, we discussed the choice between digital and acoustic pianos. For those considering a digital piano, we included some advice, but as to the purchase of an acoustic piano, we decided that dark art needed its own post. Are…
Interview with Giana Nguyen: Simply Music Teacher, Singer/Songwriter
Giana Nguyen is an Advanced Simply Music Teacher and Singer/Songwriter based in Irvine, CA. She has just released her new self-titled album, “GiANA”. Leon Moore spends a few minutes learning about her musical background, influences and inspiration behind her music, and how she got involved…
You & Your Piano: Digital or Acoustic
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…
The Piano – A Common Subject in Famous Paintings
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…
Everyone is Musical – A Video from Neil Moore
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…
Simple Things Done Well – Pt2
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…
How Simply Music Began – A Video from Neil Moore
You may not be aware of the many informative and useful videos posted by Neil Moore on our YouTube channel, so we thought we’d highlight a selection of them in The Playground. Some of them are especially useful for teachers wanting to know more about…
Meet The Team – Jose Rivera
We asked Jose Rivera some questions to gain some insight into his role here at Simply Music, what lights him up musically and some facts that make him the person he is. Your full name: Jose Benjamin Rivera When did you start and what is…
