The Playground
The Simply Music blog
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…
Teaching Chords & Accompaniment – A Video from Neil Moore
Chords are one of the most fundamental building blocks of all music and, taught in a particular way, they are incredibly simple to learn on piano. It’s amazing how much is opened up by an easily-developed grasp of chords. Neil describes here, for both students…
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…
Teaching the Melody of a Classical Piece – A Video from Neil Moore
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…
Meet the Team – Master Teacher, Laurie Richards
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…
How Does the Simply Music Piano Method Work? – A Video from Neil Moore
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…
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…
